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House passes bill to alter contracting process for state agencies and universities
Summary
House Bill 34 passed the House 69-1; sponsors said it fixes an unintended consequence that favored out-of-state universities for agency contracts and increases transparency and competition for Idaho institutions.
The Idaho House approved House Bill 34 on Feb. 6, 2025, by a 69-1 recorded vote. The bill’s sponsor told members the measure corrects an unintended consequence of earlier legislation governing how state agencies contract with universities for project work.
The sponsor, identified on the floor as the Representative from District 28, said the earlier change aimed to spread contracts among Idaho’s public institutions — Boise State University, Idaho State University, University of Idaho and Lewis–Clark State College — but instead made it easier for out-of-state institutions, such as Utah State and Washington State University, to receive agency contracts because agencies did not always have to complete a formal solicitation or use the Department of Purchasing as a go-between.
“Agencies would still have to contact all the institutions to find out if they were interested in the particular project,” the sponsor said. The sponsor said the bill preserves current reporting requirements, increases transparency about spending across the state, and makes it easier for Idaho institutions to compete for state projects.
The House recorded 69 ayes and one member absent and excused. After passage the clerk approved the bill’s title and the measure was transmitted to the Senate.
