The State, counties, cities and towns and every charitable or educational institution that is supported in whole or in part by aid granted by the State or by any municipality shall, in the awarding of contracts for constructing, altering, repairing, furnishing or equipping its buildings or public works, give preference to workers and to bidders for such contracts who are residents of this State, as long as the bids submitted by those resident bidders are equally favorable with bids submitted by contractors from without the State. This section does not apply to construction or repairs amounting to less than $1,000 or to emergency work or to state road work.   [RR 2023, c. 2, Pt. E, §133 (COR).]

Any contract for public improvement that is awarded by the State or any department or agency of the State is subject to the competitive bidding process established under Title 5, chapter 155, subchapter I‑A.   [PL 1995, c. 524, §2 (NEW).]