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SB 262
Ohio Senate•Passed
Summary
SB 262, “Require construction contracts note variation from standard form”, was introduced in the Senate on Sep 16, 2025 by Sen. Louis Blessing (R) with 14 co-sponsors. It last saw action on Sep 17, 2026: Effective .
Record
Text
SB 262 has 14 co-sponsors and 5 roll calls.
sb262/enrolled.txt(136th General Assembly)(Amended Senate Bill Number 262)AN ACTTo amend sections 9.334, 153.12, 153.501, 153.503, and 153.693 of the RevisedCode to require a public authority or other party to a construction contract to notevariations from an industry standard form.Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:SECTION 1. That sections 9.334, 153.12, 153.501, 153.503, and 153.693 of the Revised Codebe amended to read as follows:Sec. 9.334. (A)(1) Every public authority planning to contract for construction managementservices with a construction manager at risk shall evaluate the proposals submitted and select notfewer than three construction managers at risk the public authority considers to be the most qualifiedto provide the required construction management services, except that the public authority shallselect and rank fewer than three when the public authority determines in writing that fewer thanthree qualified construction managers at risk are available.(2) For projects valued at less than four million dollars, the public authority may require theconstruction manager at risk to submit a proposal described in division (A)(1) of this section alongwith a pricing proposal described in division (C) of this section. The public authority shall provideeach construction manager at risk who desires to submit a proposal under this division a pre-proposal meeting to explore the proposals further, in which the public authority shall provide theconstruction manager at risk with a description of the project, including the scope and nature of theproposed services and potential technical approaches. The public authority shall proceed withselection and ranking as described in division (A)(1) of this section, based only on the proposalsubmitted under that division. Once the construction managers at risk have been selected, the publicauthority shall proceed to evaluate the pricing proposals of each selected construction manager atrisk as described in division (D) of this section, continuing the selection process from there.(B)(B)(1) The public authority shall provide each construction manager at risk selectedunder division (A) of this section with a description of the project, including a statement of availabledesign detail, a description of how the guaranteed maximum price for the project shall bedetermined, including the estimated level of design detail upon which the guaranteed maximumprice shall be based, the form of the construction management contract, and a request for a pricingproposal.(2) When utilizing an industry standard published construction management contract form,the public authority shall provide the contract form in a manner that indicates any alteration to thestandard form by striking through and underlining any changes to the original language of theAm. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.2standard form, by cross-referencing conditions that are supplemental to the standard form , or byincluding conditions that are supplemental to the standard form that cross-reference the section orsections of the standard form being altered . Failure to indicate an alteration to the original languageof the standard form in the manner required above results in the alteration being void and withouteffect such that the original language prevails.(C) The pricing proposal of each construction manager at risk shall include at least thefollowing regarding the construction manager at risk:(1) A list of key personnel for the project;(2) A statement of the general conditions and contingency requirements;(3) A fee proposal divided into a preconstruction fee, a construction fee, and the portion ofthe construction fee to be at risk in a guaranteed maximum price.(D) The public authority shall evaluate the submitted pricing proposals and may holddiscussions with individual construction managers at risk to explore their proposals further,including the scope and nature of the proposed services and potential technical approaches.(E) After evaluating the pricing proposals, the public authority shall rank the selectedconstruction managers at risk based on its evaluation of the value of each pricing proposal, with suchevaluation considering the proposed cost and qualifications.(F) The public authority shall enter into negotiations for a construction management contractwith the construction manager at risk whose pricing proposal the public authority determines to bethe best value under division (E) of this section. Contract negotiations shall be directed toward:(1) Ensuring that the construction manager at risk and the public authority mutuallyunderstand the essential requirements involved in providing the required construction managementservices, including the provisions for the use of contingency funds and the possible distribution ofsavings in the final costs of the project;(2) Ensuring that the construction manager at risk will be able to provide the necessarypersonnel, equipment, and facilities to perform the construction management services within thetime required by the construction management contract;(3) Agreeing upon a procedure and schedule for determining a guaranteed maximum priceusing an open book pricing method that shall represent the total maximum amount to be paid by thepublic authority to the construction manager at risk for the project and that shall include the costs ofall the work, the cost of its general conditions, the contingency, and the fee payable to theconstruction manager at risk.