School districts would use higher thresholds for bids and purchases

School districts would need advertised competitive bids for covered construction work only when the total cost exceeds $100,000. This covers construction, repairs, maintenance, and other work on school buildings, school property, and certain leased buildings. Costs include labor and materials and remain subject to adjustment under section 120. Emergency repairs may use bids from at least three responsible bidders when a school plant or part of it becomes unusable. Districts must notify the Secretary of Education when using the emergency process. Districts may not split a transaction to avoid advertising and bidding rules. This bidding threshold would apply beginning in the 2026-2027 school year and in later school years; the act would otherwise take effect 60 days after enactment.

School districts would request at least three contractor price quotations for covered work costing more than $50,000 but less than the bidding threshold, unless fewer qualified contractors are available. The rule covers construction, repairs, maintenance, and other school work, including labor and materials. Districts would keep written quotation records or a memorandum explaining why fewer than three qualified contractors are available. Records and memoranda would be kept for three years. District maintenance workers could perform work costing less than $50,000. A board could authorize an executive to award contracts costing $100,000 or less without competitive bids, subject to the quotation rule. These provisions would take effect 60 days after enactment unless a later timing rule applies.

School districts would advertise purchases of supplies costing $100,000 or more and seek three vendor quotations for purchases above $50,000 but below the advertising threshold. The rules cover public-school furniture, equipment, textbooks, school supplies, and other appliances. Districts could use a memorandum when fewer than three qualified vendors are available in the practical market area. Quotation records and memoranda would be kept for three years. Public notice would generally run weekly for three weeks in at least two newspapers, with posting in at least five public places where no newspaper is published. Districts could not split purchases to avoid advertising requirements. These provisions would take effect 60 days after enactment.