Public purchasing laws; amend to revise the lowest and best bid decision procedure.

HB 21 revises Mississippi's public purchasing laws to change how "lowest and best" bids are evaluated. It requires state agencies and local governing authorities (like school districts, hospitals, and municipalities) to consider life cycle costs, warranties, and other factors - not just the lowest price - when selecting vendors for public purchases. The bill amends Section 31-7-1 to define "lowest and best" and mandates that total long-term costs, not just initial price, be part of bid calculations. This applies to all purchases of goods, equipment, and services funded by public money, aiming to prevent short-term savings that lead to higher future expenses.