Revise local government conflict of interest laws for contracted projects

This bill updates Montana's conflict of interest rules for local government construction contracts by prohibiting counties, cities, and towns from awarding contracts to companies that have a financial connection to the project's designers or engineers. The law prevents situations where a contractor or its related parties have participated in designing or managing the project, which could create a conflict between selecting a builder and having previously influenced the project's plans. It also clarifies what counts as a financial interest, such as ownership stakes or advisory roles, while excluding common investments like mutual funds. Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes to ensure these conflict rules apply during the competitive bidding process for public works and construction projects.