Monitoring the Session

SB 1173

local bidding threshold rises to $100,000

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Charles PerryRSenate 28

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which a competitive procurement method may be required.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Up from $50,000 for cities, counties and school districts.

The bill raises the dollar amount at which school districts, cities, counties and other local governments must use competitive bidding or a similar formal method from $50,000 to $100,000. It touches local purchasing offices, the vendors who sell to them, and the historically underutilized businesses that cities must contact for purchases under the new $100,000 line. Starting September 1, 2025, purchases between $50,000 and $100,000 can be made without formal competitive procurement.

Labels

Labels: NO AUTOGRAPH. Became law without the governor's signature on May 29, 2025.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1132 by Rep. Spiller (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1173 · 2025-02-07

SOLD BY

+ 2 coauthors

ITEM

relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which a competitive procurement method may be required.

WHAT IT DOES

Up from $50,000 for cities, counties and school districts.

The bill raises the dollar amount at which school districts, cities, counties and other local governments must use competitive bidding or a similar formal method from $50,000 to $100,000. It touches local purchasing offices, the vendors who sell to them, and the historically underutilized businesses that cities must contact for purchases under the new $100,000 line. Starting September 1, 2025, purchases between $50,000 and $100,000 can be made without formal competitive procurement.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 16, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Local Government
  5. Co-author authorized
  6. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  7. Considered in public hearing
  8. Testimony taken in committee
  9. Left pending in committee
  10. Considered in public hearing
  11. Vote taken in committee
  12. Reported favorably w/o amendments
  13. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  14. Committee report printed and distributed
  15. Co-author authorized
  16. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  17. Laid before the Senate
  18. Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
  19. Vote recorded in Journal
  20. Three day rule suspended
  21. Record vote
  22. Read 3rd time
  23. Passed
  24. Record vote
  25. Reported engrossed
  26. Received from the Senate
  27. Read first time
  28. Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs
  29. Considered in formal meeting
  30. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  31. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  32. Committee report distributed
  33. Committee report sent to Calendars
  34. Laid out in lieu of companion HB 1998
  35. Read 2nd time
  36. Amended 1-Spiller
  37. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  38. Record vote RV#2584
  39. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  40. Read 3rd time
  41. Passed
  42. Record vote RV#2610
  43. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  44. House passage as amended reported
  45. House amendment(s) laid before the Senate
  46. Read
  47. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)
  48. Record vote
  49. Reported enrolled
  50. Senate concurs in House amendment(s)-reported
  51. Signed in the Senate
  52. Signed in the House
  53. Sent to the Governor
  54. Filed without the Governor's signature
  55. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 103 yea · 38 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 1 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 15, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 10, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Donors

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$60,000.00

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.

Ryan Texas PAC$35,000.00

Ryan Texas PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983698, 101057700.

Fort Stockton Holdings LP$25,000.00

Fort Stockton Holdings LP

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983698.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$60,000.00

Cash
$60,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$60,000.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 13, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983698, 101007598, 101030579, 101072377.

×

Ryan Texas PAC

$35,000.00

Cash
$35,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$35,000.00

Also funds 25 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 23, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 13, 2024 to Mar 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983698, 101057700.

×

Fort Stockton Holdings LP

$25,000.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$25,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Nov 23, 2024. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100983698.

Votes6

Senate May 20, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Perry moved to concur in the House amendment to SB 1173. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 15, 2025

Yea
103
Nay
38
Present, not voting
2
Absent
2
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2610

SB 1173 was passed by (Record 2610): 103 Yeas, 38 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 103 (published)
  • Nay: 38 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 2 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House May 14, 2025

Yea
108
Nay
27
Present, not voting
2
Absent
7
Excused
6
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 2584

SB 1173, as amended, was passed to third reading by (Record 2584): 108 Yeas, 27 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 108 (published)
  • Nay: 27 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 2 (published)
  • Absent: 7 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 6 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Final passage

Yea
29
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1173 (Perry) Relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which a competitive procurement method may be required. (viva voce vote) (29-1) "Nay" Middleton (29-1) "Nay" Middleton

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea
29
Nay
1
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 1173 (Perry) Relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which a competitive procurement method may be required. (viva voce vote) (29-1) "Nay" Middleton (29-1) "Nay" Middleton

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 1 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate Apr 10, 2025

Passage to engrossment

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

SB 1173 (Perry) Relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which a competitive procurement method may be required. (viva voce vote) (29-1) "Nay" Middleton (29-1) "Nay" Middleton

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses18
For
18
Against
0
On
0
Names

For

  • Alamo Colleges District1 registration
  • Bexar County Commissioners Court1 registration
  • Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce1 registration
  • City of Dallas1 registration
  • City of Fort Worth1 registration
  • City of Houston1 registration
  • City of Leander1 registration
  • City of McAllen1 registration
  • City of San Antonio1 registration
  • Conference of Urban Counties1 registration
  • County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas1 registration
  • Dallas County1 registration
  • Self; SAFE-D, The Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts1 registration
  • Texas Assoc School Boards1 registration
  • Texas Council of Community Centers1 registration
  • Texas Municipal League1 registration
  • Texas State Association of Fire and Emergency Districts1 registration
  • Travis County Commissioners Court1 registration
Sources

18 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 16, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

FILED BEFORE

Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.

