GC Laws — Nebraska contractor-law checklist preview (free)
Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. Public summaries remain free on gclaws.com.

[ ] Licensing
      - A covered contractor registers before performing Nebraska construction work and obtains a separate registration number for every business name used.
      - The registration exemption does not eliminate Nebraska Revenue Act withholding requirements.

[ ] Mechanic's liens
      - No construction lien under these sections attaches to state, county, municipal or other governmental real estate.
      - Record the lien within 120 days after the claimant’s final furnishing; attachment and priority also depend on the statutory notice-of-commencement rules.
      - An enforceable lien generally continues two years after recording. A proper written demand can cause lapse unless suit is commenced or the prescribed not-yet-due affidavit recorded within 30 days of receipt; timely enforcement continues the lien during the proceeding.

[ ] Retainage
      - Section 45-1202 excludes State contracts and specified state-paid aid projects from contractor/subcontractor coverage.
      - Residential improvements of four or fewer units are excluded.
      - After the scope is 50% complete with contractual performance and satisfactory reasonable assurances of continued performance/financial responsibility, retainage on additional progress payments is at most 5%. Other withholding is limited to the listed reasonable contractual grounds; after substantial completion, it cannot exceed 125% of remaining work cost.
      - Owner retainage for compliant work releases within 45 days after substantial completion of the project/designated portion. Contractor pass-through is due within ten days of receipt when subcontract performance and payment conditions are satisfied.

[ ] Prompt payment
      - The Act excludes State contracts and the identified state-paid aid projects.
      - The Act excludes improvements intended for residential use consisting of no more than four units.
      - For compliant work, owners pay within 30 days after the contract payment request. Downstream payments follow within ten days of actual receipt, with contractual conditions precedent and satisfactory reasonable assurances of continued performance/financial responsibility.
      - Subject to allowed withholding, late sums carry 1% monthly interest after statutory notice to the paying party; acceptance of progress/final payment releases interest claims on that payment.

[ ] Prevailing wage
      - Public authorities generally require public-works bidders to state that they comply and will comply with fair labor standards and include compliance in the contract. Section 73-102 preserves the state-cost proviso and excludes authorities that prescribe their own contract hours, pay and employment conditions.
      - Fair labor standards means the wage scale and employment conditions paid/maintained by at least 50% of contractors in the same business or field as the bidder.

[ ] Davis-Bacon (federal)
      - Under 40 U.S.C. section 3142, covered contracts require payment to laborers and mechanics employed directly on the site of the work at least weekly, at rates no lower than the applicable prevailing wage determination. The required compensation includes the basic hourly rate and required fringe benefits, which may be provided through qualifying benefits or cash as the statute permits.
      - Qualifying apprentices may receive a lower registered-program rate only when the applicable registration and program conditions are met. The Department of Labor’s apprenticeship rules govern those exceptions.
      - The Department of Labor determines the prevailing rates for the work classifications and locality. Contractors and subcontractors must use the wage determination applicable to their covered contract.
      - Federal assistance alone does not establish coverage: many, but not all, construction-assistance statutes include Davis-Bacon requirements. Identify the funding program and its governing Related Act.
      - SAM.gov publishes Davis-Bacon wage determinations. Search by the wage-determination number or the Davis-Bacon public-buildings-or-works category, and match the decision to the contract, locality, and work classification.

This preview lists the topics and rules covered in the full state pack. The paid pack adds the complete source URLs, citations, review dates, and the three editable tools.
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