During the 1966-67 Biennium, the Council conducted a study on the present subject and developed two separate sets of changes to the then existing State Mechanics' and Materialmen's Lien Laws. The first set did not propose any great change in the concept and can best be termed "an updating of the laws" -- by strengthening, simplifying, broadening or clarifying where necessary.

The second set involved a basic change by incorporating the concept of a direct lien in one form or another.

The Council was in full agreement on the first set of changes, which were consolidated into a single bill that was recommended to the Governor and the General Assembly. This bill was introduced into and enacted, as modified, by the 1968 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

Neither the Council nor the Committee it selected to conduct the initial study were in full agreement on the other set of changes and consequently they were presented to the Governor and the General Assembly without any recommendation but merely for consideration.

This second set of changes was not introduced into the 1968 Regular Session of the General Assembly at the request of the advocates of such changes, but House Joint Resolution No. 135 was adopted at that time directing the Council to continue the study on this matter.