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Bill > HB1314

MS HB1314

MS HB1314
Public purchasing; increase threshold for bidding and revise certain provisions related to exemptions and reverse auctions.

summary

Introduced
01/19/2026
In Committee
02/17/2026
Crossed Over
02/12/2026
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Amend Section 31-7-13, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Revise The Public Purchasing Law To Provide That Purchases That Do Not Involve An Expenditure Of More Than $15,000.00 May Be Made Without Advertising Or Otherwise Requesting Competitive Bids; To Revise The Reverse Auction Method For Receiving Bids To Differentiate Between Agencies And Governing Authorities; To Provide That If An Agency Determines That A Reverse Auction Is Not In The Best Interest Of The Agency, Then That Determination Must Be Approved By The Public Procurement Review Board; To Provide That If A Governing Authority Determines That A Reverse Auction Is Not In The Best Interest Of The Governing Authority, Then That Determination Must Be Approved By The Governing Board Of The Governing Authority; To Provide That The Agency And Governing Authority Must Submit An Explanation As To Why A Reverse Auction Is Not In The Best Interest Of The Agency Or Governing Authority; To Provide An Exception From Complying With Certain Federal Procurement Guidelines When Federal Law Provides For Such An Exemption; To Exempt The Purchase Of Vehicles For The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Purchases Made Through County Group Purchase Contracts, And Vehicles Purchased From Other State's Purchasing Schedules As Approved By The Federal Transit Administration From Bidding Requirements; To Require The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency To Implement A Process To Create A Preferred Vender List For Disaster Clean Up; To Amend Sections 31-3-1, 31-5-37 And 31-5-51, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; To Create New Section 31-7-40, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Authorize Counties To Participate In A Group Purchasing Program For Certain Purchases; To Amend Section 31-7-103, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Increase The Competitive Purchasing Threshold For Certain County Purchases; To Bring Forward Section 31-7-119, Mississippi Code Of 1972, For The Purpose Of Possible Amendment; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, concerning public purchasing in Mississippi, significantly increases the threshold for when competitive bidding is required for purchases, raising it from $5,000 to $15,000, meaning agencies and governing authorities can now make purchases up to this amount without advertising or soliciting bids. It also revises rules for "reverse auctions," a method of receiving bids electronically, by differentiating procedures for state agencies and local governing authorities, requiring approval from the Public Procurement Review Board for agencies or the governing body for local authorities if a reverse auction is deemed not in the best interest, and mandating explanations for such decisions. The bill introduces an exception to federal procurement guidelines when federal law provides an exemption, and exempts purchases of vehicles for the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, vehicles bought through county group purchase contracts, and vehicles purchased from other states' approved purchasing schedules from bidding requirements. Additionally, it mandates the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to establish a preferred vendor list for disaster cleanup services and authorizes counties to participate in group purchasing programs through the Mississippi Association of Supervisors (MAS). Conforming changes are made to other sections of the Mississippi Code regarding public works projects, contractor licensing thresholds, and bond requirements for public contracts, generally increasing monetary thresholds for these provisions as well.

Committee Categories

Government Affairs

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Referred To Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency (on 02/17/2026)

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