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SB 525 Connecticut Senate · 2025 Regular Session

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SELECTION OF CONTRACTORS FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

SB 525 requires state contracting agencies to prioritize in-state manufacturers, fabricators, and erectors when awarding contracts for public building construction, renovation, or demolition projects. If no qualified in-state contractors are available, agencies must then prefer U.S.-based contractors instead of following the current rule that mandates selecting the lowest-cost, responsible bidder. This change overrides existing laws (sections 4a-57 and 4a-59) and will cost the state approximately $319,412 annually starting in fiscal year 2026 for new staff to manage the revised bidding process. The bill directly affects all state agencies administering public works projects, including departments, boards, and commissions, but excludes judicial/legislative branches.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Bill → LAB Joint Favorable Substitute · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to add a 'notwithstanding' clause that explicitly overrides existing state procurement laws (sections 4a-57 and 4a-59) while keeping the core preference for in-state manufacturers, fabricators, and erectors. This strengthens the bill's legal authority by ensuring the preference requirement takes precedence over conflicting existing statutes. The effective date and substantive policy requirements remain unchanged.
Scope change
The bill's scope is strengthened by adding explicit legal authority to override conflicting procurement laws, ensuring the preference requirement cannot be circumvented by existing state statutes.
REQUIREMENT

Added 'notwithstanding' language to override sections 4a-57 and 4a-59 of the general statutes, ensuring the in-state preference requirement takes legal precedence over conflicting procurement laws.

TECHNICAL

Changed document header from 'Committee Bill No. 525' to 'Substitute Bill No. 525' and updated sponsor designation to 'LAB Joint Favorable Subst.'

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Mar 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Joint Favorable Substitute
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Labor and Public Employees
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
DRAFTED BY COMMITTEE
upper
Jan 13, 2025
Committee
REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Labor and Public Employees
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.