Bill > HB683

This bill revises local government conflict of interest laws for contracted projects by establishing new rules for awarding construction contracts at the county and municipal levels. The bill defines a "financial interest" as ownership of 24% or more in an entity and introduces mandatory disclosure requirements for contractors who have potential conflicts of interest. Specifically, local government bodies cannot award construction contracts to entities that have a financial interest in the design or engineering of the project without first disclosing the conflict. Contractors must disclose any conflicts when submitting a bid, and if they fail to do so, they will be deemed nonresponsive. At the time of bid opening, the governing body must announce any disclosed conflicts and subsequently hold a public meeting to receive comments on these conflicts. The bill amends several existing statutes to incorporate these new conflict of interest provisions, ensuring that contracts cannot be issued if they violate the new disclosure and transparency requirements. These changes aim to prevent potential favoritism and increase transparency in local government contracting processes by requiring upfront disclosure of any financial relationships that might create a conflict of interest.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC4016