State legislative sessions are wrapping up across the country, and design-build continues to gain momentum.
In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, DBIA’s Richard Thomas joins Erin Looney to break down the biggest state legislative developments affecting design-build, including expanded authority, progressive design-build activity, sunset extensions and removals and the growing role of DBIA regions in legislative advocacy.
Richard discusses why transportation remains active, why water/wastewater and building projects are increasingly important and how states such as Missouri, California, Illinois and West Virginia reflect broader national trends. He also explains why passing legislation is only part of the work. Once Owners receive new or expanded authority, they still need training, internal alignment, industry engagement and the right support to use design-build successfully.
The conversation also looks ahead to the next legislative cycle, including expected activity in Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York and other states, as well as federal transportation reauthorization.
Guest
Richard Thomas
Director of State and Local Legislative Affairs
DBIA
Washington, DC
2026 State Legislative Recap: Expanded Authority, Sunsets and What Comes Next
Resources
Want to learn more? Check out these resources mentioned in the episode:
- DBIA Pending Legislation: Follow the latest state legislative activity affecting design-build authority, including updates on transportation, water/wastewater and other public-sector markets.
- DBIA State Advocacy: Explore DBIA’s state advocacy resources, including guidance for advancing effective design-build legislation and supporting broader understanding of collaborative delivery.
- DBIA Advocacy Toolkits: Access practical tools and resources to help Owners, practitioners and advocates communicate the value of design-build and support Design-Build Done Right® implementation.
- States Look to Broaden Design-Build Authority in Transportation, Water/Wastewater in 2026: Read DBIA’s overview of 2026 state legislative trends, including efforts to expand and refine design-build authority in transportation and water/wastewater.
- The Role of the Owner Advisor in Design-Build Projects: Learn how experienced Owner Advisors can help Owners prepare for design-build success, from procurement planning to implementation of Design-Build Done Right® best practices.
Chapters
00:00 — Welcome and Episode Overview
02:04 — The Big 2026 Legislative Headline
02:30 — Where Design-Build Authority Is Expanding
08:09 — Illinois, Sunsets and Progressive Design-Build
12:58 — What Moving Sunsets Mean for Design-Build
13:36 — DBIA’s Role in State Advocacy
19:53 — What Owners Need to Do After Authority Changes
23:20 — What to Watch Next
27:38 — Closing Thoughts
The Design-Build Delivers Podcast is sponsored by ARKANCE. Learn more at arkance.us/dbia.
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