(G)(1) If the public authority fails to negotiate a construction management contract with theconstruction manager at risk whose pricing proposal the public authority determines to be the bestvalue under division (E) of this section, the public authority shall inform the construction manager atrisk, in writing, of the termination of negotiations.(2) Upon terminating negotiations, the public authority may enter into negotiations asprovided in this section with the construction manager at risk that the public authority ranked nextAm. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.3highest under division (E) of this section. If negotiations fail, the public authority may enter intonegotiations as provided in this section with the construction manager at risk the public authorityranked next highest under division (E) of this section.(3) If a public authority fails to negotiate a construction management contract with aconstruction manager at risk whose pricing proposal the public authority determines to be the bestvalue under division (E) of this section, the public authority may select additional constructionmanagers at risk to provide pricing proposals to the public authority pursuant to this section or mayselect an alternative delivery method for the project.(H) If the public authority and construction manager at risk fail to agree on a guaranteedmaximum price, nothing in this section shall prohibit the public authority from allowing theconstruction manager at risk to provide the management services that a construction manager isauthorized to provide.(I) Nothing in this section affects a public authority's right to accept or reject any or allproposals in whole or in part.Sec. 153.12. (A) With respect to award of any contract for the construction, reconstruction,improvement, enlargement, alteration, repair, painting, or decoration of a public improvement madeby the state, or any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, or other politicalsubdivision, or any public board, commission, authority, instrumentality, or special purpose districtof or in the state or a political subdivision or that is authorized by state law, the award, and executionof the contract, shall be made within sixty days after the date on which the bids are opened. Thefailure to award and execute the contract within sixty days invalidates the entire bid proceedings andall bids submitted, unless the time for awarding and executing the contract is extended by mutualconsent of the owner or its representatives and the bidder whose bid the owner accepts and withrespect to whom the owner subsequently awards and executes a contract. The public owners referredto in this section shall include, in the plans and specifications for the project for which bids aresolicited, the estimate of cost. The bid for which the award is to be made shall be opened at the timeand place named in the advertisement for bids, unless extended by the owner or its representative orunless, within seventy-two hours prior to the published time for the opening of bids, excludingSaturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, any modification of the plans or specifications and estimatesof cost for the project for which bids are solicited is issued and mailed or otherwise furnished topersons who have obtained plans or specifications for the project, for which the time for opening ofbids shall be extended one week, with no further advertising of bids required. The contractor, uponrequest, is entitled to a notice to proceed with the work by the owner or its representative uponexecution of the contract. No contract to which this section applies shall be entered into if the priceof the contract, or, if the project involves multiple contracts where the total price of all contracts forthe project, is in excess of ten per cent, in the case of a contract made by the state or a public board,commission, authority, or instrumentality of the state, or twenty per cent, in the case of a contractmade by a county, township, municipal corporation, school district, special purpose district, or otherAm. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.4political subdivision or a public board, commission, authority, or instrumentality of the politicalsubdivision, above the entire estimate thereof, nor shall the entire cost of the construction,reconstruction, repair, painting, decorating, improvement, alteration, addition, or installation,including changes and estimates of expenses for architects or engineers, exceed in the aggregate theamount authorized by law.The unit or lump sum price stated in the contract shall be used in determining the amount tobe paid and shall constitute full and final compensation for all the work.Partial payment to the contractor for work performed under the lump sum price shall bebased on a schedule prepared by the contractor and approved by the architect or engineer who shallapportion the lump sum price to the major components entering into or forming a part of the workunder the lump sum price.Partial payments to the contractor for labor performed under either a unit or lump sum pricecontract shall be made at a rate of not less than ninety-six per cent of the