Committee advances bill to streamline state procurement filings, keep protest timelines

Senate Bill 36, a measure to streamline state procurement procedures and permit electronic filings in place of wet signatures, received a favorable committee report from the Senate County and Municipal and Other Government Committee on a roll call vote.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Kitchens, told the committee the bill “removes the wet signatures where you can file things electronically” and adds a short timeline for filing an intent to protest a contract or bid to “speed things up a little bit.”

The measure preserves the existing 14‑day protest period under current law but adds a requirement to file an intent to protest within five calendar days of notice. Senator Albritton questioned whether the five‑day window uses calendar days rather than business days, noting weekend and holiday timing could limit an affected party’s opportunity to file. Senator Kitchens replied that the five days are calendar days and that filing the prompt intent preserves the full 14‑day statutory protest period.

Committee members moved and approved the bill; the clerk conducted a long roll and the bill “receives a federal report,” the procedural step used by the committee to forward the measure to the next legislative stage.

The committee record shows discussion focused on administrative efficiency and preserving parties’ rights to protest while seeking to shorten contracting timelines. No changes to the substantive 14‑day protest right were made in committee. The bill will proceed to the next stage of consideration.