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SB 945

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS -- RHODE ISLAND ANTI-BID-RIGGING ACT

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jake Bissaillon and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island establishes anti-bid-rigging penalties to prevent contractor collusion on public works contracts and protect taxpayers from inflated government project costs.

06/30/2025 Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · SB 945

Legislative bill overview

SB 945 establishes Rhode Island's Anti-Bid-Rigging Act to prevent collusive bidding practices on public works and property contracts. The legislation creates legal mechanisms and penalties to discourage contractors from conspiring to manipulate competitive bidding processes for government projects.

Why is this important

Bid-rigging inflates costs for taxpayers by artificially eliminating genuine competition on public contracts. By establishing anti-collusion protections, this law aims to ensure that government spending on infrastructure and projects reflects fair market pricing and benefits from legitimate competitive bidding.

Potential points of contention

  • Enforcement mechanism ambiguity: The bill's effectiveness depends on how strictly Rhode Island enforces penalties and investigates suspected collusion, which requires adequate funding and agency coordination
  • Definition scope: Questions may arise about what constitutes illegal coordination versus legitimate industry information sharing or standard business practices
  • Small contractor impact: Smaller construction firms may face increased compliance costs or scrutiny, potentially affecting their ability to bid competitively on public projects

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

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