SHB 1295 passed off the House floor with 96 yes votes. The bill makes changes to the public works design-build bidding process, including:
- The limits for projects to be eligible for design-build are decreased from $10 million to $2 million;
- Work order amounts are increased from $350,000 to $500,000;
- The number of job orders that that can be awarded is increased from two to three;
- Job orders may be used by any public entity;
- Contracts over $350,000 and 600 hours in a single trade are required to include use of apprentices;
- Evaluation criteria for design-build contracts must include minority women owned business certification and reporting requirements; and
- The signed contract must include the minority women owned business and veteran business reporting requirement.
HB 1285 changes the composition of the Public Works Board and passed off the floor with 93 yes votes. The bill adds the state treasurer or treasurer’s designee as the fourteenth member of the board.
Both bills are moving to the Senate for further consideration.