Transportation committee adopts substitute for House Bill 2759 in executive session

The House Committee on Transportation voted in executive session to adopt a committee substitute for House Bill 27-59 and advanced the substitute with a roll-call tally of 13 ayes and one member voting present.

Sponsor Sean Boucher, a state representative from District 13, told the committee the one-page committee substitute changes the timing of when certain project numbers are posted: the bill requires those figures to be disclosed after the work has been awarded rather than during the bidding process. "At the time the work is awarded is the biggest key," Boucher said, explaining the substitute shifts disclosure to avoid interfering with bidders’ competitive pricing.

Representative Mayhew registered concern about the bill’s fiscal note and whether the change simply redistributes costs; he voted present to reserve judgment while he reviews potential fiscal impacts. The committee chair called the roll after discussion; the clerk recorded 13 ayes and one present. The committee then concluded the executive session and moved into the public hearing portion of its agenda.

The committee’s action was procedural: adoption of the substitute and a recommendation of "due pass" to advance the bill for further consideration. No floor-level enactment was taken during the meeting; action now moves to the next committee or chamber step where additional debate or amendment is possible.