Arkansas House Bill HB1949

Arkansas 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/1/25
• Refer: 4/1/25
• Report Pass: 4/7/25
• Engrossed: 4/8/25
• Refer: 4/8/25
• Failed: 5/5/25

Caption

To Add Medical, Emergency Medical, And Ambulance Services To The List Of Professional Services For Purposes Of Procurement.

Impact

If enacted, HB1949 would modify Arkansas Code § 19-11-801 and § 19-11-802 by specifically exempting medical-related services from competitive bidding. This amendment aligns these services with other professional services categories such as legal, engineering, and construction management services, which are similarly exempt. The direct impact of this bill is expected to enhance the efficiency of procuring crucial medical and emergency services, potentially leading to faster response times and improved public health outcomes.

Summary

House Bill 1949 is aimed at amending existing legislation regarding the procurement of professional services by political subdivisions within the state of Arkansas. The bill proposes to include medical, emergency medical, and ambulance services in the list of services for which competitive bidding is not required. This change is presented as a way to streamline the procurement process and ensure that political subdivisions can access these essential services without the constraints that competitive bidding can impose.

Contention

The bill's inclusion of medical and emergency services in the non-competitive bidding category may raise questions about accountability and transparency in procurement processes. While supporters advocate that this will expedite the acquisition of necessary services, opponents might argue that bypassing competitive bidding could lead to less rigorous vetting of service providers, potentially resulting in increased costs or inadequate service quality. Legislative discussions may reflect differing priorities between efficiency and oversight in government spending.