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Latest Threat: Snooping on Government Contracts
Date
Tuesday, February 19, 2019

In legislatures around the country, a threat to engineering firms that contract with government agencies is emerging. The threat comes from a model bill requiring private businesses that contract with any government body to install tracking software on the computer of every employee who works on a public project. The company TransparentBusiness is aggressively promoting the model bill as a way of reducing fraudulent charges by government contractors. This company, coincidentally, sells the tracking software. In response to a bill introduced in Springfield, the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers has responded in opposition, along with the American Council of Engineering Companies–Illinois, the American Institute of Architects – Illinois, the Illinois CPA Society, the Illinois Professional Land Surveyors Association, the Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association, and the Illinois Secretary of State.

The Montana legislature, through a fiscal note, has also detailed the negative financial impact the bill would have on a state economy.

TransparentBusiness has shopped this bill to more than 40 state legislatures already; as of the last count, some version of this legislation has been introduced in the following 23 states:

  • Arizona - HB 2086
  • Arkansas - SB 281
  • Hawaii - HB 1293 (Labor and Public Employment Committee recommended that the bill be deferred) /SB 1326
  • Idaho - H 135 (Professions licensed by the state are exempted.)
  • Illinois - SB 1326/HB 2127
  • Indiana - HB 1572
  • Iowa - HSB 169
  • Kansas - SB 56 (hearing scheduled for February 7 was cancelled)/HB 2115
  • Maryland - SB 375 (hearing scheduled for March 5, 1 p.m.)/HB 483 (hearing scheduled for February 19)
  • Massachusetts - HD 653 (draft)
  • Minnesota - SF 913/HF 153
  • Mississippi - HB 1133/SB 2879 (both died in committee)
  • Montana - HB 197 (Tabled in committee. Committee noted “significant long-term impacts” and “technical concerns” with the bill.)
  • Nebraska - LB 717
  • New Jersey - S 2960
  • New Mexico - SB 546
  • Rhode Island - HB 5255/SB 125
  • South Dakota - HB 1123 (defeated)
  • Tennessee - HB 1329/SB 1420
  • Texas - HB 1352
  • Virginia - HB 2804 (failed in committee)
  • Washington - HB 1744/SB 5809
  • West Virginia - SB 584/HB 2756

NSPE is tracking all of these bills. We will post additional information and updates as they become available.