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Senate modernizes DOT notice rules, raises legislative consent threshold for building projects
Summary
The Legislature advanced LB323, updating Department of Transportation practices: allowing official project advertisement on a designated website (with concurrent local newspaper notice) and increasing the dollar threshold for projects that require the Legislature’s consent. Committee amendment clarified publication timing.
The Legislature advanced LB323, a Transportation Committee bill that modernizes how the Nebraska Department of Transportation advertises upcoming contract lettings and updates a monetary threshold for legislative consent on construction projects.
Sponsor Senator Mosher said the bill allows notice to appear on an official NDOT website rather than only in local newspapers, which the sponsor and the department said will reduce delays caused by newspapers’ different publication schedules. The committee amendment AM 5‑54 clarified that the department must publish the notice on both the department website and in local newspapers and that the website notice must appear 20 days before the bid receipt deadline.
The bill also updates the monetary threshold for when the department must seek legislative consent to construct buildings; the change accounts for inflation since the previous threshold was last updated in 1955 and aligns DOT with other agencies.
Floor action: committee amendment AM 5‑54 was adopted on the floor and LB323 advanced to Enrollment and Review initial (29 ayes, no nays recorded).
Ending: The bill moves forward; supporters said the change will reduce unnecessary delays and cost increases from project hold ups, while ensuring consistent public notice timelines.
