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Legislative CALS modernization: steering committee pauses use for 2026 session; stop‑work ordered
Summary
The Legislative Administrative Services steering committee recommended against using the new CALS bill‑drafting system for the 2026 legislative session and LAS issued a stop‑work order while the project is fully reevaluated.
Legislative IT officials informed JCIT that the CALS (bill drafting and legislative document system) modernization effort is under immediate, formal reevaluation.
Eric Teal, director of application services for the Legislative Administrative Services (LAS) information services office, told the committee the CALS modernization steering committee reported on Oct. 13 that the new bill‑drafting system could not be guaranteed for use during the 2026 legislative session. The Legislative Coordinating Council's subcommittee on administration subsequently recommended against using the system for the 2026 session.
Following that recommendation, LAS issued a stop‑work order to the vendor (Propelon) effective Oct. 27 through Nov. 30 to allow a full reevaluation of the work completed and options going forward. Teal said the steering committee is evaluating whether to continue with the incumbent vendor or to pursue alternatives and must report back to the LCC by its December meeting.
Tom Dade, legislative administrative services director and interim CTO, said about $6.5 million in state general fund and ARPA funding has been expended on the CALS effort to date. The steering committee and subcommittee directed LAS to pause active use for the 2026 session and to complete a thorough reassessment of the project's deliverables, remaining work, and contractual options.
Why it matters: The bill‑drafting and legislative document system is a core piece of the legislature's daily workflow during session. A failed or unreliable system can disrupt drafting, amendments and final bill preparation during session days when changes must be made quickly.
What remains open: The steering committee is conducting a reevaluation, including contractual reviews; the LCC subcommittee expects a report by its December meeting and the LAS team has issued a formal stop‑work order while options are reassessed. The committee asked LAS to report back on alternatives, costs and contractual remediation before any further in‑session deployment.
