This bill amends Section 103 of Title 61 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which governs public construction contracts. The key changes include raising the price threshold for certain construction contract negotiations with qualified contractors from Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) to Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00). Additionally, it specifies that construction contracts for minor maintenance or repair work to public school district property under Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) may be negotiated with a qualified contractor, while contracts equal to or greater than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) but less than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The bill also introduces provisions for local bid preferences, allowing counties, cities, and local government units to provide a local bid preference of up to five percent (5%) for contracts exceeding One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) if it is determined that there is an economic benefit to the local area. However, this preference can only be granted if the local bidder is the second lowest qualified bid. Furthermore, the bill outlines the requirements for purchasing cooperatives and their affiliated contractors in relation to public construction contracts, ensuring compliance with the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and an emergency clause is included for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 61-103