estimates prepared by thecontractor and approved by the architect or engineer. No subcontract shall be paid at a rate lowerthan the rate being paid to the contractor by the public authority.The amounts and time of payments of any public improvements contract made by the stateor any county, township, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision, or anypublic board, commission, authority, instrumentality, or special purpose district of or in the state or apolitical subdivision or that is authorized by state law, except as provided in section 5525.19 of theRevised Code, shall be governed by this section and sections 153.13 and 153.14 of the RevisedCode. If the time for awarding the contract is extended by mutual consent, or if the owner or itsrepresentative fails to issue a timely notice to proceed as required by this section, the owner or itsrepresentative shall issue a change order authorizing delay costs to the contractor, which does notinvalidate the contract. The amount of such a change order to the owner shall be determined inaccordance with the provisions of the contract for change orders or force accounts or, if no suchprovision is set forth in the contract, the cost to the owner shall be the contractor's actual costsincluding wages, labor costs other than wages, wage taxes, materials, equipment costs and rentals,insurance, and subcontracts attributable to the delay, plus a reasonable sum for overhead. In theevent of a dispute between the owner and the contractor concerning such change order, proceduresshall be commenced under the applicable terms of the contract, or, if the contract contains noprovision for resolving the dispute, it shall be resolved pursuant to the procedures for arbitration inChapter 2711. of the Revised Code, except as provided in division (B) of this section. Nothing inthis division shall be construed as a limitation upon the authority of the director of transportationgranted in Chapter 5525. of the Revised Code.(B) If a dispute arises between the state and a contractor concerning the terms of a publicimprovement contract let by the state or concerning a breach of the contract, and after administrativeremedies provided for in such contract and any alternative dispute resolution procedures provided inaccordance with guidelines established by the executive director of the Ohio facilities constructionAm. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.5commission are exhausted, the contractor may bring an action to the court of claims in accordancewith Chapter 2743. of the Revised Code. The state or the contractor may request the chief justice ofthe supreme court to appoint a referee or panel of referees in accordance with division (C)(3) ofsection 2743.03 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "dispute" means a disagreementbetween the state and the contractor concerning a public improvement contract let by the state.(C) When utilizing an industry standard published construction management contract form,the public authority shall provide the contract form in a manner that indicates any alteration to thestandard form by striking through and underlining any changes to the original language of thestandard form, by cross-referencing conditions that are supplemental to the standard form , or byincluding conditions that are supplemental to the standard form that cross-reference the section orsections of the standard form being altered . Failure to indicate an alteration to the original languageof the standard form in the manner required above results in the alteration being void and withouteffect such that the original language prevails.Sec. 153.501. (A) A public authority may accept a subcontract awarded by a constructionmanager at risk, a design-build firm, or a general contracting firm, or may reject any suchsubcontract if the public authority determines that the bidder is not responsible. When utilizing anindustry standard published construction management contract form, the public authority shallprovide the contract form in a manner that indicates any alteration to the standard form by strikingthrough and underlining any changes to the original language of the standard form , by cross-referencing conditions that are supplemental to the standard form , or by including conditions that aresupplemental to the standard form that cross-reference the section or sections of the standard formbeing altered. Failure to indicate an alteration to the original language of the standard form in themanner required above results in the alteration being void and without effect such that the originallanguage prevails.(B) A public authority may authorize a construction manager at risk or design-build firm toutilize a design-assist firm on any public improvement project without transferring any designliability to the design-assist firm.(C) If the construction manager at risk or design-build firm intends and is permitted by thepublic authority to self-perform a portion of the work to be performed, the construction manager atrisk or design-build firm shall submit a sealed bid to the public authority for the portion of the workprior to accepting and opening any bids for the same work, except when the public authorityrequests a guaranteed maximum price proposal due at the time of selection.Sec. 153.503. (A) The Ohio facilities construction commission, pursuant to Chapter 119. ofthe Revised Code, shall adopt rules to do all of the following:(A)(1) Prescribe the procedures and criteria for determining the best value selection of aconstruction manager at risk or design-build firm;(B)(2) Set forth standards to be followed by construction managers at risk and design-buildfirms when establishing prequalification criteria pursuant to section 153.502 of the Revised Code;Am. