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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
HOUSE BILL 2165 By: Pfeiffer of the House
and
Murdock of the Senate
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to counties and county officer s;
amending 19 O.S. 2021, Section 1505, as amended by
Section 3, Chapter 94, O.S.L. 2022 (19 O.S. Supp.
2024, Section 1505), which relates to the procedures
for the operation of county government; permitting
certain interlocal agreements; and providing an
effective date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 19 O.S. 2021, Section 1505, as
amended by Section 3, Chapter 94, O.S.L. 2022 (19 O.S. Supp. 2024,
Section 1505), is amended to read as follows:
Section 1505. The following procedures shall be used by
counties for the requisition, purchase, lease -purchase, rental, and
receipt of supplies, materials, road and bridge construction
services, equipment and information technology and t elecommunication
goods and services for the maintenance, operation, and capital
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expenditures of county government unless otherwise provided for by
law.
A. The procedure for requisitioning items for county offices
shall be as follows:
1. The requesting de partment shall prepare a requisition form
in triplicate. The requisition shall contain a ny specifications for
an item as deemed necessary by the requesting department. The form
shall be prescribed by the State Auditor and Inspector;
2. The requesting de partment shall retain a copy of the
requisition and forward the original requisition and a copy to the
county purchasing agent; and
3. Upon receipt of the requisition , the county purchasing
agent, within two (2) working days, shall begin the bidding and
purchasing process as provided for in this section. Nothing in this
section shall prohibi t the transfer of supplies, materials, or
equipment between county departments upon a written agreement
between county officers.
B. The bid procedure for selecting a vendor for the purchase,
lease-purchase, or rental of supplies, materials, equipment and
information technology and telecommunication goods and services used
by a county shall be as follows:
1. The county purchasing agent shall request written
recommendations from all county officers pertaining to needed or
commonly used supplies, materials, road and bridge construction
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services, equipment and information technology and telecommunication
goods and services. From such recommendations and available
requisition, purchase, or inventory records, the county purchasing
agent shall prepare a list of items needed or commonly used by
county officers. The county purchasing agent shall request from the
Purchasing Division or from the Information Services Division in the
case of information technology and telecommunication goods and
services of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services all
contracts quoting the price the state is paying for the items. The
county purchasing agent shall either request the Purchas ing Division
or the Information Services Division of the Office of Management and
Enterprise Services, as applicable, to make the purchase for the
county or the county purchasing agent shall solicit bids for unit
prices on the items for periods of not to e xceed twelve (12) months
in the manner described in paragraph 2 of this subsection. If t he
county purchasing agent receives a requisition for an item for which
the county purchasing agent does not have a current bid, the county
purchasing agent shall requ est from the Purchasing Division or the
Information Services Division of the Office of Ma nagement and
Enterprise Services, as applicable, all contracts quoting the pri ce
the state is paying for the item. The county purchasing agent shall
either request the Purchasing Division or the Information Services
Division of the Office of Management an d Enterprise Services, as
applicable, to make the purchase for the county or the county
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purchasing agent shall solicit bids in the manner described in
paragraph 2 of this subsection. Nothing in this paragraph shall
prohibit bids from being taken on an ite m currently on a twelve -
month bid list, at any time deemed necessary by the co unty
purchasing agent. Whenever the county purchasing agent deems it
necessary to take a bid on an item currently on a twelve -month bid
list, the reason for the bid shall be ent ered into the minutes of
the board of county commissioners;
2. Bids shall be solicited by mailing or emailing a notice to
all persons or firms who have made a written request of the county
purchasing agent that they be notified of such bid solicitation an d
to all other persons or firms who might reasonably be expected to
submit bids. Notice of solicitation of bids shall also be published
one time in a newspaper of gen eral circulation in the county.
Notices shall be mailed and published at least ten (10) days prior
to the date on which the bids are opened. Proof of the mailing or
emailing shall be made by the affidavit of the person mailing or
emailing the request for bids and shall be made a part of the
official records of the county purchasing agent. T he notice shall
specify whether the county will consider written bids, electro nic
bids, or both; the decision to exclusively consider either written
bids or electronic bids shall be determined pursuant to an
affirmative vote of the board of county commissi oners. Whenever any
prospective supplier or vendor dealing in or listing for sale any
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particular item or article required to be purchased or acquired by
sealed bids fails to enter or offer a sealed bid for three
successive bid solicitations, the name of t he supplier or vendor may
be dropped from the mailing lists of the board of co unty
commissioners;
3. The sealed bids received from vendors and the state contract
price received from the applicable Division of the Office of
Management and Enterprise Servic es shall be given to the county
clerk by the county purchasing agent. The county clerk shall
forward the sealed bids and state contract price, if any, to the
board of county commissioners;
4. The board of county commissioners, in an open meeting, shall
open the sealed bids and compare them to the state contract price.
