BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 783

By: Creighton

Higher Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The 85th Legislature enacted a law requiring that any iron or steel product produced through a manufacturing process and used in projects for which certain governmental entities are contracting be produced in the United States, with certain exceptions. In the interest of protecting Texas-based manufacturing jobs and supporting the U.S. iron and steel industry against foreign competition, it has been suggested that additional entities should be subject to this "Buy American" requirement. S.B. 783 seeks to make the requirement applicable also to public institutions of higher education.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 783 amends the Government Code to include public institutions of higher education among the governmental entities whose uniform general conditions for an applicable construction or installation project in which iron or steel products will be used must require that the contract and the bid documents provided to all bidders include a requirement that any iron or steel product produced through a manufacturing process and used in the project be produced in the United States, subject to certain exceptions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.