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.6(C)(3) Prescribe the form for the contract documents to be used by a construction manager atrisk, design-build firm, or general contractor when entering into a subcontract;(D)(4) Prescribe the form for the contract documents to be used by a public authority whenentering into a contract with a construction manager at risk or design-build firm.(B) The rules adopted under divisions (A)(3) and (4) of this section shall include arequirement that a public authority, construction manager at risk, design-build firm, or generalcontracting firm utilizing a prescribed industry standard published contract or subcontract form shallprovide the form in a manner that indicates any alteration to the standard form by striking throughand underlining any changes to the original language of the standard form , by cross-referencingconditions that are supplemental to the standard form , or by including conditions that aresupplemental to the standard form that cross-reference the section or sections of the standard formbeing altered. Failure to indicate an alteration to the original language of the standard form in themanner required above results in the alteration being void and without effect such that the originallanguage prevails.Sec. 153.693. (A)(1) For every design-build contract, the public authority planning tocontract for design-build services, in consultation with the criteria architect or engineer, shallevaluate the statements of qualifications submitted by design-build firms specifically regarding theproject, including the design-build firm's proposed architect or engineer of record.(2) For projects valued at less than four million dollars, the public authority may require thedesign-build firm to submit a statement along with a pricing proposal described in division (B)(2)(h)of this section. The public authority shall provide each design-build firm who desires to submit botha statement and a proposal a pre-proposal meeting to explore the proposals further, in which thepublic authority shall provide the design-build firm with a description of the project, including thescope and nature of the proposed services and potential technical approaches. After and only afterthe public authority ranks and selects firms under division (B)(1) of this section, the public authorityshall review the pricing proposals submitted by selected firms under this division, and proceed underdivision (B)(3) of this section, continuing the selection process from there.(B) Following this evaluation, the public authority shall:(1) Select and rank not fewer than three firms which it considers to be the most qualified toprovide the required design-build services, except that the public authority shall select and rankfewer than three firms when the public authority determines in writing that fewer than threequalified firms are available;(2) Provide each selected design-build firm with all of the following:(a) A description of the project and project delivery;(b) The design criteria produced by the criteria architect or engineer under section 153.692of the Revised Code;(c) A preliminary project schedule;(d) A description of any preconstruction services;Am. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.7(e) A description of the proposed design services;(f) A description of a guaranteed maximum price, including the estimated level of design onwhich such guaranteed maximum price is based;(g) The form of the design-build services contract;. If using an industry standard publisheddesign-build services contract form, the public authority shall provide the form in a manner thatindicates any alteration to the standard form by striking through and underlining any changes to theoriginal language of the standard form, by cross-referencing conditions that are supplemental to thestandard form, or by including conditions that are supplemental to the standard form that cross-reference the section or sections of the standard form being altered . If the public authority fails toindicate an alteration to the original language of the standard form, the alteration is void and withouteffect and the original language prevails.(h) Except for projects under division (A)(2) of this section, a request for a pricing proposalthat shall be divided into a design services fee and a preconstruction and design-build services fee.The pricing proposal of each design-build firm shall include at least all of the following:(i) A list of key personnel and consultants for the project;(ii) Design concepts adhering to the design criteria produced by the criteria architect orengineer under section 153.692 of the Revised Code;(iii) The design-build firm's statement of general conditions and estimated contingencyrequirements;(iv) A preliminary project schedule.(3) Evaluate the pricing proposal submitted by each selected firm and, at its discretion, holddiscussions with each firm to further investigate its pricing proposal, including the scope and natureof the firm's proposed services and potential technical approaches;(4) Rank the selected firms based on the public authority's evaluation of the value of eachfirm's pricing proposal, with such evaluation considering each firm's proposed costs andqualifications;(5) Enter into contract negotiations for design-build services with the design-build firmwhose pricing proposal the public authority determines to be the best value under this section.