The board of county commissioners shall select the lowest and best
bid based upon, if applicable, th e availability of material and
transportation cost to the job site within thirty (30) day s of the
meeting. For any special item not included on the list of needed or
commonly used items, the requisitioning official shall review the
bids and submit a writt en recommendation to the board before final
approval. The board of county commissioners shall keep a written
record of the meeting as required by law, and any time th e lowest
bid was not considered to be the lowest and best bid, the reason for
such conclusion shall be recorded. Whenever the board of county
commissioners rejects the written r ecommendation of the
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requisitioning official pertaining to a special item, the reasons
for the rejection shall be entered in their minutes and stated in a
letter to the requisitioning official and county purchasing agent;
5. The county purchasing agent sh all notify the successful
bidders and shall maintain a copy of the notificatio n. The county
purchasing agent shall prepare and maintain a vendors list
specifying the successful bidders and shall notify each county
officer of the list. The county purchasi ng agent may remove any
vendor from such list who refuses to provide goods or services as
provided by contract if the removal is authorized by the board of
county commissioners. The county purchasing agent may make
purchases from the successful bidders fo r a price at or below the
bid price. If a vendor who is the low bidder cannot or will not
sell goods or services as required by a county bid contract, the
county purchasing agent may make a one -time purchase from the next
lowest or best quote or take quot ations as provided in paragraph 6
of this subsection; provided, however, such purchase does not exceed
Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) as the amount specifie d in
subparagraph a of paragraph 3 of subsection A of Section 1501 of
this title; and
6. When bids have been solicited as provided for by law and no
bids have been received, the procedure shall be as follows:
a. the county purchasing agent shall determine if
potential vendors are willing to commit to a firm
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price for a reduced period of time, and, if such is
the case, the bid procedure described in this
subsection shall be followed,
b. if vendors are not willing to commit to a firm price
for a reduced period, the purchasing agent shall
solicit and record at least three (3) quotes of
current prices available to the county and authorize
the purchase of goods or services b ased on the lowest
and best quote as it becomes necessary to acquire such
goods or services. The quotes shall be recorded on a
form prescribed by the State Auditor and Inspector and
shall be attached to the purchase order and filed with
the county clerk's copy of the purchase order. Any
time the lowest quote was not considered to be the
lowest and best quote, the reason for this conclusion
shall be recorded by the county purchas ing agent and
transmitted to the county clerk, or
c. if three quotes are not a vailable, a memorandum to the
county clerk from the county purchasing agent shall
describe the basis upon which a purchase is
authorized. The memorandum shall state the reasons
why the price for such a purchase is the lowest and
best under the circumstances. The county clerk shall
then attach the memorandum to the county clerk 's copy
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of the purchase order and file both in the office of
the county clerk.
C. After selection of a vendor, the procedure for the purchase,
lease-purchase, or rental of supplies, materials, road and bridge
construction services, equipment and information technology a nd
telecommunication goods and services used by a county shall be as
follows:
1. The county purchasing agent shall prepare a purchase order
in quadruplicate and submit it with a copy of the requisition to the
county clerk;
2. The county clerk shall then encumber the amount stated on
the purchase order and assign a sequential number to the pu rchase
order;
3. If there is an unencumbered balance in the appropriation
made for that purpose by the county excise board, the county clerk
shall so certify in the f ollowing form:
"I hereby certify that the amount of this encumbrance has been
entered against the designated appropriation accounts and that this
encumbrance is within the authorized available balance of the
appropriation.
Dated this ________ day of ______ __, 20__.
________________________________
County Clerk/Deputy
of _____________________ C ounty."
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In instances where it is impossible to ascertain the exact amount of
the indebtedness sought to be incurred at the time of recording the
encumbrance, an estima ted amount may be used. No purchase order
shall be valid unless signed by the county pur chasing agent and
certified by the county clerk; and
4. The county clerk shall file the original purchase order and
return three (3) copies to the county purchasing a gent who shall
file a copy, retain a copy for the county road and bridge inventory
officer if the purchase order is for the purchase of equipment,
supplies, or materia ls for the construction or maintenance of roads
and bridges, and submit the other copy to the receiving officer of
the requesting department.
