1. (a) The board shall award any construction, maintenance, operation, or repair contract, contract for the purchase of material, equipment, or supplies, or contract for services if the contract will require an estimated expenditure of more than the maximum amount for which competitive bidding is required by Chapter 49, Water Code, to the lowest and best bidder.

2. (b) The board:

   1. (1) shall:

      1. (A) before awarding a contract under this section, publish notice to bidders once each week for two consecutive weeks; and
      2. (B) adopt bylaws for the publication of notice to bidders and any related procedures; and
   2. (2) may prescribe the amount of estimated expenditures subject to competitive bidding.
3. (c) In the event of an emergency, the authority may award a contract necessary to protect and preserve the public health and welfare or the authority's property without using bidding procedures.
4. (d) A director is ineligible to submit a bid for a contract under this section.

5. (e) Notwithstanding this section, the authority may:

   1. (1) purchase surplus property from the United States by negotiated contract and without advertising for bids; and

   2. (2) use any procurement method under:

      1. (A) Chapter 49, Water Code; or
      2. (B) other applicable general law.
6. (f) This section does not apply to a purchase contract, a procurement contract, or a contract described by Section 49.278, Water Code.

Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.B. 2692), Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 2025.