HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5844
As Reported by House Committee On:
Capital Budget
Title: An act relating to work performed by institutions of higher education.
Brief Description: Concerning work performed by institutions of higher education.
Sponsors: Senators Liias, Holy, Lovick, Nobles and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Capital Budget: 2/24/22, 2/25/22 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases bid limits required for public works projects to go through competitive bid processes at public institutions of higher education.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL BUDGET
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 20 members:Representatives Tharinger, Chair; Callan, Vice Chair; Hackney, Vice Chair; Steele, Ranking Minority Member; Abbarno, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McEntire, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bateman, Eslick, Gilday, Kloba, Kraft, Leavitt, MacEwen, Mosbrucker, Riccelli, Rule, Santos, Sells, Shewmake and Volz.
Minority Report: Without recommendation.Signed by 1 member:Representative Dye.
Staff: John Wilson-Tepeli (786-7115).
Background:

Public Works Projects.  
Public entities are generally required to go through a competitive bid process for public works projects estimated to cost over a certain dollar amount.  That amount varies depending on the entity and how many trades may be involved in the project.  The awarded contract must go to the responsible bidder who submits the lowest responsive bid.

 

Bid Limits for Public Institutions of Higher Education.  
The bid limit established for a competitive sealed bid process for a regional university, state university, or community and technical college (CTC) is limited to an amount equal to or more than $90,000 for any building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition, other than maintenance or repairs.  If the work only involves one trade or craft area, the amount may be equal to or more than $45,000.
Summary of Bill:

The bid limits established for public works projects at a regional university, state university, or CTC are increased.  For any building, construction, renovation, remodeling, or demolition, other than maintenance and repairs, the bid limit is increased from $90,000 to $110,000.  For work involving only one trade or craft area, it is increased from $45,000 to $90,000.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) The bid limits have not changed for many years.  The bid limits need to change because of the increase in costs for labor and materials during that time.  Because of the time elapsed since the last threshold increase, the amount of in-house work that can be accomplished at public universities and colleges has diminished.  There are lots of jobs that could be done in-house, but inflation has now put them over the single-trade limit.  In-house staff work on small, not large, scale projects.  These employees are on staff and already being paid.  The use of in-house labor provides flexibility to public universities and colleges.

 

(Opposed) None. 

 

 
Persons Testifying: Paula Lukaszek, Matt Zuvich, and Brandon Taylor, Washington Federation of State Employees.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.