Subcommittee F vets House Bill 5 major-repair priorities; Department asks to raise project threshold and streamline permitting

The Montana LegislatureSubcommittee F met in Helena and continued review of House Bill 5, the departmentof administrationmajor repair and capital priorities package, hearing detailed presentations on dozens of projects and a request to change statutory reporting thresholds.

Department staff told the committee the long-range program and project lists are prepared to comply with statute and cited the statute number the department used in assembling the packet. "This is our interpretation of statute... you'll see the reference there in 17 7 2 0 3," a Department of Administration staff member told the panel. Randy Stevens, planning manager, State Unit Division, Department of Administration, then walked the committee through the prioritized major-repair requests.

Why it matters: House Bill 5 funds repairs and replacement work across state-owned buildings. Subcommittee direction will shape which projects move forward this session, affect near-term bids and scheduling, and determine how the state manages deferred maintenance on campuses, veterans homes, prisons, care facilities and the capital complex.

Department request and priorities The Department asked the…