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SB 196 · 2025 · Senate · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Higher state bidding exemption threshold

AI-generated

relative to the exemption from competitive bidding requirements for certain state agency projects.

Exempts certain state agency projects costing not more than $1,000,000 from department of administrative services competitive bidding requirements, raising the previous $500,000 threshold.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · June 18, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓Senate
  3. ✓House
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

Analysis

This bill exempts certain agency projects of not more than $1,000,000 from the department of administrative services competitive bidding requirements. The current statute exempts such projects if the estimated total cost is not more than $500,000.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“The commissioner may grant other agencies an exclusion for specific projects whose estimated cost is not more than [$500,000] $1,000,000 if he or she concludes to do so is in the best interests of the state.”
Section 100:1
“Such projects may be done on a force account basis, by contracts awarded through competitive bidding, by short term rental of construction equipment, or by any combination of these methods.”
Section 100:1
“These departments are authorized to rent construction equipment for periods not exceeding 6 months at rates the departments deem competitive through the use of quotes or bids.”
Section 100:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Sen. David WattersDPrime
  • Sen. Regina BirdsellRMajority Leader
  • Sen. Howard PearlRChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Rep. Steven SmithRVice Chair· Rules
  • Rep. Michael MoffettRChair· State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Also: Sen. Donovan FentonD, Rep. Charlie St. ClairD

Public testimony

1 signed in online

0% support100% oppose0% neutral

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateCommittee report: Ought to Pass5–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Feb 13, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateCommittee reportCommittee report: Ought to Pass6–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • Mar 6, 2025SenateVoice voteOught to Passadopted
  • Apr 9, 2025HouseCommittee report· consent calendar: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1568h14–0
    Overall
    100% yea
  • May 1, 2025HouseVoice voteAmendment 2025-1568hadopted
  • May 1, 2025HouseVoice voteOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1568hadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as amended by the House
  • May 8, 2025SenateVoice voteSen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendmentadopted
    Resulting text: Bill as adopted by both chambers
  • Jun 5, 2025SenateVoice voteEnrolledadopted

Hearings and debates

  • Feb 5, 2025Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administration4:07:00–4:08:221m 22slocated in the stream transcriptHearing
  • Feb 13, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Mar 6, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • Apr 9, 2025Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration31:19–32:411m 22slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1568h; Public Hearing; Executive Session
  • May 1, 2025Floor debateHouse floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1568h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2025-1568h — adopted, voice vote
  • May 8, 2025Floor debateSenate floor23:53–24:4350slocated in the stream transcriptSen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment — adopted, voice vote
  • Jun 5, 2025Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 9, 2025SenIntroduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 3
  2. Feb 5, 2025SenHearing: 02/05/2025, Room 103, SH, 11:00 am; SC 8
  3. Feb 13, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 02/13/2025; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 9
  4. Feb 13, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 02/13/2025; SJ 5
  5. Mar 6, 2025Sen: Ought to Pass, 03/06/2025; Vote 6-0; CC; SC 11
  6. Mar 6, 2025SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/06/2025; SJ 6
  7. Mar 27, 2025HouseIntroduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 11 P. 112
  8. Apr 9, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 04/09/2025 01:30 pm LOB 306-308
  9. Apr 9, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 04/09/2025 01:30 pm LOB 306-308
  10. Apr 9, 2025House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1568h 04/09/2025 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 22 P. 9
  11. May 1, 2025HouseAmendment # 2025-1568h: AA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 5
  12. May 1, 2025HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2025-1568h: MA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13 P. 5
  13. May 8, 2025SenSen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
  14. Jun 5, 2025HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/05/2025 HJ 16 P. 167
  15. Jun 5, 2025SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/05/2025); SJ 16
  16. Jun 17, 2025SenSigned by the Governor on 06/17/2025; Chapter 0100; Effective 08/16/2025

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.