SB 440 and the Fair Payment Act: What Construction Lawyers Need to Know for 2026

California’s new Private Works Change Order Fair Payment Act (SB 440) will significantly alter how payment, change order, and delay disputes are handled on private construction projects beginning January 1, 2026. In this program, Brenda K. Radmacher and Jay R. Houghton of Seyfarth Shaw break down the statute’s non-waivable dispute resolution framework, including mandatory timelines, meet-and-confer and mediation requirements, interest penalties, and work stoppage rights. The program will focus on practical implications for owners, contractors, and subcontractors, and offer concrete guidance on revising contract language, managing claims, and avoiding costly compliance missteps under the new law.