Pending Legislation
House Bill 377: Limitations on County Power to Contract
Introduced: Senator Patricia Rucker (R-16)
Summary: Relates to the state, county, and municipal road systems with an aim to revise contracting procedures related to the acquisition of certain professional services by counties and municipalities. The bill also has to do with public works bidding, so as to revise contracting procedures related to the acquisition of certain professional services by counties and municipalities. There is also an aspect of managerial control over acquisition of professional services, so as to expand such provisions to local governments.
Design-Build Impact: Does not change design-build authority within the state.
Last Action: March 3, 2026: The bill has been read a third time and has passed the SENATE and has gone back to the HOUSE for concurrence. The bill has a Governor’s deadline of May 12.
Status: Passed both Houses.
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low
House Bill 1277
Introduced: Representative Matt Barton (R-005)
Summary: The bill focuses on environmental policy and highways, bridges, and ferries. It increases the project cost threshold for public roads or airports requiring environmental evaluations, while also authorizing annual adjustments to such thresholds based upon inflation. The bill also details reporting requirements relating to projects and contracts awarded by the Department of Transportation.
Design-Build Impact: The main design-build impact of the bill is that it repeals a limit on the number of design-build projects that may be awarded by GDOT. GDOT would be required to provide the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and chairpersons of the House and Senate Transportation Committees a summary containing all the projects awarded during the fiscal year using design-build. This public report would be required to include an explanation for any projects awarded based upon anything other than the low-bid proposal, the considerations for any project awarded on a best value basis, and a summary of projects undertaken pursuant to this Code section in relation to the annual fiscal year report required by subsection (a) of Code Section 32-2-41.2. The lack of a limit on design-build projects for GDOT would open the door for an increase in flexibility and the number of design-build projects that fall into the transportation sector within the state.
Last Action: April 10, 2026: The bill has been passed by both the HOUSE and the SENATE and has been sent to the Governor’s desk.
Status: Sent to the Governor
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Medium