House Bill No. 2440, introduced by Representative Pfeiffer, amends Section 208 of Title 61 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which governs the approval, negotiation, and award of contracts related to construction and consulting services. The bill outlines the responsibilities of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services in selecting and awarding contracts, negotiating fees, and administering construction contracts for state agencies. It also establishes a process for negotiating with the lowest responsible bidder when bids exceed the estimated costs due to unforeseen economic conditions, ensuring that projects can proceed without unnecessary delays.

A significant change introduced by this bill is the exemption for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board from the provisions of this section when hiring engineers and consultants for programs that do not involve the construction of public facilities. This exemption is in addition to those already provided to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Commissioners of the Land Office. The bill also allows the Director to grant exemptions to other state agencies under certain conditions, such as compliance with planning and procurement standards. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Sub Committee OR Policy Committee Recommendations (House) Policy Committee Recommendation: 61-208