STATEHOUSE (Feb. 5, 2025) – State Rep. Ethan Lawson (R-Greenfield) authored legislation that overwhelmingly passed the House to increase the flexibility of local governments in managing public works projects, including roads, bridges, airport and construction projects.
“With costs going up, this legislation saves our hard-earned taxpayer dollars by empowering local leaders to complete road, bridge and construction projects efficiently and cost-effectively,” Lawson said. “I appreciate Hancock County Highway Department engineer Gary Pool testifying about the need for this legislation so local communities can manage smaller projects in a way that saves time and our money.
House Bill 1198 increases the current limit for road and bridge projects that a local board may perform with its own workforce to $500,000. For airport and local government construction projects, the legislation increases the bid cap to $300,000, consistent with the current law for school corporations. The legislation also eliminates bureaucratic red tape by removing a requirement in the law for architects to sign off on routine building maintenance, such as painting.
Lawson said the bill could help with increased construction costs and inflation by giving local governments more flexibility in managing smaller projects, saving time and money and reducing the administrative burden.
He encourages all constituents to share their thoughts and input on this important legislation and highly values community feedback to ensure that the proposed measures reflect the needs and priorities of House District 53.
House Bill 1198 passed the House Employment, Labor and Pensions Committee with a unanimous vote and passed the full House with a 88-2 vote. It moves to the Senate for consideration, where Sen. Crider and Sen. Rogers are sponsors. Watch session and committees live, and view legislation at iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Ethan Lawson (R-Greenfield) represents House District 53,
which includes portions of Hancock and Madison counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION: State Rep. Ethan Lawson (R-Greenfield) presents legislation to ensure consistent appointment and expulsion procedures for public office on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in the House Chamber at the Statehouse. House Bill 1198 would increase the flexibility of local governments in managing public works projects, including roads, bridges, airport and construction projects.
