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HB 2786

SURVEYING-SMALL CONTRACTS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Jay Hoffman and 1 co-sponsor

The bill raises the small contracts threshold for QBS exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 (and then to CPI-U indexed amounts after 2027), expanding non‑QBS procurement for small A/E/

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Bill Summary · HB 2786

Summary — HB 2786 (Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act — Small Contracts)

Status (as provided): Rule 19(a) / Re‑referred to Rules Committee. Introduced Feb 2025; passed the House (3rd reading May 14, 2025).

Note: the document provided included an unrelated Arizona bill text concerning speed‑inhibiting devices. This summary covers the HB 2786 material that amends the Illinois Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act (30 ILCS 535/45) concerning “small contracts.”

Purpose

Change the dollar threshold that defines “small” architectural, engineering, and land surveying contracts that are exempt from the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) procedures required by Sections 25, 30 and 35 of the Act. In short, expand the category of contracts that may be procured without the formal QBS public notice, evaluation, and selection process.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 45 (30 ILCS 535/45) — definition of “small contracts.”
  • Current baseline: contracts with an estimated basic professional services fee under $25,000 are exempt from Sections 25, 30 and 35.
  • As amended in the House, the bill phases in a higher threshold:
    • For contracts entered before the bill’s effective date: retains $25,000.
    • For contracts entered on or after the effective date and before Jan 1, 2027: increases the maximum estimated basic professional services fee to $40,000.
    • For contracts entered on or after Jan 1, 2027: the maximum is indexed annually to the Consumer Price Index — Urban (CPI‑U). The threshold for each calendar year equals the preceding calendar year’s threshold increased by the unadjusted annual CPI‑U percentage change (ending September of the prior year), rounded to the nearest $10.
  • Defines “Consumer Price Index‑U” (BLS U.S. city average, all items).
  • Source statutory reference retained: (30 ILCS 535/45).

Note: an earlier introduced synopsis for HB 2786 sought a flat increase to $75,000; however, the House amendments replaced that approach with the $40,000 transitional figure and CPI indexing language described above.

Who is affected

  • State and local public agencies procuring architecture, engineering, and land surveying professional services.
  • Design professionals and firms (architects, engineers, land surveyors) competing for public work — procurement procedures for contracts under the new threshold may be simplified.
  • Contracting officers and procurement staff who administer the QBS process and will need to apply the new monetary thresholds and indexing rules.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Administrative: reduces the number of procurements requiring formal QBS procedures for small projects, potentially speeding procurement and lowering administrative costs.
  • Market: smaller fee‑value contracts may be awarded through less formal processes, which could benefit small firms in some jurisdictions but reduce standardized competitive selection transparency in others.
  • Oversight/consistency: CPI indexing automates future threshold adjustments but requires agencies to track and apply annual threshold changes.
  • Transitional complexity: different thresholds apply depending on contract date (pre‑effective date, through 2026, and 2027 onward).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Multiple versions exist: initial introduced bill (flat $75,000 proposal) and House amendments adopting the $40,000/CPI approach.
  • House activity shows committee consideration, floor amendments (House Floor Amendment No. 2 adopted), and final House passage on May 14, 2025.
  • Next steps (based on status): referral to rules committee / onward to the Senate for consideration (per the provided status).

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

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