PUBLIC WORKS – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding competitive bidding.

This Idaho bill (H 56) revises public works bidding rules for state projects. It lowers the threshold requiring formal competitive bidding from $50,000 to $25,000 for most projects and adds a two-stage prequalification process for contractors, requiring standards like technical competence, safety records, and past performance. The bill also explicitly prohibits state agencies from considering environmental, social, or governance (ESG) factors when evaluating bids. These changes directly affect state agencies issuing contracts and licensed contractors bidding on public works projects.