SB52 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lowell Barron

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Contracts, no-bid contracts in excess of certain amount, prohibited, exception, penalties

Summary

SB52 would prohibit no-bid contracts over $7,500, require competitive bidding for state contracts with public online posting, and include specific emergencies and other exceptions.

What This Bill Does

It would require that any state contract over $7,500 be competitively bid and open to the general public after a reasonable advertising period on a central state online site, with awards going to the lowest responsible bidder. Contracts entered into without meeting this bidding requirement would be null and void, and the state could not honor them. The act includes a retroactive provision applying the bidding rules to contracts over $250,000 that are not at least 50% complete when the act becomes law, dating back to when those contracts were entered. It also includes emergency and other exceptions (emergency contracts during a declared state of emergency, certain utility contracts with no competition or fixed rates, and professional services for veterans’ homes and cemeteries), requires funds to be appropriated and paid on a state warrant, imposes penalties for noncompliance, and takes effect immediately after passage.

Who It Affects

• State agencies and lawmakers (including the Governor, House, and Senate) would have to competitively bid contracts over $7,500 and post them publicly online.
• Contractors and vendors bidding on state contracts would be subject to the bidding rules and could be affected by the voiding of any no-bid contracts; the public and media would gain online access to bidding information and emergency contract notices.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits no-bid contracts for state contracts over $7,500; requires competitive bidding and public posting on a central state website; awards go to the lowest responsible bidder; no-bid contracts not in compliance are void.
• Contracts over $250,000 not at least 50% complete are retroactively subject to the bidding requirements dating to the contract’s start date.
• Emergency contracts during a state of emergency are exempt from the bidding requirement if designated as emergencies by the Governor, with public notification and posting of details.
• Subsection (a) does not apply to utility contracts where there is no competition or rates are fixed by law or ordinance; the bidding requirement applies only when funded by appropriated funds on a state warrant.
• Procurement of professional services for managing/operating a state veterans’ home and for establishing a state veterans’ cemetery is exempt.
• Penalties include removal from state government positions upon final conviction for noncompliance.
• Effective immediately after passage and approval; the act supersedes conflicting laws.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Contracts