House Bill No. introduced by J. Schillinger aims to revise state contract requirements for construction, repair, or public works in Montana. The bill amends Section 18-1-102 of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to establish a resident preference for bidders, allowing resident bidders to receive a preference against nonresident bidders from states that enforce similar preferences. This preference is applicable to contracts for both construction and the purchase of goods. Additionally, the bill outlines specific circumstances under which a contract awarded to the lowest bidder may be canceled, such as if the lowest bidder has not performed on a prior contract, has requested more than two extensions, or has failed to perform warranty work.

Furthermore, the bill includes an appropriation of $500 from the general fund to the Department of Administration for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025. This funding is designated for updating educational materials to inform the public about the changes made in the bill. The proposed amendments and appropriations aim to enhance the transparency and fairness of the bidding process for public contracts in Montana.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 18-1-102
HB0875_1(1): 18-1-102
HB0875_1(2): 18-1-102
HB0875_1: 18-1-102