The momentum for design-build continues to grow across the country, and 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for advancing design-build authority at the state level. With key bills under consideration in states like Missouri, Texas and New York, DBIA is actively monitoring and supporting efforts that will expand and protect design-build project delivery.
As these legislative decisions unfold, this is a crucial moment to ensure design-build projects are supported by strong statutory foundations — and DBIA’s updated 2025 State Statute Report (SSR) is the essential resource to guide industry leaders, policymakers and Owners.
Key Legislation to Watch
Several states are considering critical legislation that could significantly impact the future of design-build procurement. Here’s what’s happening in three of DBIA’s priority states:
Missouri: Protecting Design-Build Authority
Senate Bill 10 and House Bills 413, 513 and 536 aim to remove the sunset date on political subdivisions’ ability to use design-build, ensuring cities, counties and municipalities can continue leveraging this efficient project delivery method. Without these bills, some jurisdictions could lose the ability to utilize design-build, impacting infrastructure projects statewide.
Texas: Expanding Municipal Design-Build Authority for WWW Projects
Currently, Texas law only allows those municipalities with a population over 100,000 to use design-build on water/wastewater projects. Both Senate Bill 553 and Senate Bill 1301 would remove the municipal population threshold on design-build water/wastewater projects. Senate Bill 553, however, would go one step further by authorizing progressive design-build (PDB) on these municipal water/wastewater projects.
New York: Expanding Progressive Design-Build Authority
Governor’s Public Protection and General Government Budget Bills would dramatically expand PDB authority for state agencies. The bills, Senate Bill 3005 and Assembly Bill 3005, would expand PDB authority to all those state agencies that currently have design-build authority and the State University of New York City and the University Construction Fund. The bill also authorizes design-build authority for 10 specific projects.
These legislative efforts reflect a growing recognition of the value that design-build brings to infrastructure development. But as design-build expands, it’s vital for legislation to align with DBIA’s Best Practices to ensure project success.
Why Strong Legislation Matters
Design-build is no longer an “alternative” delivery method — it’s the fastest-growing approach in the U.S., accounting for nearly half of all design and construction projects. However, inconsistent state statutes can create challenges for Owners and industry professionals. Well-crafted legislation ensures:
- Design-build remains accessible to public agencies and municipalities.
- Best-value selection and progressive design-build (PDB) are implemented effectively.
- Public procurement laws support efficient, collaborative and high-quality project delivery.
Without strong legislative frameworks, states risk limiting the potential of design-build, leading to inefficiencies, project delays and missed opportunities for innovation.
2025 State Statute Report: An Updated Resource for Advocates
To help navigate these legislative changes, DBIA updated the State Statute Report (SSR) for 2025 — the most comprehensive guide to design-build laws nationwide. This refreshed edition builds on previous versions to provide the latest insights, including state-by-state analysis of design-build authorization and restrictions, new developments in best-value and progressive design-build procurement, and guidance for lawmakers and industry professionals on advancing design-build legislation.
With legislative landscapes shifting, the 2025 SSR ensures stakeholders have the most up-to-date information needed to advocate for Design-Build Done Right®.
How You Can Get Involved
Advocating for strong design-build legislation is a shared effort. Here’s how you can take action:
- Download DBIA’s State Legislation Toolkits: DBIA offers several resources to support state-level advocacy, including our Guide for Enactment of Design-Build Legislation, Model Legislation Addendum and the updated 2025 State Statute Report, all available for free in the DBIA Bookstore. These toolkits provide essential guidance for advancing design-build policies in your state.
- Engage with DBIA’s advocacy efforts: Reach out to DBIA’s legislative team to discuss policy priorities, join us at or submit a proposal for one of our four annual conferences and connect with your local DBIA Region and Chapter to get involved locally.
- Learn more and stay engaged: Subscribe to the Design-Build Delivers Podcast and Design-Build Delivers Blog, attend a DBIA webinar or educational event focused on advocacy and share your experiences or case studies demonstrating the value of design-build in your state.
Design-build’s continued success depends on strong, well-crafted legislation that ensures projects are delivered efficiently, cost-effectively and with the highest quality. As legislative sessions progress, DBIA remains committed to advocating for policies that empower public and private sector Owners to make the most of design-build’s benefits.
Stay tuned for more updates on pending legislation, and don’t forget to secure your copy of the 2025 State Statute Report update today!
