SB14 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve LivingstonSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Contracts for public works; exemptions further provided

Summary

SB14 would expand exemptions from public bidding rules for the purchase and installation of certain materials and equipment by local boards of education and other approved public procurement units, while keeping most other bidding requirements in place.

What This Bill Does

Eligible entities could buy and install specified materials or equipment without the usual sealed-bid advertising for those items, using approved procurement channels. The rest of a public works project would still follow normal bidding, design, installation, codes, and bonding requirements. The bill adds emergency purchase carve-outs, a sole-source justification framework, a centralized bidding website, electronic bid options, and penalties for violations, with an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education and other educational/public procurement units would gain flexibility to purchase and install select materials or equipment without sealed bids for those items, subject to stated conditions.
• State and local public procurement units (including agencies and entities covered by the act) would have similar exemptions for eligible purchases, while the rest of their projects still follow standard contracting rules.

Key Provisions

• Exempts the purchase and installation of certain materials or equipment by local boards of education and other eligible public procurement units from standard bidding procedures when using specified procurement channels.
• Requires the remainder of the project to comply with normal bidding and contracting rules, even if only a portion is exempted.
• Allows purchase/installation of heating or air conditioning units via approved purchasing cooperatives under certain conditions.
• Adds emergency procurement allowances without public advertisement, with published justification.
• Establishes a sole-source justification framework (indispensable need, no alternatives, architect/engineer recommendation, documentation, and Alabama-licensed subcontractor) and requires competitive award when applicable.
• Provides for a centralized website (Dept of Finance) to post bid notices and allows electronic bidding with security controls.
• DOT road projects under $250,000 may skip advertising if listed on the DOT website for seven days, with an annual aggregate cap of $1,000,000.
• Violations can render contracts void and may result in Class C felony penalties for willful violations.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Competitive Bidding