Assembly Bill 217 proposes significant changes to the competitive bidding thresholds for local government public works projects in Wisconsin. The bill raises the notice threshold from $5,000 to $10,000 and the bidding threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, with provisions for these amounts to be adjusted every five years based on inflation. Additionally, the bill introduces exceptions to the bidding requirements for public works related to housing for individuals on supervised release and for improvements constructed by private individuals and donated to local governments.

The bill also includes various amendments and new provisions across multiple sections of the statutes. Notably, it renumbers and amends existing sections to reflect the new thresholds and creates new subsections that clarify the application of these rules. For instance, it specifies that public contracts must be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder and outlines the conditions under which certain contracts may be exempt from these requirements, such as in emergencies or when materials are donated. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the bidding process while ensuring transparency and accountability in local government contracting.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 60.47(2)(a), 60.47, 60.47(2)(b), 60.47(3), 60.47(4), 60.47(5)(title)