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House floor splits over raising school in-house construction threshold from $60,000 to $100,000
Summary
Lawmakers debated HB 134, which would raise the dollar threshold that lets school districts perform construction in-house rather than go to public bid. Supporters cited inflation and cost savings; opponents warned of safety, lack of plan review, and creating in-house construction crews. An amendment to restore $60,000 failed in recorded votes.
The House spent extensive floor time on House Bill 134, a proposal to raise the dollar threshold that allows school districts to perform work in-house from $60,000 to $100,000. The sponsor, speaking for Representative Hayman, said the increase reflected higher construction costs and would give districts flexibility to save money on routine projects.
"If the $30,000 limit from 1953 were used and the consumer price index applied, the limit would now be over $400,000," the sponsor told the House while urging support for a $100,000 ceiling as reasonable in light of inflation. Supporters argued that large districts have in-house capabilities and that modest increases save taxpayer money.
Opponents pressed safety and oversight concerns. Multiple members said many districts lack plan review and independent inspection and warned that raising the threshold would risk turning districts into construction employers. "What money do you want to save at the expense of the safety issue?" one opponent asked, urging the House to reinstate the $60,000 limit.
Floor amendments seeking to restore the $60,000 cap were debated and put to recorded votes; one motion to amend failed with 31 yes and 36 no. Later recorded action on the bill resulted in votes recorded in the session; the floor concluded with the bill’s status being processed according to the clerk’s announcement.