D. 1. The procedure for the purcha se of supplies, materials,
equipment and information technology and telecommunication goods and
services at public auction or by sealed bid to be used by a county
shall be as follows:
a. the county purchasing agent shall prepare a purchase
order in quadruplicate and submit it with a copy of
the requisition to the county clerk,
b. the county clerk shall then encumber the amount stated
on the purchase order and assign a s equential number
to the purchase order,
c. if there is an unencumbered balance in the
appropriation made for that purpose by the county
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excise board, the county clerk shall so certify in the
following form:
"I hereby certify that the amount of this encumbr ance
has been entered against the designated appropriation
accounts and that this encumbr ance is within the
authorized available balance of the appropriation.
Dated this ________ day of ________, 20__.
________________________________
County Clerk/Deputy
of _____________________ County. "
In instances where it is impossible to ascertain the
exact amount of the indebtedness sought to be incurred
at the time of recording the encumbrance, an estimated
amount may be used. No purchase order shall be valid
unless signed by the county purchasing agent and
certified by the county clerk, and
d. the county clerk shall file the original purchase
order and return three (3) copies to the county
purchasing agent who shall file a copy, retain a copy
for the county road and bridge inventory officer if
the purchase order is for the purchase of equipment,
supplies, or materials for the construction or
maintenance of roads and bridges, and submit the other
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copy to the receiving officer of the requesting
department.
2. The procedure for the purchase of supplies, materials , and
equipment at a public auction when the purchase will be made with
the proceeds from the sale of county property at t he same public
auction are as follows:
a. the purchasing agent shall cause such items bei ng sold
to be appraised in the manner determined in Section
421.1 of this title,
b. the county purchasing agent shall prepare a purchase
order in quadruplicate and submit it with a copy of
the requisition to the county clerk,
c. the county clerk shall then encumber the amount of the
appraised value and any additional funds obligated by
the county on the purchase order and assign a
sequential number to the purchase order ,
d. the county clerk shall certify that the amount of the
encumbrance is equal to the ap praised value of the
item being sold plus any additional funds obligated by
the county. In effect the recording of the
encumbrance is an estimate that is authorized by law.
No purchase order shall be valid unless signed by the
county purchasing agent and certified by the county
clerk,
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e. the county clerk shall file the original purchase
order and return three (3) copies to the county
purchasing agent who shall file a copy, retain a copy
for the county road and bridge inventory officer if
the purchase order is for the purchase of equipment,
supplies or materials for the construction or
maintenance of roads and bridges, and submit the other
copy to the receiving officer of the requesting
department, and
f. a purchase shall not be bid until such time that the
appraised item or items are sold. Any item or items
purchased shall not exceed the appr aised value plus
any additional funds obligated by the county or the
actual selling price of the item or items, whichever
is the lesser amount.
E. The procedure for t he receipt of items shall be as follows:
1. A receiving officer for the requesting depar tment shall be
responsible for receiving all items delivered to that department;
2. Upon the delivery of an item, the receiving officer shall
determine if a purchase order exists for the item being delivered;
3. If no such purchase order has been provide d, the receiving
officer shall refuse delivery of the item;
4. If a purchase order is on file, the receiving officer shall
obtain a delivery ticket, bill of lading, o r other delivery document
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and compare it with the purchase order. If any item is back -
ordered, the back order and estimated date of delivery shall be
noted in the receiving report;
5. The receiving officer shall complete a receiving report in
quadruplicate which shall state the quantity and quality of goods
delivered. The receiving report f orm shall be prescribed by the
State Auditor and Inspector. The person delive ring the goods shall
acknowledge the delivery by signature, noting the date and time;
6. The receiving officer shall file the original receiving
report and submit:
a. a copy of the purchase order and a copy of the
receiving report to the county purchasing agent, and
b. a copy of the receiving report with the delivery
documentation to the coun ty clerk;
7. The county purchasing agent shall file a copy of the
purchase order and a c opy of the receiving report;
8. Upon receipt of the original receiving report and the
delivery documentation, the county clerk shall maintain a file until
such time as an invoice is received from the vendor;
9. The invoice shall state the name and addres s of the vendor
and must be sufficiently itemized to clearly describe each item
purchased, the unit price when applicable, the number or volume of
each item purchased, the total price, the total purchase price, and
the date of the purchase;
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10. Upon receipt of an invoice, the county clerk shall compare
the following documents:
a. requisition,
b. purchase order,
c. invoice with noncollusion affidavit as required by
law,
d. receiving report, and
e. delivery document.
