Senate committee advances bill to align state airport procurement with federal standards

The Senate Economic Development Committee voted to report Senate Bill 607 to the full Senate, instructing that the measure first be referred to the Committee on Government Organization. The bill would allow regional airport authorities that meet federal procurement requirements for federally funded construction projects to be treated as satisfying state matching-fund requirements.

Committee counsel told the committee that "this bill provides that regional airport authorities that satisfy federal procurement requirements for federally funded construction projects will be deemed to satisfy requirements for state matching funds." A senator from the 13th said the change "eliminates an extra layer or duplicate layer of activity by the airport authority if they've already met the federal level," and added that providing relief in that situation "makes sense."

Vice Chair moved the committee report and the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The chair declared the motion adopted and said the bill will be reported to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass, subject to the original double reference to Government Organization. No amendments or formal questions were recorded in committee.

Next procedural step: the full Senate will receive the bill and the measure will be considered further after referral to the Committee on Government Organization.