HB301 authorizes the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to enter into agreements to undertake information technology projects for any branch of the judiciary, where feasible. It also allows DoIT to establish price agreements with vendors for IT goods and services in compliance with the Procurement Code, and requires DoIT to publish an annual catalog of available goods and services with approved rates beginning July 1, 2027.
The bill further clarifies that DoIT may impose the rules and guidance tied to a department-provided good or service on non-agency customers, but may not require those customers to comply with other laws administered by DoIT unless another law specifically says so. It also limits DoIT’s access to non-agency data to what is necessary to provide and maintain the goods and services offered.
Impact
HB301 would expand DoIT’s authority to provide shared technology services beyond executive-branch agencies to include judicial branch projects, subject to feasibility and procurement requirements. It would also create a more formal statewide purchasing framework for IT goods and services, including vendor price agreements and an annual catalog of offerings. In addition, the bill appropriates $1.2 million from the general fund to the Administrative Office of the District Attorneys for fiscal year 2027 to purchase technology goods and services for district attorneys statewide, with any unused funds reverting to the general fund.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the overall sentiment appears neutral to supportive, with the bill framed as an administrative and modernization measure. The appropriation for district attorneys and the ability to leverage DoIT’s purchasing and project capacity suggest an emphasis on efficiency, standardization, and statewide coordination rather than controversy.
Contention
No committee transcripts or vote history are available, so no specific objections or amendments are documented. Potential points of contention, if raised, would likely center on the scope of DoIT’s authority over judicial branch projects, the handling of non-agency customer data, and whether the appropriation and centralized purchasing approach adequately balances local control with statewide standardization.
House Substitute for SB 51 by Committee on Legislative Modernization - Authorizing the chief information security officer to receive audit reports, updating statutes related to services provided by the chief information technology officer and authorizing the office of information technology services to provide certain services to political subdivisions and hospitals.