The documents shall be available for publ ic inspection during
regular business hours; and
11. If the documents conform as to the quantity and quality of
the items, the county clerk shall prepare a warrant fo r payment
according to procedures provided for by law.
F. The following procedures are f or the processing of purchase
orders:
1. The purchasing agent shall be allowe d up to three (3) days
to process purchase orders to be presented to the board of county
commissioners for consideration and payment. Nothing herein shall
prevent the purchasing agent from processing or the board of county
commissioners from consideration and payment of utilities, travel
claims, and payroll claims;
2. The board of county com missioners shall consider the
purchase orders so presented and act upon the purchase orde rs, by
allowing in full or in part or by holding for further information or
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disallowing the same. The disposition of purchase orders shall be
indicated by the board o f county commissioners, showing the amounts
allowed or disallowed and shall be signed by at least two (2)
members of the board of county commissioners. Any claim held over
for further information shall be acted upon by allowing or
disallowing same at any future meeting of the board held within
seventy-five (75) days from the date of filing of the purchase
order. Any purchase order not acted upon within the seventy -five
(75) days from the date of filing shall be deemed to have been
disallowed, but such dis allowance shall not prevent the refiling of
the purchase order at the proper time; and
3. Whenever any allowance, either in whole or in part, is made
upon any purchase order presented to the board of county
commissioners and is accepted by the person maki ng the claim, such
allowance shall be a full settlement of the entire purchase order
and provided that the cashing of warrant shall be considered as
acceptance by the claimant.
G. The procedure upon consumption or disposal of supplies,
materials, or equipment shall be as follows:
1. For consumable road or bridge items or materials, a
quarterly report of the road and bridge projects completed during
such period shall be prepared and kept on file by the consuming
department. The quarterly report may be pre pared and kept
electronically by the consuming department. The report shall
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contain a record of the date, the place, and the purpose for the use
of the road or bridge items or materials. For purposes of
identifying county bridges, the board of county com missioners shall
number each bridge subject to its jurisdiction; and
2. For disposal of all equipment and information technology and
telecommunication goods which originally cost more than Five Hundred
Dollars ($500.00), resolution of disposal shall be su bmitted by the
officer on a form prescribed by the State Auditor and Inspector 's
Office to the board of county commissioners. The approval of the
resolution of dispos al shall be entered into the minutes of the
board.
H. Inventory forms and reports shall be retained for not less
than two (2) years after all audit requirements for the state an d
federal government have been fulfilled and after any pending
litigation involving the forms and reports has been resolved.
I. The procedures provided for in this se ction shall not apply
when a county officer certifies that an emergency exists requiring
an immediate expenditure of funds. Such an expenditure of funds
shall not exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00). The county
officer shall give the county purchasi ng agent a written explanation
of the emergency. The county purchasing agent shall attac h the
written explanation to the purchase order. The purchases shall be
paid by attaching a properly itemized invoice, as described in this
section, to a purchase ord er which has been prepared by the county
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purchasing agent and submitting them to the coun ty clerk for filing,
encumbering, and consideration for payment by the board o f county
commissioners.
J. The county purchasing agent may authorize county purchasing
officers to make acquisitions through the state purchase card
program as authorized by the State Purchasing Director in accordance
with Section 85.5 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes and defined
in Section 85.2 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Purc hase
cardholders shall sign a purchase card agreement prior to becoming a
cardholder and attend purchase card procedure training as required
by the State Purchasing Di rector. Complete descriptions of
purchases made by county government entities shall be p ublished
through the state transparency portal pursuant to Section 85.33B of
Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and as warrants required to be
published pursuant to Sections 444 and 445 of this title.
K. Nothing in this section shall prohibit counties fro m
providing material and/or services bids on the twelve -month bid list
to all road and bridge projects and contracts. All non -road and
bridge related construction con tracts shall refer to subsection A of
Section 103 of Title 61 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
L. Nothing in this section or under Section 103 of Title 61 of
the Oklahoma Statutes shal l prohibit counties from requesting and
entering into interlocal agreements pursuant to the Interlocal
Cooperation Act for services offered by Circuit Engineering
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Districts created under Section 687.1 of Title 69 of the Oklahoma
Statutes.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2025.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT, dated
03/04/2025 - DO PASS, As Coauthored.