High-Profile: ASM Celebrating 75 Years
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October 2025
ASM Celebrates 75 Years of Success This year, the Associated Subcontractors of Massachusetts (ASM) is celebrating 75 years as the association representing the interests of subcontractors in the state of Massachusetts. Through legal action and strong legislative advocacy, ASM has helped protect the rights of subcontractors on public and private work for over 60 years.
Sally and Joe Corwin with an unidentified man. Sally was presented with the Corwin Award in 2002.
Monica Lawton with an unidentified man at the 50th anniversary celebration
Jeff Marr, Jr. at the 2023 Biennial Gala
ASM Legislation Timeline and Summary
1954
In response to ASM advocacy efforts, the Legislature changed the public bidding law to provide for sub-bids from 17 separate trades.
1954
ASM helped pass the “direct payment” law, allowing subcontractors to seek payment directly from awarding authorities when general contractors fail to pay.
1956
ASM persuaded the Legislature to amend the bid law to allow subcontractors to submit bids to the awarding authority for public opening, instead of directly to general contractors.
1960
ASM succeeded in getting a new law passed requiring general contractors to use the simple, two-page form of subcontract that is still in use today.
1996 & 2002
1998
Lien Law Reform
Public Prompt Pay Law
In 1996, ASM and industry partners successfully reformed the Massachusetts Lien Law, expanding lien protections and deadlines for contractors and suppliers. A 2002 amendment further strengthened these rights by extending filing deadlines when a lien bond is involved. Despite repeated attempts to roll back these reforms, ASM and its allies have consistently blocked such efforts, preserving subcontractors’ lien protections.
“ I’ve been involved with ASM since coming to Corwin & Corwin over 42 years ago. Now as general counsel, I can reflect on our long history as the founders of ASM, and the consequential changes ASM has achieved. My first significant endeavor was the comprehensive amendment to the mechanic’s lien law in 1997. In 2010, the Prompt Pay Act became the most important new construction law since the revisions to the mechanic’s lien law. In 2014, ASM followed up the Prompt Pay Act with its natural sequel, the Retainage Act. ASM is not done yet. It will continue to listen to the issues affecting subcontractors and seek ways to improve those concerns. But it will, as always, do it in ways that work well for the entire construction industry.” —D avid E. Wilson, Esq., partner at Corwin & Corwin LLP
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ASM, AGC and CIM won passage of a “Prompt Pay” law which speeds payment on public projects by requiring state agencies to pay contractors in 30 days instead of 45, on both Ch. 149 building projects and Ch. 30 road and bridge work.
1990-2004 Preservation of Filed Sub Bid Law
Since 1954, Massachusetts’ Filed Sub Bid law has ensured fair, competitive bidding among subcontractors for public building projects, helping to deliver high-quality results at the lowest cost. Despite repeated efforts between 1990 and 2000 to repeal or weaken the law, ASM successfully defended it and blocked attempts to exempt certain projects. In 2003, amid a fiscal crisis, new proposals to alter the law prompted the formation of a Special Commission. ASM played a key role on the Commission, ultimately helping to shape balanced reforms that maintained core protections while improving the public construction process.