WeVote
Log In

Bill

WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HF 239

Summary: HF 239 (A bill relating to the office of the consumer advocate)

Note: The bill was withdrawn and later renumbered during the 2025 session. HF 239’s provisions were carried forward in a subsequent filing (HF 578).

Overview

HF 239 proposed authorizing the construction of a dedicated building for the Office of the Consumer Advocate, with possible shared use or related facilities within the capitol complex or nearby. The bill laid out financing options, governance by state agencies, and coordination obligations among multiple entities. The bill was introduced on February 6, 2025, and subsequently withdrawn on March 14, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

  • Establish a purpose-built facility for the Office of the Consumer Advocate (and related utilities oversight activity) located on the capitol complex or a nearby convenient location.
  • Provide a flexible, cost-effective financing approach to fund construction and ongoing operation and maintenance of the building.
  • Clarify the roles of state agencies (notably the Department of Administrative Services, the Utilities Commission, and the Office of the Consumer Advocate within the Department of Justice) in planning, financing, contracting, and oversight.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Location

    • The building shall be located on the capitol complex grounds or at another convenient location in the vicinity of the capitol complex.

  • Financing and Property Purchase

    • Financing options may include: lease, lease-purchase, bonding, installment acquisition, or a financing arrangement under section 12.28.
    • If financing is implemented under section 12.28, the principal limitation under that section does not apply.
    • The subsection does not constitute a qualification of any other powers that the Utilities Commission and the Office of the Consumer Advocate (a division of the Department of Justice) may possess.
    • The financing provisions for the building and its operation are not subject to the terms, requirements, or limitations of other law.

  • Administrative Services and Oversight

    • The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) must comply with section 12.28 when entering into financing agreements for the purchase of real or personal property.

  • Roles and Consultation

    • DAS, in consultation with the Utilities Commission and the Office of the Consumer Advocate (DOJ division), shall:
    • Secure architectural services.
    • Contract for construction, engineering, and construction oversight/management.
    • Control funding for both construction and ongoing operation and maintenance.
    • DAS may employ consultants or other expert assistance for feasibility, planning, or other considerations related to construction and decision-making.
    • DAS, on behalf of the Utilities Commission and the Office of the Consumer Advocate, shall consult with:
    • The Office of the Governor.
    • Appropriate legislative bodies.
    • The Capitol Planning Commission.

Who Would be Affected

  • State agencies: Department of Administrative Services; Utilities Commission; Office of the Consumer Advocate (within the DOJ division).
  • Financial and construction professionals involved in the building project (architects, engineers, construction firms, consultants).
  • Legislative and executive branches involved in oversight, budgeting, and planning for capitol-area facilities.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced: February 6, 2025 (referred to Judiciary).
  • Subcommittee: February 11–13, 2025 (recommended passage).
  • Committee Reports: February 20, 2025 (passage recommendation); February 24, 2025 (renumbered as HF 578).
  • Status: Withdrawn on March 14, 2025.
  • Note: The provisions were carried forward in HF 578, indicating continued consideration in a subsequent filing for the session.

Impact and Takeaways

  • The bill would have created a formal framework for constructing a dedicated facility for consumer advocacy and related utilities oversight, with flexible financing mechanisms and strong interagency coordination.
  • It would allow financing methods that may bypass certain principal limits under existing statutes (when using specific financing arrangements under section 12.28), while maintaining clear authority for DAS to manage and oversee the project.
  • Although withdrawn, the bill’s core concepts—facilitating dedicated facilities and streamlining financing and oversight—reappeared in subsequent legislative action as HF 578.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.