[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6350052,"mediaKeyId","2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0","parentId",2235133,"title","Subcommittee approves bill directing Georgia Technology Authority to publish list of potentially risky vendors for state purchases","audioSeconds",335,"startMs",1371000,"endMs",1706000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0&start=1371&end=1706","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0/thumbnail_1371000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6350052/Georgia/Subcommittee-approves-bill-directing-Georgia-Technology-Authority-to-publish-list-of-potentially-risky-vendors-for-state-purchases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350052-5ff651bc5dac49c9a6e16877bedb31bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136728&Signature=Ci4YZFvf9TuUj4BZnmlVRcrFMGT369pdpw1Aw55POx~bHyQ-XFzMvdYzgp46dbfvc9SC8fg6kuVnec0UVrZaDTqNXPtivYl4pyoHRlmhkvDJxqAQQPaYRMflk5uto2oMsDY2H2e7X7JCGvaeLCJxZRSdvU~dhY~HcvT-xir-5NvynOyrfNGRnfvHLy8jp0YFUsUgGWg~lbvuqf5oYncjhq6ZTLNeekxYb4D2abt3Hx-UVjuYpZVIj-ql9g31HOYnJgncv5EqbIpZJVOMOFzqHFp6ReLnhl6JhjhN5DtkU2PpnAJ2hBATGub19Gu8m6qmr9Wyq0ULOb-yK~TO3Rfntg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature ","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Mark McDonald introduced House Bill 113 to the House Subcommittee on State and Local Governmental Affairs, telling members the bill would require the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) to establish and maintain a public list of companies and products ‘‘produced or sold by entities linked to technology that poses potential threats.’’ The subcommittee approved the bill by voice vote.

The bill, filed as LC442899-EC, directs GTA — described in the bill as the state’s designated cyber experts — to create a publicly available list intended to guide purchasing by the Department of Administrative Services and other state agencies to avoid introducing cybersecurity vulnerabilities into state systems.

‘‘House Bill 113 is a critical piece of legislation aimed at increasing the security of state purchasing processes,’’ Representative McDonald said in his presentation. He told the committee the authority already receives federal information about flagged technologies and that the list would ‘‘serve as a valuable tool’’ for state purchasing officials.

The bill sets a civil penalty for vendors found to be selling flagged goods to state entities: up to $250,000 or triple the total purchase value, whichever is greater, when sales involve foreign companies, third‑party vendors or resellers, McDonald told the panel. He said the text removes specific country names and instead uses the federal definition of ‘‘foreign adversaries.’’

GTA staff Cameron Fash told the committee the agency had no preselected goods it planned to ban immediately, and that the agency would take a broader approach as it develops the list. Chairman Anderson and members asked clarifying questions about how GTA would identify items; McDonald and Fash said GTA would rely on federal lists and ongoing federal information-sharing.

The bill explicitly states it applies only to future purchases and has no retroactive component, McDonald said.

The chairman opened the item for a motion; the committee made and seconded a motion, conducted a voice vote with no recorded opposition, and the motion passed.

The measure now moves from the subcommittee for further consideration in committee and possible floor action. The bill text clarifies roles between GTA for identification and the Department of Administrative Services for enforcement and imposes the stated civil penalties for covered sales.

Ending: The subcommittee approved the bill after the presentation and brief questioning; the sponsor will appear in full committee the following day, according to the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2.4.25 Governmental Affairs Subcommittee","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Mark McDonald introduced House Bill 113 to the House Subcommittee on State and Local Governmental Affairs, telling members the bill would require the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) to establish and maintain a public list of companies and products ‘‘produced or sold by entities linked to technology that poses potential threats.’’ The subcommittee approved the bill by voice vote.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Georgia , Georgia","taxId",77688,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6350047,"Debate over mandating qualifications‑based selection for local governments dominates subcommittee hearing",2789,1752000,4541000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0&start=1752&end=4541","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0/thumbnail_1752000.jpg","/articles/6350047/Georgia/Debate-over-mandating-qualificationsbased-selection-for-local-governments-dominates-subcommittee-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350047-5c2469cf266ad45632bfefc13e622655/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136728&Signature=B8dLDHQHvAN9tYqGqh9qq0ekldV5Vg4pXseR-oDgZHhBk3XGnmV0N95AObQBZMRJmzdyLQldfb6lcQCcSnzrOwg9IcteON8EYxyeyRYV67-LukGFZd~7w094QbSfiVg8wpZQSLqTGHe0NEvweRUiZDTDRZThIC00lRwcAW8wmjVg8lpMXvcx1BzbxmNrZ2MbszBRjjXhBP4ye90yuddnADQ~E1pJIfjMA7cZyHbvQLyLyNqV7qNitvKHXyvxcgg~IV9GMtBipWIvZfSOMW-iNiX1jKXZdNTwDYmg~PdvUSw-099ZCtNRm3H9l3uhswbHMigDYzgzSlnBrvNnYyHL8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Reeves presented House Bill 152 to the subcommittee as a mandate to require cities and counties to use qualifications‑based selection (QBS) when procuring architecture, engineering and other specified professional services. Reeves said the bill would extend procurement rules that states and many federal agencies already use and emphasized local discretion over qualifications.