(C) In complying with division (B)(5) of this section, contract negotiations shall be directedtoward:(1) Ensuring that the design-build firm and the public authority mutually understand theessential requirements involved in providing the required design-build services, the provisions forthe use of contingency funds, and the terms of the contract, including terms related to the possibledistribution of savings in the final costs of the project;(2) Ensuring that the design-build firm shall be able to provide the necessary personnel,equipment, and facilities to perform the design-build services within the time required by the design-build construction contract;(3) Agreeing upon a procedure and schedule for determining a guaranteed maximum priceAm. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.8using an open book pricing method that shall represent the total maximum amount to be paid by thepublic authority to the design-build firm for the project and that shall include the costs of all work,the cost of its general conditions, the contingency, and the fee payable to the design-build firm.(D) If the public authority fails to negotiate a contract with the design-build firm whosepricing proposal the public authority determines to be the best value as determined under thissection, the public authority shall inform the design-build firm in writing of the termination ofnegotiations. The public authority may then do the following:(1) Negotiate a contract with a design-build firm ranked next highest under this sectionfollowing the negotiation procedure described in this section;(2) If negotiations fail with the design-build firm under division (D)(1) of this section,negotiate a contract with the design-build firm ranked next highest under this section following thenegotiation procedure described in this section and continue negotiating with the design-build firmsselected under this section in the order of their ranking until a contract is negotiated.(E) If the public authority fails to negotiate a contract with a design-build firm whose pricingproposal the public authority determines to be the best value as determined under this section, it mayselect additional design-build firms to provide pricing proposals to the public authority pursuant tothis section or may select an alternative delivery method for the project.(F) The public authority may provide a stipend for pricing proposals received from design-build firms.(G) Nothing in this section affects a public authority's right to accept or reject any or allproposals in whole or in part.SECTION 2. That existing sections 9.334, 153.12, 153.501, 153.503, and 153.693 of theRevised Code are hereby repealed.SECTION 3. The changes in sections 9.334, 153.501, 153.503, and 153.693 of the RevisedCode and division (C) of section 153.12 of the Revised Code as amended by this act apply to acontract entered into on or after the effective date of this section and do not apply to a contractalready in effect on the effective date of this section.Am. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.Speaker ___________________ of the House of Representatives.President ___________________ of the Senate.Passed ________________________, 20____Approved ________________________, 20____Governor.Am. S. B. No. 262 136th G.A.The section numbering of law of a general and permanent nature iscomplete and in conformity with the Revised Code.Director, Legislative Service Commission.Filed in the office of the Secretary of State at Columbus, Ohio, on the ____day of ___________, A. D. 20____.Secretary of State.File No. _________ Effective Date ___________________
To amend sections 9.334, 153.12, 153.501, 153.503, and 153.693 of the Revised Code to require a public authority or other party to a construction contract to note variations from an industry standard form.
Sponsors
Sen. Louis Blessing (R) sponsors SB 262, and 14 members have co-sponsored it.

Sen. · R–8 · Sponsor

Sen. · D–23 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · D–6 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · R–18 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · D–25 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · R–2 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · D–11 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · R–5 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · D–9 · Co-sponsor

Sen. · R–26 · Co-sponsor
Committees
SB 262 went before 2 committees: General Government and Judiciary.
History
SB 262 has taken 12 actions since Sep 16, 2025, the latest on Sep 17, 2026.
| Chamber | Action | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sep 17, 2026 | — | Effective | ||
Jun 18, 2026 | — | Signed By The Governor | ||
Jun 12, 2026 | — | Sent To The Governor | ||
Jun 10, 2026 | Senate | Concurred in House amendments | ||
Jun 3, 2026 | House | Reported - Amended: Judiciary |
Votes
SB 262 went to 5 roll calls across both chambers, the latest on Jun 10, 2026 at 33–0.
| Chamber | Question | Yea | Nay | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jun 10, 2026 | Senate | Senate Passed | 33 | 0 | ||
Jun 3, 2026 | House | House Favorable Passage | 13 | 0 | ||
Jun 3, 2026 | House | House Passed | 93 | 0 | ||
Mar 4, 2026 | Senate | Senate Passed | 31 | 0 | ||
Feb 18, 2026 | Senate | Senate Favorable Passage | 7 | 0 |
Source: legislature.ohio.gov · legiscan.com
