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Counties, contractors and newspapers weigh changes to procurement thresholds
Summary
House Bill 25-66 would raise county procurement thresholds, allow alternative purchasing for higher ranges and adjust rules when no bids are received; counties argued the changes save staff time and reduce costs while contractors urged safeguards and newspapers pushed to preserve bid-notice processes.
House Bill 25-66 would update county procurement and public-works statutes to modernize thresholds and purchasing processes. Staff summarized changes allowing counties to waive advertising and formal competitive bidding for smaller contracts, increasing thresholds for informal procurement and expanding an alternative purchasing process for mid-range purchases.
King County and the Association of Counties supported changes, saying higher thresholds and streamlining would free staff to focus on larger procurements and save time. "We estimate that we process 400 contracts under $100,000 each year," a King County finance official said, and estimated administrative savings if informal processes were used in lieu of formal bidding.
Contractors expressed concern about potential abuses and asked for additional reporting sideboards and possible limits to rural counties. The Washington Newspaper Publishers Association urged protections for local notice requirements and recommended reissuing bid notices when bids are lacking rather than immediately moving to alternative procurement.
Proponents said the bill reflects recommendations from a 2021 study of local government public-works contracting and sought to create consistent statutes across counties. Witnesses supported amendments to ensure transparency and limit unintended consequences.
The hearing concluded without final action; Chair adjourned the committee after testimony.
