This bill aims to revise the residency preferences for public contracts and extend contract term limits in Montana. It designates the Department of Administration as the authority responsible for determining the residency status of contractors bidding on public contracts for construction, repair, and the purchase of goods. The bill allows contractors to support their preference claims through affidavits or declarations and extends the maximum contract term for most supplies and services from 7 years to 10 years. Additionally, it amends several sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes.

Key amendments include the replacement of the "Department of Labor and Industry" with the "Department of Administration" in determining contractor residency, and the introduction of the option for bidders to submit either an affidavit or a declaration when claiming a preference. The bill also modifies the contract term limit, increasing it from 7 to 10 years, while maintaining certain exceptions for specific types of contracts. Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline the process for determining contractor residency and enhance the flexibility of contract durations for public procurement.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 18-1-106, 18-1-113, 18-4-313, 23-1-102