Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Capital Budget Committee
HB 2353
Brief Description: Concerning predesign thresholds.
Sponsors: Representatives Keaton, Leavitt, Klicker, Zahn and Jacobsen.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the predesign threshold for capital construction projects from $10 million to $15 million and adjusts the threshold annually for inflation.
Hearing Date: 1/29/26
Staff:

John Wilson-Tepeli (360-786-7115)
Background:

Predesign and Capital Projects.

Predesign is a planning and analysis process that may be completed prior to the design and construction phases of capital projects.  Broadly, predesigns for state-funded capital construction projects include identification of the problem that the project would address, analysis of project alternatives, detailed analysis of the preferred alternative, and project budget analysis.  Predesigns typically include:  (a) building massing schemes; (b) site planning; (c) other planning and regulatory analysis; (d) risk assessment; and (e) detailed consideration of the preferred alternative's programmatic use and planned occupancy of the facility.  State-funded predesign requirements are outlined in the Office of Financial Management’s (OFM) Predesign Manual.

 

Predesign Cost Thresholds.

Predesigns are generally required for state-funded capital construction projects valued over $10 million.  Certain capital projects below this threshold, such as high-risk projects, may also be required to complete a predesign.  The OFM may also grant exceptions for some or all predesign requirements for higher-cost projects under certain conditions (e.g. low-risk or relatively simple projects).  If some or all predesign requirements are waived, the OFM may propose a professional cost estimate in lieu of a request for predesign funding.  When the OFM grants exceptions to the predesign process, it must report various information about the exception to the fiscal committees of the Legislature.

 

C-100 Form.

As part of the OFM’s budgetary role in administering state capital projects, it requires agencies to submit a capital budget form called the C-100 for major capital project funding requests.  This form is used for cost estimating purposes and includes an inflation factor that is updated each year.
Summary of Bill:

The statutory threshold for capital construction projects is increased from $10 million to $15 million.  The OFM is required to adjust this threshold annually for inflation, using the C-100 form’s inflation factor, beginning July 1, 2027.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.