SB36 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Wes KitchensSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Competitive bidding; contract protest procedures revised; requirements for submitting disclosure statements revised

Summary

SB36 tightens Alabama's procurement rules by bringing volunteer fire departments and rescue squads under local bidding, speeding up bid protests, and revamping bidder disclosure requirements.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it makes volunteer fire departments and rescue squads subject to local competitive bid laws, rather than only the state procurement code. It tightens bid protest timelines from 14 days to 5 days and establishes a defined protest review process outside the Administrative Procedure Act. It revises disclosure requirements for bidders and proposers, including thresholds, accepted disclosure forms, and the option for annual disclosures, plus electronic filing and public-record access. It also preserves and clarifies procurement authority and adds related emergency-procurement rules and exemptions for certain contracts.

Who It Affects

• Volunteer fire departments and rescue squads would now be governed by local competitive bid laws when purchasing supplies or services.
• Bidders, contract proposers, and state agencies/purchasing officials would face updated protest timelines, revised disclosure requirements (including thresholds and forms), and new filing/electronic submission processes.

Key Provisions

• Extends local competitive bidding authority to volunteer fire departments and rescue squads (modifies Article 3 provisions) so their purchases follow local bid laws.
• Reduces the deadline to file a protest from 14 days to 5 days and sets timeline for protest resolution; protest procedures are not subject to the Administrative Procedure Act.
• Revises disclosure statements: raises thresholds for required disclosures, allows alternative disclosure forms, permits a single annual disclosure for multiple proposals, and enables electronic submission; disclosures become public records; includes authentication and certification requirements.
• Creates exemptions and clarifications for disclosures, including excluding contracts with publicly traded companies and awards of economic development incentives, and allowing certain contracts (e.g., gas/water/electric with no competition) to be exempt.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Competitive Bidding