Legislators will consider at a meeting of the Legislative Council on Tuesday whether to enter into an agreement with the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) to build and lease a new State House.
Members of the Legislative Council approved a resolution to begin negotiating a lease agreement for a new State House with the RSA in July.
"The meeting will be to provide an update to the full council on the status of negotiations and the preliminary process. Hopefully, we will also be in a position to consider a final agreement on moving forward," Othni Lathram, secretary for the Legislative Council, told 1819 News on Thursday.
The estimated cost of the possible project hasn't been announced yet, but RSA CEO Dr. David Bronner said last week the price would be comparable to federal buildings built in Mobile and Tuscaloosa within about the last decade.
"I got into it with the architects a little bit because they had never done this sort of thing and it was ridiculous numbers. We've got that all cleared up because I brought in the person that works with me. He hasn't done all of these buildings in Montgomery but he's done most of them," Bronner said last week. "We've got it priced down to comparable things that have been built by the feds."
Legislation was passed into law in the 2023 regular session to place more land next to the current Alabama State House under legislative control for the possible construction of a new State House. The new law gives the Legislative Council "authority to contract with an appropriate party, including, but not limited to, the Retirement Systems of Alabama, to construct and maintain a building that, upon completion, would be designated as the Alabama State House."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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