AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL CONTRACTS FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES.

HB 7149 requires municipalities to use a qualification-based selection process for professional engineering contracts exceeding $100,000 paid with state funds, starting January 1, 2026. It mandates that municipalities publish project descriptions and evaluation criteria online, then rank firms based on their qualifications - including past performance, staff credentials, quality control measures, and proposed approach - rather than solely on price. This directly affects all cities and towns in the state when contracting for engineering services funded by state money. The bill also allows municipalities to maintain pre-approved vendor lists but requires transparency by publishing all submitted qualifications, rankings, and final contract details online.