The bill amends Section 37-2-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-2, titled "State Purchases," by adding a new definition section that clarifies various terms related to state procurement processes. It introduces a new definition for "State software application purchases," which encompasses all types of agreements for the purchase or disposal of supplies, services, construction, or any other item entered into by a state agency, the cost of which may be funded in whole or in part by state resources. This includes various contract types such as fixed-price, cost-plus-a-fixed-fee, and incentive contracts, as well as leases and purchase orders.

Additionally, the bill includes a new section, 37-2-83, which explicitly prohibits state agencies from entering into contracts for the licensing of software applications that limit their ability to install or run the software on hardware of their choosing.

This act will take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7544: 37-2-7