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Committee adopts amendment raising in‑house project threshold for military affairs to $1 million
Summary
The committee adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 196 that removes a contingency for two positions and advanced the bill. The measure raises the in‑house project threshold for specified departments from $500,000 to $1 million to reflect inflation and allow certain renovation projects to be completed internally.
The Executive Departments and Administration committee adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 196 and advanced the measure, which would raise the in‑house project threshold for the Department of Military Affairs and two related agencies from $500,000 to $1 million.
Sen. David Waters, sponsor of SB 196, said the change is an "inflationary adjustment" because projects that once cost $500,000 now approach $1 million. Nicole Desilets Bixler, deputy adjutant general for the Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services, testified the department does not need two additional positions that appeared in an earlier draft and confirmed the agency can handle the increased in‑house workload with current staff. "We do not," she said, "need any more people in order to manage this product." Commissioner testimony and a fiscal review led the committee to accept an amendment that deleted the contingency language creating two positions and replaced it with a standard effective date.
Why it matters: Sponsors said the change enables departments with in‑house architects and construction staff to complete smaller renovation projects (roofs, boilers and similar work) without subjecting them to outside contracting thresholds that now exceed the prior statutory cap.
Votes and disposition: The committee adopted amendment 1568 to remove the position contingency and then voted the bill "ought to pass with amendment." The amendment vote and the final committee vote were both recorded in roll call; the committee then placed the bill on the consent calendar for forwarding.
Next steps: With the amendment adopted, SB 196 will be forwarded under consent to the next stage of review, with the Finance Committee to confirm the fiscal note and staffing assumptions.
