MS HB825

Restructures the Personal Service Contract Review Board to include the State Personnel Director, two Governor-appointed members, two Lieutenant Governor-appointed members, and the Department of Finance and Administration Executive Director as ex officio member, with staggered initial terms of 2-4 years and subsequent 4-year terms.

Prohibits appointment to the Review Board of any person or employee/owner of a company receiving grants, procurements, or contracts subject to board approval, and requires appointees to have at least five years of management experience in business, healthcare, or finance.

Lowers the contract expenditure threshold requiring board approval from $100,000 to $75,000 and removes exemptions for certain personal service contracts while maintaining exemptions for IT services, transportation, and professional services (attorneys, accountants, auditors, architects, engineers, utility rate experts).

Establishes mandatory standards for sole source contract procurement including 14-day public notice requirement on the procurement portal, detailed justification documentation, and quarterly reporting to legislative oversight committees on all sole source contracts approved or rejected.

Requires contracts for personal and professional services by the Department of Information Technology Services and Department of Transportation to comply with public records laws, and clarifies that procurement contract provisions regarding commodities, services, price, and term are not trade secrets.

Defines individuals performing both consulting and lobbying services for public entities as lobbyists not exempt from lobbying registration and reporting requirements.