SB234 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mark Slade Blackwell

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Competitive bids, counties and municipalities, personal property, local preference zones, percent over low bid increased to award to resident bidder, Sec. 41-16-50 am'd

Summary

SB234 raises the local preference threshold for awarding personal property contracts to resident bidders from 3% to 5% within a local preference zone.

What This Bill Does

If passed, counties and municipalities could award a contract to a resident bidder within the local preference zone even when that bidder’s price is up to 5% higher than the lowest bid. This applies to purchases or leases of personal property valued at $15,000 or more and uses open, sealed bidding. The local preference zone can be defined by the awarding authority’s boundaries, the county boundaries, or the Core Based Statistical Area, and if not defined, it defaults to the awarding authority’s boundaries. If only one bid is received, the authority may reject it and negotiate a lower price than the bid.

Who It Affects

• Resident bidders with a business located in the local preference zone, who may win contracts if their bid is within 5% of the lowest bid.
• Non-resident bidders or resident bidders outside the local preference zone, who may be less favored under the expanded local preference rule.

Key Provisions

• The local preference threshold for awarding to a resident bidder within the local preference zone increases from 3% to 5% over the lowest bid.
• The local preference zone is defined by the awarding authority’s boundaries, the county’s boundaries, or the CBSA; if not defined, it defaults to the awarding authority’s boundaries.
• Applies to purchases or leases of personal property in expenditures of $15,000 or more, subject to open competitive bidding.
• If only one bid is received, the awarding authority may reject it and negotiate a price lower than the bid price.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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

Subjects

Counties