‘‘This is a bill about the city and the county level,’’ Representative Reeves said, adding the proposal mirrors the federal Brooks Act and the state’s existing practice for state agencies. He told the committee the bill exempts certain professional services from traditional bidding requirements and would require local governments to use QBS for designated procurements, with an effective date in 2026 to allow time for transition.

The hearing drew sustained, divided testimony. Supporters — including Kenneth Scott Gordon, who identified himself as Cherokee County’s General Services Agency director and a registered architect, Michael Sullivan of the Association of Consulting Engineers and Contractors of Georgia (ACCEC Georgia), Taylor Anderson of Blue Landworks and Cedric Clark of Southeastern Engineering — argued QBS focuses selection on qualifications and protects public safety, lowers long‑term costs, and yields better outcomes on complex projects.

Gordon said QBS ‘‘only change[s] when we evaluate the fee. You’re still evaluating the qualifications,’’ and described QBS as appropriate for specialized projects where expertise affects life‑safety and long‑term costs.

Opponents included Kaylen Day of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and Ted Burgess, Fayette County chief of procurement. ACCG officials said QBS can impose ‘‘a much higher administrative burden’’ on smaller counties that lack dedicated procurement staff; they also raised concerns that withholding cost proposals until negotiations could make it harder for small jurisdictions to determine fair market prices.

ACCG presented survey results it said showed varied local procurement practices: 65 counties responded (about 40 percent of counties), and among respondents 48 percent said they primarily use traditional RFPs that include qualifications and price, 31 percent negotiate professional services contracts, 8 percent primarily use low‑bid methods (mostly very small counties), and 5 percent primarily use QBS.

Witnesses from municipal and contracting groups expressed mixed views. Jim Thornton of the Georgia Municipal Association said GMA is ‘‘not opposed’’ and favors voluntary adoption, while ACCEC Georgia’s Michael Sullivan said the measure has been refined over 10 years and that mandatory QBS is necessary to avoid low‑bid outcomes that he said have produced schedule delays, change orders and — in rare instances cited by Sullivan — safety problems.

Committee members asked about definition gaps in the bill. Representative Sanchez asked what ‘‘existing working relationship’’ means in the bill’s text; witnesses said that phrase was intentionally left to the sole discretion of local governments, but committee members pressed for clarity.

The subcommittee did not take a final vote on House Bill 152; the sponsor said the item would proceed to full committee consideration at a later date.

Ending: The hearing laid out competing views — proponents arguing QBS protects taxpayers and public safety on complex projects, opponents cautioning about administrative costs and loss of price visibility for small local governments. The subcommittee held the bill for further consideration rather than voting.","Representative Reeves presented House Bill 152 to require cities and counties to use qualifications‑based selection (QBS) for designated professional services procurements; the subcommittee held a lengthy hearing with divided testimony and did not vote.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6350038,"Subcommittee approves cleanup bill to speed annexation dispute arbitration panels, widen pool of panelists",877,4619000,5496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0&start=4619&end=5496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0/thumbnail_4619000.jpg","/articles/6350038/Georgia/Subcommittee-approves-cleanup-bill-to-speed-annexation-dispute-arbitration-panels-widen-pool-of-panelists","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350038-9f9afe4a889f07118f52a033bb16cc4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136728&Signature=do6x~jIR~YdCxHo7xS-xpYpaeWz4KEU18XijES8N5hoUwjbJOxiKxvryJ7da55FlWdOEyXcrFmqdt-Bc3r-mUB6HwhISlf-xg91D8951H2nBymypvMvRB3Vy7gxvD-JkHoyQK5QVEXdfarEq0ynYHh1XMPhniNbZTXluiX886SEOiQ640OZWw~zSLfid87Hv4i1NiqGTCZORcjvQJIME37x-ue5V~h69wr1JezANq1KLgn2tszsrd5MNHi4QMzlP-xQt-Wpp8MsVyQwM58Wq-fG6RrE-45WXol6XD98z4H01hUllKrkMR-b5BxXQ6mcx4CTbp0SOPO8ANVvOpptLag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Anderson presented a committee substitute for House Bill 155 to address operational obstacles in Georgia’s annexation dispute resolution process that have delayed arbitration panels and, in some cases, pushed disputes into court.

