Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the awarding of public improvement contracts
Sponsored by Rep. Cindy Golding (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 11, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 12, 2026
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Local governments could choose a nearby contractor for public projects even if their price is up to 10 percent higher than the lowest bid. This rule only applies if the lowest bidder is located more than 50 miles away from the project site. A local contractor is defined as a business with its headquarters within 50 miles of the work being done.1
Read the official explanation
Under current law, a contract for a public improvement must be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder. This bill provides that a contract for a public improvement may be awarded to a local contractor whose bid is within 10 percent of the cost of the lowest responsive, responsible bid when the lowest responsive, responsible bid is from a contractor whose headquarters is located more than 50 miles from the public improvement for which the contractor is submitting a bid. The bill defines “local contractor” as a contractor whose business headquarters is located within 50 miles of the public improvement for which the contractor is submitting a bid.
Why it matters. Local governments could award public improvement contracts to businesses headquartered within 30 miles of a project, even if their bid is up to 10 percent higher than the lowest bid from a distant contractor. This change allows local contractors to compete for public work based on their proximity to the project site.2
House subcommittee
Named February 12, 2026. It hasn’t reported yet.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part