According to the Legislative Budget Board's fiscal note, no significant financial impact on the state is anticipated. The bill's requirements—setting a 25-day deadline for the Attorney General to approve or deny contracts for outside legal services—are expected to be handled within existing resources of the Attorney General’s Office. As a result, no additional appropriations or staffing increases are foreseen.
Additionally, no significant fiscal impact is expected for local governments, as the bill primarily affects state agency contracting procedures without imposing new financial burdens on municipal or county entities.
SB 992 seeks to streamline the Attorney General's approval process for state agency contracts for outside legal services by requiring approval or denial within 25 days and providing a written explanation for denials. The bill author intends to eliminate delays that hinder legal work, ensuring state agencies can access specialized counsel efficiently. However, while the bill improves transparency and predictability, it lacks enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the 25-day deadline and does not provide an appeals process for denied contracts. To better align with principles of limited government and free enterprise, amendments should include automatic approval if the Attorney General fails to act within the deadline and a structured review process for denied contracts. These modifications would prevent bureaucratic delays while maintaining necessary oversight.