Substitute House Bill No. 7018 establishes a Test Bed Technologies Program designed to help state agencies reduce operational costs through the evaluation of innovative technologies, products, or processes. The bill creates a Test Bed Technologies Advisory Board within the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), which will consist of members appointed by various state officials, including the Governor. This board is responsible for assessing pilot program applications and recommending projects that meet specific criteria, such as safety and commercial availability, particularly those from certified small businesses or minority-owned enterprises. The bill mandates that state agencies conduct pilot tests lasting between 30 to 60 days for technologies that show potential cost savings.

The legislation outlines that all costs associated with the pilot programs will be the responsibility of the applicant, and it clarifies that the acquisition of technology for testing will not be classified as a purchase under state procurement law. Additionally, proprietary information from these pilot tests will be exempt from public disclosure. The bill also allows for the waiver of certain competitive bidding requirements for the procurement of test projects and ensures that previously tested projects by municipalities can be evaluated under the same criteria. The effective date for the implementation of this bill is set for July 1, 2025.