HB718

The introduced bill and House committee text contained the restriction without either exception. The House adopted Cecil Bell’s amendment on April 29 to protect claims covered by a payment bond.

The Senate committee substitute added the separate good-faith-dispute exception. Its operative text became the final law unchanged. The House concurred in the Senate changes May 30, and the governor signed June 20. The amendment index lists the one adopted House floor amendment; the Senate change occurred through its committee substitute, not a separately indexed floor amendment.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

Public colleges, students and construction suppliers may benefit from screening potential housing partners for unresolved payment problems. Contractors and vendors could gain leverage when seeking payment, but the law is not a payment guarantee. The bond and good-faith-dispute exceptions help prevent an unsupported or genuinely disputed claim from automatically blocking a partnership.

Colleges must account for these conditions when selecting partners, and affected private entities may need to resolve claims, obtain bonds or document good-faith disputes. The law does not quantify effects on housing availability, construction prices or student rents.

The latest fiscal note anticipated no significant fiscal impact to state or local government, assuming implementation costs could be absorbed using existing resources. It is not an appropriation for new housing.