A state committee overseeing Alabama’s new online public works advertising platform reported steady progress this month, as contractors and public officials discussed early successes and next steps for expanding the system.
Alabama Joint Study Commission on Public Notice of Title 39 Advertisements said that their website, Alabama Builds, operated by the Alabama Department of Finance, was launched earlier this month as a centralized space for public agencies to post advertisements for construction and infrastructure projects. For a flat fee of $25 per ad, it offers an alternative to traditional newspaper notices, which can run hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The platform was created after HB320 passed during the 2025 legislative session. Sponsored by Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, the measure modernized Alabama’s public works advertising requirements by amending Section 39-2-2 of the Code of Alabama.
The bill allows public agencies to post notices of bid opportunities not only in newspapers, as previously mandated, but also on a centralized state website. The goal was to make project advertisements more accessible to contractors statewide and reduce advertisement costs.
Committee members said that feedback from contractors has been largely positive during the pilot phase, applauding the site’s low cost and convenience. Several participants suggested improvements for future updates, including a feature that would allow users to filter projects by trade.
Since its launch, Alabama Builds has hosted 14 advertisements from municipalities and public authorities. More than 60 users have created accounts, and over 100 people have signed up for notifications. Committee members noted that even in its early stages, the site has already proven valuable, with one public project able to move forward after a newspaper posting failed to publish due to an email error.
Officials also discussed technical clarifications and expectations for future phases of development. The committee confirmed that public works ads posted online must follow the same three-week publication schedule required of newspaper notices.
While the platform remains optional, committee members agreed that the gradual rollout was deliberate, allowing local governments and public owners time to adjust. They indicated that mandatory participation could be considered in the future once the system has matured and users are more familiar with it.
Contractors and committee members alike expressed interest in seeing Alabama Builds become the standard statewide platform for public works advertising.
They noted that the system’s affordability and reach could help replace newspaper postings, especially as more communities lose local publications. Some members also raised the broader issue of how Alabama might eventually modernize all public notice requirements, not just those related to construction, as traditional print outlets continue to decline.
The committee is now drafting its report to the legislature, which will outline the website’s development, performance and recommendations for next steps. The report is expected by the fifth day of the 2025 legislative session.
Contractors’ associations and public agencies have been asked to share data on typical advertising costs and examples of projects that benefited from the new system. The committee is also considering adding written statements from professional organizations to reflect a range of perspectives in the final report.
