HB419 Summary

• Increases the exemption threshold for K-12 schools and four-year public institutions with constitutional boards of trustees from $500,000 to $750,000 for capital improvement projects and HVAC/roofing maintenance projects that do not require Division of Construction Management approval.

• Requires exempt projects to submit documents to the Division of Construction Management for review and written recommendations on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and fire/life safety compliance within 30 days (or 45 days if delayed), at no cost to the school or institution.

• Transfers construction management authority and jurisdiction from the Division of Construction Management to governing boards of educational institutions and state educational institutions, except the division retains authority to adopt uniform minimum building standards code.

• Requires annual reports to legislative leaders by November 30 detailing K-12 school projects, including final costs, state building code violations discovered during field inspection, and document review timeframes.

• Provides that the act applies to ongoing projects only if a contract has not been awarded prior to the effective date of October 1, 2022, and excludes Alabama Community College System institutions, trade schools, and State Parks Division facilities.