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Read. Follow. Verify.Missouri House Bill 2603 Requires Evaluation Rubrics in Government Contract Bids and Local Newspaper Notices for Public Service Contracts
Last action · May 15, 2026: Referred: Emerging Issues(H)Sponsor: Ann Kelley
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What This Bill Would Do
Government entities in Missouri must include bid evaluation rubrics in initial requests for proposals and publish certain open bids in local newspapers when failing to award a contract would cause a loss of public services. The state must ensure compliance and submit a report to the legislature by August 28, 2027.
Contractors bidding on state and local projects will receive standardized scoring criteria upfront, while agencies whose unawarded contracts threaten public services must undertake broader public notice efforts involving local newspapers, trade publications, and informational meetings.
- House Bill 2603 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the Missouri General Assembly by Representative Ann Kelley. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Government entities
Government entities must include evaluation rubrics in requests for proposals and provide additional public notices and direct communications for bids linked to public services.
Potential bidders
Potential bidders receive access to explicit evaluation rubrics in initial requests for proposals and broader notifications through newspapers, trade publications, and meetings.
Division of purchasing
The division of purchasing within the office of administration must ensure compliance with evaluation rubric and publication rules and submit a report to the legislature.
Key Facts
- Any government entity engaging in bidding processes must include the evaluation rubric in the initial request for proposals.
- Evaluation rubrics must include criteria, assigned weights, performance level descriptors, and scoring ranges.
- The division of purchasing within the office of administration is responsible for ensuring compliance.
- For open bids where failing to award a contract results in a loss of public services, entities must publish the request for proposals in a newspaper of general circulation in the project area.
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- Newspaper publications must include a description of the request, anticipated loss of services, bid submission instructions, and contact information.
- Government entities must also notify potential bidders via informational meetings, direct communication, and relevant trade or industry publications.
- The division of purchasing must submit a compliance report to the legislature before August 28, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information must be included in bid evaluation rubrics under this bill?
When is a government entity required to publish a request for proposals in a local newspaper?
Who ensures compliance with these contract publication and rubric requirements?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
4 actions- May 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred: Emerging Issues(H)
- Jan 8, 2026HouseFloorRead Second Time (H)
- Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroducedRead First Time (H)
- Dec 30, 2025HouseIntroducedPrefiled (H)
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Standardized Scoring and Expanded Public Notice
The bill shifts procurement standards by making evaluation rubrics mandatory in initial bid requests and tying expanded newspaper and trade publication notices directly to potential public service disruptions.
Connected Entities
Sources
house.mo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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