Anderson said the earlier legislative fixes did not fully resolve a ‘‘logjam’’ in empaneling arbitration panels. The substitute expands the pool of eligible panelists to include county managers, county administrators, city managers and city administrators (subject to conflict‑of‑interest restrictions). It also changes calendar timeframes to business days and extends the window for DCA to empanel to 20 business days, Anderson said.

Under the substitute, if the pool of candidates is presented to the parties and no strikes are exercised, the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) may randomly appoint a panel with the required makeup from that pool. The bill also authorizes DCA to replace a panelist who is unable or unwilling to serve and includes a modest increase in compensation for panelists to encourage participation.

Todd Edwards of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and Jim Thornton of the Georgia Municipal Association told the committee they had worked with DCA and the sponsor on the language and supported the changes as pragmatic improvements that should reduce litigation and allow the dispute resolution process to function as intended.

The committee voted in favor of the substitute by voice vote.

Ending: Subcommittee members characterized the proposal as a targeted, practical set of fixes developed with county, municipal and DCA input; the substitute passed and will proceed to full committee consideration.","Chairman Anderson presented a committee substitute for House Bill 155 to expand and speed the annexation dispute arbitration process by enlarging the pool of potential panelists, extending timeframes to 20 business days and allowing DCA to appoint panels if no strikes are used.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6350042,"Subcommittee raises competitive bidding threshold from $100,000 to $250,000 for many local projects",310,4910000,5220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0&start=4910&end=5220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2235133-8fd7e8699ed5259024c1f978b9e0acc0/thumbnail_4910000.jpg","/articles/6350042/Georgia/Subcommittee-raises-competitive-bidding-threshold-from-100000-to-250000-for-many-local-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6350042-1b5ff997d35bad25e91fe2662202303b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136728&Signature=fTkCV7qsHAMgQSPpSb-pMjKqzqM0tSS5uuzW0P6BKz~Ojg6oHsf3dZjp61pP-w1mV6CvSPZcAqiMfg48Z91FgQ6b8SM8WJ-Pq5si7qIgjfD3n-WqmQMlpGcMCmlLDVOydEAcEoT8NzMvTrUOuZXRuUCiUDe7-p7ZP1Pmnrint3lNO1ilAvjU2yxUKRd7Yz5uubNAvfyYeRJM0AAqdaAM77ayz5smmK6MsA380BW1tOEXzecp-h0EMXgiA-DewZiGvGGKCLcSmA7pgOpbMn5z0deyPvi1~dohcPi~z26ATQ0zfZ0jlGmZ8s0e66lxW4GFzNBaZ3DAvGixE7TWSJxUQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative (presenter) introduced House Bill 137 to raise multiple statutory procurement thresholds to $250,000 to reflect inflation and reduce administrative burdens on smaller projects. The bill text updates cross‑references for school districts and counties and extends the higher threshold to certain state agencies.

DJ Waller of the Municipal Association and Mark Woodall of the Associated General Contractors testified in favor, telling the panel the change would ‘‘remove unnecessary delay for smaller projects’’ and could increase vendor competition. Waller said the last time the threshold changed was many years ago and that revising it to $250,000 ‘‘will help tremendously’’ for routine procurements.

Chairman Anderson and the sponsor noted the measure had passed the House previously but had stalled in other stages in prior sessions; the subcommittee approved the bill by voice vote during the hearing.

Ending: The subcommittee approved the change to raise the procurement threshold to $250,000; proponents said the change will save time and money on smaller projects and was supported by counties and contractors.","House Bill 137, sponsored in subcommittee, would raise the contract‐purchase threshold from $100,000 to $250,000 to reduce bidding requirements on smaller projects; the subcommittee approved the measure by voice vote with supporters saying the update reflects inflation and will speed work.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Subcommittee approves bill directing Georgia Technology Authority to publish list of potentially risky vendors for state purchases

Debate over mandating qualifications‑based selection for local governments dominates subcommittee hearing

Subcommittee approves cleanup bill to speed annexation dispute arbitration panels, widen pool of panelists

Subcommittee raises competitive bidding threshold from $100,000 to $250,000 for many local projects