1. (a) The commission by rule may allow bids on a contract estimated by the department to involve an amount less than $1 million to be filed with:

   1. (1) for a contract other than a building construction contract, the district engineer at the headquarters for the district in which the improvement is to be made and opened and read at a public meeting held by the district engineer or the district engineer's designee; or
   2. (2) for a building construction contract, the director of the division of the department that is responsible for the construction of the building and opened and read at a public meeting held by the division director or the division director's designee.

2. (b) The commission may delegate to the director or the director's designee the right to:

   1. (1) accept or reject bids received, subject to Section 223.045; and
   2. (2) award a contract to the lowest bidder.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.

Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.13(d), eff. Sept. 1, 1997;

Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 82, Sec. 2, eff. Aug. 30, 1999.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 200 (S.B. 1021), Sec. 1, eff. May 24, 2023.

Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 200 (S.B. 1021), Sec. 2, eff. May 24, 2023.