HB2514 would create a new Office of the State Construction Manager within the Department of Accounting and General Services. The office would be headed by a governor-appointed state construction manager who must have held a construction-management license for at least five years, and who would oversee centralized design review for all state construction projects. Before a state construction project could begin, the office would review plans and specifications, ensure compliance with applicable building and related standards, issue design approvals, and assign an inspector to observe the work.
The bill also establishes a Design Review Special Fund to pay for the office’s operations, authorizes the collection of fees for design review services, and requires annual reporting to the governor and legislature. In addition, it would exempt qualifying state construction projects from county building permit, inspection, and certificate of occupancy requirements, while preserving compliance with other state and county laws, zoning, master plans, and health and building codes. The measure includes appropriations to seed the fund and to staff the new office, and it would take effect on July 1, 2026.
Impact
If enacted, HB2514 would significantly shift authority over state construction project design review from a more distributed process to a centralized state-level office within DAGS. It would amend section 26-6 to add centralized design review and design approval duties to the comptroller’s responsibilities, create a new statutory framework for the state construction manager, and establish a dedicated special fund for fees and appropriations related to those services. It would also create a new exemption in chapter 46 from county permitting, inspection, and certificate-of-occupancy requirements for state projects that meet applicable standards, potentially reducing local permitting involvement for state-owned construction.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests the bill did not advance smoothly: the House Labor committee recommended that the measure be deferred, and there are no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts indicating broad support or opposition. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears aimed at improving efficiency and consistency in state project review, but the deferment indicates at least some committee concern or unresolved issues. Overall sentiment in the available record is cautious rather than clearly favorable.
Contention
The main points of contention likely involve the bill’s centralization of authority and its reduction of county oversight over state construction projects. Counties may object to being bypassed on permits, inspections, and certificates of occupancy, while supporters may argue that a single state construction manager would streamline approvals and improve uniformity. Additional concerns may include the creation of a new office and special fund, the use of appropriations and fees to support it, and the breadth of discretion given to the state construction manager to determine costs, approve designs, and set operational procedures.
Requesting The Department Of Accounting And General Services To Study The Feasibility Of Limiting The Costs Of Project And Construction Management In Each State Construction Project To Ten Percent Of The Total Cost Of The Project.
Requesting The Department Of Accounting And General Services To Study The Feasibility Of Limiting The Costs Of Project And Construction Management In Each State Construction Project To Ten Percent Of The Total Cost Of The Project.
Providing for the capital budget for fiscal year 2025-2026; itemizing public improvement projects, furniture and equipment projects, transportation assistance, redevelopment assistance projects, flood control projects and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission projects leased or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies, together with their estimated financial costs; authorizing the incurring of debt without the approval of the electors for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies; authorizing the use of current revenue for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies stating the estimated useful life of the projects; and making appropriations.
Providing for the capital budget for fiscal year 2025-2026; itemizing public improvement projects, furniture and equipment projects, transportation assistance, redevelopment assistance projects, flood control projects and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission projects leased or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies, together with their estimated financial costs; authorizing the incurring of debt without the approval of the electors for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies; authorizing the use of current revenue for the purpose of financing the projects to be constructed, acquired or assisted by the Department of General Services and other State agencies stating the estimated useful life of the projects; and making appropriations.