Committee clears House Bill 34 to ease state agency contracting with Idaho universities
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Summary
House Bill 34 would change Idaho Code to let state agencies work more directly with in-state universities for some contracts by removing a formal solicitation requirement while keeping a consult requirement among the four public universities; the Senate State Affairs Committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.
Idaho State Senator Kevin Cook told the Senate State Affairs Committee that House Bill 34 would make limited changes to Idaho Code section 60-7-2332A to “level the playing field” for Idaho’s public universities when state agencies contract for work.
“This bill makes small changes,” Senator Cook said. Under current law, state agencies must use the Division of Purchasing’s full solicitation process for contracts, while work with out-of-state public institutions can follow a different process. Cook said HB 34 would allow agencies to work more directly with Idaho universities without completing a formal Division of Purchasing solicitation, while still requiring agencies to contact all four Idaho public universities to determine interest.
Cook said the change is intended to speed procurement when only one in-state university is likely to be interested. The committee discussed the bill briefly; Senator Burt moved and Senator Taves seconded that HB 34 be sent to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation. The committee voice-voted in favor; the chair announced the motion carried.
The bill preserves competition among the four in-state universities by requiring agencies to contact each campus but removes the requirement to process the contract through the Division of Purchasing’s formal solicitation route when agencies deem it appropriate.