HB 320 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

Public works contracts; requirement to publish publish advertisement; further provided

HB 320 amends the requirements for advertising public works contracts. It mandates that advertisements for these contracts be published for consecutive weeks on a centralized website. This website will be maintained by the Department of Finance, streamlining the competitive bidding process. This change primarily affects government entities issuing public works contracts and businesses seeking to bid on them.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Signed May 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 5 edits · May 14, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as Enrolled, updating its internal tracking number and adding a new requirement to establish a Study Commission on Public Notice of Title 39 Advertisements. Substantive changes include expanding the definition of awarding authorities to include municipal instrumentalities, adding a new centralized website for bid advertisements, and modifying rules for when advertisements must be published if newspapers fail to do so.

Scope change

The bill now applies to municipal instrumentalities in addition to states, counties, and municipalities, and introduces a new Study Commission focused on public notice requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement to establish the Study Commission on Public Notice of Title 39 Advertisements.

Mandated the Department of Finance to create and maintain a centralized website for publishing sealed bid advertisements.

Updated the rules for handling failed newspaper advertisements to include options for centralized website publication or mailing to registered bidders.

Changed the subsection reference from (j) to (j)(k) regarding exceptions to the sealed bid advertising requirement.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the definition of awarding authorities to explicitly include municipal instrumentalities.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pringle Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1183

lower

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 918

upper

May 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Elliott motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 917

upper

May 1, 2025

Introduced

Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development 1st Substitute Offered (Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development)

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development)

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 429

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 428

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced

Pringle 1st Amendment Offered

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 427

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced

State Government Engrossed Substitute Offered (State Government)

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (State Government)

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Introduced

State Government 1st Amendment (State Government)

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (State Government)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors