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Bill would require certified‑payroll and public‑works reporting for publicly funded broadband projects
Summary
Assembly Bill 303 would require projects that use public funds for broadband/telecommunications to comply with public‑works reporting requirements, and to file certified payroll with the Infrastructure Bank to improve transparency on statewide broadband spending.
Assemblymember Venise Carris presented Assembly Bill 303, which would apply public‑works reporting standards to projects that develop or improve publicly funded broadband, telecommunications or fiber infrastructure overseen or financed by public bodies. Carris and Andy Donahue told the committee the bill focuses on transparency and reporting — not on new procurement rules — and that the Infrastructure Bank would receive copies of certified payroll and other post‑project reports to create a statewide record of public broadband investments.
Donahue said the change responds to instances in which public appropriations could not be fully accounted for and that a central reporting destination would “provide an alert if little work or no work has been reported on a funded project.” He emphasized the bill requires reporting already produced by contractors and would not alter project administration.
Senators asked what enforcement would follow if contractors failed to submit dual filings; sponsors said they would need to review language with counsel and return with proposed clarifications. The Vegas Chamber said an amendment resolved the Chamber’s earlier opposition and the business group testified neutral after changes. No callers testified in support or opposition by phone during the hearing.
Why it matters: supporters framed AB 303 as a narrow transparency reform designed to give the Infrastructure Bank centrally accessible project records so the state can track whether publicly funded broadband projects are proceeding as intended.
Ending: Committee members invited additional technical clarifications; sponsors said they were available to amend language and the bill was left in committee with no vote taken during the hearing.
