WASHINGTON–Insurers will be given greater flexibility on rates they can charge for surety bonds under new regulations just approved by the Small Business Administration.

Under the new rules, which take effect July 25, sureties are allowed to charge current state rates under the SBA's Surety Bond Guarantee Program rather than being locked into rates that were set 20 years ago as required under the former regulations. The new rules were published in the Federal Register.

Beneficiaries of the new rule are small and emerging contractors needing access to surety bonds so they can bid on public construction projects, according to officials at the American Insurance Association and the Surety and Fidelity Association of America.

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