When the Texas Legislature meets, there are always changes that impact procurement. If you search the statutes, you will see that these changes have already been incorporated into the language. If you search the individual bills, you will more easily see the changes that were made, https://capitol.texas.gov/.
The Big Change!
SB 1173 increased the formal bid limit for counties from $50,000 to $100,000. The law still states that purchases may not be broken into separate purchases to avoid the purchasing limit. This applies to categories of like purchases, such as law enforcement vehicles. If the purchases for the fiscal year exceed the $100,000 limit, the formal bid process, advertising, and formal award must be completed for all purchases in that category.
Additional Changes Impacting Procurement That May Require Changes in Your Specifications
HB 206: States a county may not require a cash bond as a condition of approval for the construction of a pipeline in the county’s boundaries.
HB 1261: Modifies the procedures for notification and publication of abandoned or unclaimed property to include using the internet website and social networking website of the law enforcement agency that seized the property within the specified period of 90 days to notify owners and to give notice of the date and location on the sale at least 14 days prior to sale. See the bill for details that must be included in the notifications and other requirements.
HB 1500: Includes changes to mandatory training requirements for governmental entities related to the reauthorization of the Department of Information Resources.
HB 1922: Provides procedures for a cause of action for a claim for damages asserted by a governmental entity for certain claims for damages caused by an alleged construction defect in a public building or public work against a contractor, subcontractor, supplier, or design professional. Details for the claim are described.
HB 2960: States when a contract may be void as against public policy and the extent that a venue provision in a contract is void. An action arising out of the contract shall be brought only in this state in the county in which the property that is the subject of the litigation is located.
HB 3005: Relates to the payment of funds under certain construction contracts.
HB 5331: Relates to the enforceability of certain state agency and local government contract language regarding required security incident notifications.
SB 480: Allows a local government to contract with another local government, the state, or the federal government to jointly participate in research or planning activities related to water resources.
SB 687: Relates to liability for land surveying services in or in connection with certain construction or services contracts to which a governmental entity is a party. This bill is very specific about the required contract wording.
SB 1062: Provides that in lieu of publishing a notice in a newspaper, a governmental entity may publish a notice in a digital newspaper if that digital newspaper meets very specific requirements.
