It has been noted that the threshold amount, above which a county is required to engage in a competitive bidding procedure, does not include purchases for a county road department. S.B. 1720 seeks to bring uniformity to county competitive bidding requirements.

 It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 S.B. 1720 amends the Transportation Code to increase from $25,000 to $50,000 the maximum amount of a purchase which may be made through negotiation by a county commissioners court or the court's authorized representative on requisition to be approved by the commissioners court or the county auditor without advertising for competitive bids on recommendation of the county road engineer and consideration by the commissioners court that the purchase is in the best interest of the county.

 September 1, 2019.