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Panel approves bill raising competitive-bid threshold for local public works to $250,000
Summary
The subcommittee advanced House Bill 137 to raise the statutory threshold at which public projects must be publicly advertised and competitively awarded from $100,000 to $250,000, a change advocates said responds to inflation and would speed delivery of smaller projects.
A committee member presented House Bill 137 to raise the contract threshold for public procurement from $100,000 to $250,000 for certain local government purchases, including school districts and counties. The presenter said inflation has increased costs and that the change would modernize numerous code sections that currently reference the $100,000 cap.
Supporters from the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and the Associated General Contractors testified in favor. DJ Waller of the Municipal Association said the increase would “remove unnecessary delay for smaller projects,” and Mark Whittall of the Associated General Contractors said the higher threshold is appropriate given cost increases over the last two decades. County representatives said it would save time and expense on smaller projects and could increase vendor competition.
Vote: After the proponents’ presentations, a committee member moved and another seconded, and the subcommittee advanced HB 137 by voice vote; the chair called for “aye” and declared the motion carried.
What the bill changes: testimony said the bill updates multiple lines in code to replace references to $100,000 with $250,000 and makes the same adjustment for school boards and county procurement limits. Supporters said the measure also now applies to state agencies, a change included in this version of the bill.
Next steps: Sponsors asked for favorable consideration and said the bill had previously passed the House in earlier sessions but stalled on the Senate side in prior years.
