SB213 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: J.T. WaggonerSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Bids, competitive, contracts for which bids required, threshold amount increased for certain governmental entities, retroactive, Sec. 41-16-21 am'd.
Summary: SB213 raises the bidding threshold to $15,000 for certain state entities and aligns their bidding rules with other agencies, retroactive to a 2012 act.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Section 41-16-21 to increase the minimum amount at which competitive bidding is required from $7,500 to $15,000 for educational and eleemosynary institutions and the Alabama State Port Authority, along with other agencies subject to bidding. It maintains existing exemptions listed in the section and requires these exempt entities to conduct open, sealed bidding for contracts of $15,000 or more (where applicable). It also requires a sworn, public statement when the Port Authority avoids bidding due to emergencies, and makes contracts entered in violation void. The changes are retroactive to the effective date of Act 2012-462 and take effect immediately after passage.

Who It Affects
Educational and eleemosynary institutions (governed by boards) – their contracts now start requiring competitive bidding at a higher $15,000 threshold instead of $7,500 for many procurements.
Alabama State Port Authority – procurement threshold for bidding is increased to align with other state entities, with provisions for emergencies and public disclosure when bidding is bypassed.
Other state agencies subject to competitive bidding – the threshold for when bidding is required has been raised to $15,000, aligning with the 2012 Act changes.
Goods, services, and personal property procurements at or above $15,000 – must be bid when applicable under the new threshold; contracts below the threshold may follow existing exemptions.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 41-16-21 to raise the bidding threshold from $7,500 to $15,000 for certain entities (educational/electeleemosynary institutions and the Alabama State Port Authority, plus other agencies subject to bidding).
Educational and eleemosynary institutions and the Port Authority are exempt from the article’s general requirements but must conduct free and open competitive bidding for contracts involving $15,000 or more where applicable, with requirements to maintain purchasing facilities to support bidding.
Requires the Port Authority Director and Secretary-Treasurer to file a sworn, written statement in the permanent records describing emergencies or exigencies justify negotiation instead of bidding, and to provide copies to the Governor and Attorney General; such statements must be public.
Contracts entered in violation of the article remain void; the act retains certain existing exemptions (e.g., insurance purchases, professional services, and other specified procurements).
The amendment is remedial and curative and retroactive to the effective date of Act 2012-462, 2012 Regular Session, with immediate effect upon passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Competitive Bids