88R HB 1132

by Rep. Spiller, different lead author · Died in committee · same text

Introduced text

Last action, May 21, 2023: Left pending in committee

Relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which competitive bidding is required.

Caption, 88R bill history

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Feb 7, 2025

05/29/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Sponsors
Cosponsors

House committee · Intergovernmental Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 0 nay, 1 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Local Government · Committee vote 5 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Companion

HB 1998 by Spiller (identical)

Subjects

City Government--Finance

County Government--Finance

Education--School Districts

Purchasing--Local

Special Districts & Authorities--Hospital

COMPETITIVE BIDDING

Text

The text as introduced · 874 words

89R9528 JBD-D

By: Perry
S.B. No. 1173

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political

subdivisions for which a competitive procurement method may be

required.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 44.031(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by this subchapter, all school

district contracts for the purchase of goods and services, except

contracts for the purchase of produce or vehicle fuel, valued at

$100,000 [ $50,000 ] or more in the aggregate for each 12-month

period shall be made by the method, of the following methods, that

provides the best value for the district:

(1) competitive bidding for services other than

construction services;

(2) competitive sealed proposals for services other

than construction services;

(3) a request for proposals, for services other than

construction services;

(4) an interlocal contract;

(5) a method provided by Chapter 2269, Government

Code, for construction services;

(6) the reverse auction procedure as defined by

Section 2155.062(d), Government Code; or

(7) the formation of a political subdivision

corporation under Section 304.001, Local Government Code.

SECTION 2. Section 252.021(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) Before a municipality may enter into a contract that

requires an expenditure of more than $100,000 [ $50,000 ] from one or

more municipal funds, the municipality must:

(1) comply with the procedure prescribed by this

subchapter and Subchapter C for competitive sealed bidding or

competitive sealed proposals;

(2) use the reverse auction procedure, as defined by

Section 2155.062(d), Government Code, for purchasing; or

(3) comply with a method described by Chapter 2269,

Government Code.

SECTION 3. Section 252.0215, Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 252.0215. COMPETITIVE BIDDING IN RELATION TO

HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESS. A municipality, in making an

expenditure of more than $3,000 but less than $100,000 [ $50,000 ],

shall contact at least two historically underutilized businesses on

a rotating basis, based on information provided by the comptroller

pursuant to Chapter 2161, Government Code. If the list fails to

identify a historically underutilized business in the county in

which the municipality is situated, the municipality is exempt from

this section.

SECTION 4. Section 262.003(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) Any law that requires a county to follow a competitive

procurement procedure in making a purchase requiring the

expenditure of $100,000 [ $50,000 ] or less does not apply to the

purchase of an item available for purchase from only one supplier.

SECTION 5. Section 262.023(a), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) Before a county may purchase one or more items under a

contract that will require an expenditure exceeding $100,000

[ $50,000 ], the commissioners court of the county must:

(1) comply with the competitive bidding or competitive

proposal procedures prescribed by this subchapter;

(2) use the reverse auction procedure, as defined by

Section 2155.062(d), Government Code, for purchasing; or

(3) comply with a method described by Chapter 2269,

Government Code.

SECTION 6. Section 271.024, Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 271.024. COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT PROCEDURE APPLICABLE

TO CONTRACT. If a governmental entity is required by statute to

award a contract for the construction, repair, or renovation of a

structure, road, highway, or other improvement or addition to real

property on the basis of competitive bids, and if the contract

requires the expenditure of more than $100,000 [ $50,000 ] from the

funds of the entity, the bidding on the contract must be

accomplished in the manner provided by this subchapter.

SECTION 7. Section 271.054, Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

Sec. 271.054. COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT. Before

the governing body of an issuer may enter into a contract requiring

an expenditure by or imposing an obligation or liability on the

issuer, or on a subdivision of the issuer if the issuer is a county,

of more than $100,000 [ $50,000 ], the governing body must:

(1) submit the proposed contract to competitive

procurement; or

(2) use an alternate method of project delivery

authorized by Chapter 2269, Government Code.

SECTION 8. Sections 252.312(b) and (c), Transportation

Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) If the county road engineer so recommends and the

commissioners court considers it to be in the best interest of the

county, a purchase in an amount of $100,000 [ $50,000 ] or less may be

made through negotiation by the 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.

(c) A purchase may not be divided or reduced to avoid the

competitive bidding requirement on a purchase that would otherwise

cost more than $100,000 [ $50,000 ].

SECTION 9. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

a purchase made on or after the effective date of this Act. A

purchase made before the effective date of this Act is governed by

the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this

Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.