Texas House Bill HB1373

Texas 2013 - 83rd Regular

Caption

Relating to consideration of a bidder's principal place of business by public junior college districts in awarding certain contracts.

Impact

The introduction of HB 1373 could significantly influence the procurement practices of public junior college districts. By prioritizing local businesses, this bill seeks to bolster local economies, ensuring that contracts awarded for goods and services benefit the communities around the junior colleges. The change could potentially lead to more business opportunities for local suppliers and contractors, and strengthen the overall economic ecosystem in areas where these colleges are located. However, it could also mean that larger out-of-state firms may face additional challenges when competing for contracts.

Summary

House Bill 1373 aims to modify the process by which public junior college districts in Texas consider bidders when awarding certain contracts. The bill allows these institutions to take into account the principal place of business of bidders during the competitive sealed bidding process. This is intended to give preference to local businesses, thereby supporting local economies and facilitating a fairer bidding process for these entities. The bill amends Section 130.010 of the Education Code to specifically include provisions related to the consideration of the bidders' location.

Contention

As with many legislative initiatives that affect procurement and local businesses, there may be points of contention surrounding HB 1373. Supporters argue that the bill is a necessary step to ensure that local businesses are not disadvantaged in favor of larger, out-of-state firms, while opponents might raise concerns about whether this could artificially restrict competition. There may also be debates about the effectiveness of such measures in genuinely boosting local economies versus the risks of limiting contract awards to a more insular group of bidders, potentially reducing quality or increasing costs.