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Session of 2026
HOUSE BILL No. 2625
By Representatives Johnson, Buehler and Neelly
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AN ACT concerning water; relating to rural water districts; requiring rural
water districts to award purchases or contracts in excess of $25,000
through a public letting process; creating exceptions therefor.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. (a) All purchases or contracts for the expenditure of district
moneys in excess of $25,000 for the construction, installation or
replacement of district facilities, water lines, pump stations or buildings
shall be awarded using a public letting process to the lowest and best bid.
(b) Not less than 20 days before awarding any purchase or contract
for improvement projects described in subsection (a), the district shall
publish notice of the letting in a newspaper of general circulation in the
county where the district is organized. If there is no newspaper of general
circulation in the county, such district shall post written or printed notices
in at least three conspicuous places in the service area of the district for the
same length of time. Such notice shall describe in reasonable detail the
specifications of the planned improvement project, provide the time and
place that the purchase or contract will be awarded and invite sealed
proposals for such project. Such other notice may be given as the board
may deem necessary or proper.
(c) The person, firm or corporation to whom the purchase or contract
may be awarded shall give and file with the district a good and sufficient
surety bond by a surety company authorized to do business in the state of
Kansas. Such surety bond shall be approved by the attorney for the district
in the amount of the purchase or contract and conditioned on the faithful
performance of the purchase or contract.
(d) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:
(1) Expenditures of district moneys for professional services;
(2) purchases of insurance contracts; or
(3) repairs or replacements of any facilities, water lines, pump
stations or buildings when an emergency based upon public health or
safety is declared by the district board. For purposes of this paragraph,
"emergency" means an occurrence of severe damage to any property of the
district resulting from any natural or man-made cause.
(e) The provisions of this section shall be a part of and supplemental
to K.S.A. 82a-612 et seq., and amendments thereto.
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Sec. 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
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