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State legislative sessions are wrapping up across the country, and design-build continues to gain momentum.

In this episode of Design-Build Delivers, DBIA’s Richard Thomas joins Erin Looney to break down the biggest state legislative developments affecting design-build, including expanded authority, progressive design-build activity, sunset extensions and removals and the growing role of DBIA regions in legislative advocacy.

Richard discusses why transportation remains active, why water/wastewater and building projects are increasingly important and how states such as Missouri, California, Illinois and West Virginia reflect broader national trends. He also explains why passing legislation is only part of the work. Once Owners receive new or expanded authority, they still need training, internal alignment, industry engagement and the right support to use design-build successfully.

The conversation also looks ahead to the next legislative cycle, including expected activity in Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York and other states, as well as federal transportation reauthorization.

Resources:

• DBIA Pending Legislation: Follow the latest state legislative activity affecting design-build authority, including updates on transportation, water/wastewater and other public-sector markets. 
• DBIA State Advocacy: Explore DBIA’s state advocacy resources, including guidance for advancing effective design-build legislation and supporting broader understanding of collaborative delivery. 
• DBIA Advocacy Toolkits: Access practical tools and resources to help Owners, practitioners and advocates communicate the value of design-build and support Design-Build Done Right® implementation. 
• States Look to Broaden Design-Build Authority in Transportation, Water/Wastewater in 2026: Read DBIA’s overview of 2026 state legislative trends, including efforts to expand and refine design-build authority in transportation and water/wastewater.
• The Role of the Owner Advisor in Design-Build Projects: Learn how experienced Owner Advisors can help Owners prepare for design-build success, from procurement planning to implementation of Design-Build Done Right® best practices. 
  
  

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

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This Bonus Content Episode extends our conversation from “Beyond the Buzz: Implementing Progressive Design-Build in the Federal Market,” featuring David Triplett and Laura Stagner.

In the full episode, we discussed what federal agencies should know before pursuing progressive design-build, including DBIA’s new Qualifications-Based Selection Deeper Dive for PDB and an accompanying AI-powered tutorial designed to help agencies apply the guidance in real procurement and project delivery scenarios.

Here, we take a closer look at one specific issue: off-ramping.

Off-ramping can sound like a failure, especially when it shows up around high-profile projects. But in progressive design-build, an off-ramp can be a legitimate project-protection tool. 

As Dave explains, successful PDB requires moving from controlling the answer to defining the problem.

Resources

Listen to the full episode: “Beyond the Buzz: Implementing Progressive Design-Build in the Federal Market”

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

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In the latest episode of the Design-Build Delivers Podcast, host Erin Looney chats with David Triplett of the FBI and Laura Stagner of GSA to discuss what federal agencies should know before pursuing a progressive design-build project.

The episode also highlights DBIA's new Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) Deeper Dive for progressive design-build and an accompanying AI-powered tutorial designed to help agencies apply the guidance in real-world procurement and project delivery scenarios.

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

Have thoughts? Text us!

April's Design-Build Delivers Podcast looked at the uncertainty and changes with DBE certification at the federal level. Guests Rachael Pease and Freddie Streeter return in this Bonus Content Episode to ground that discussion in some real-world stories. If you missed it, make sure to listen to the full episode companion to this brief chat for more.

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

Have thoughts? Text us!

Changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program are already shaping how teams approach projects and raising questions about what comes next.

In the latest episode of The Design-Build Delivers Podcast, brought to you by ARKANCE, an Autodesk Platinum Partner, host Erin Looney speaks with two industry professionals working through those changes in real time.

The conversation focuses on the recent Interim Final Rule (IFR), which removes long-standing presumptions of disadvantage and shifts the burden of proof onto individual firms. As a result, DBE certification, procurement timelines and team formation are all being affected, often in ways that are still evolving.

Rather than debating the policy itself, this episode looks at what’s happening on the ground, including how project teams are adjusting, where uncertainty is creating friction and what it means for small businesses trying to stay engaged in design-build.  

Resources from the episode: 

• Design-Build Done Right® Universal Best Practices
• DBIA Project/Team Awards
• BOGO DBIA Membership Offer

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

Have thoughts? Text us!

In this bonus episode of the Design-Build Delivers Podcast, Erin Looney highlights a key moment from the recent legislative update conversation to take a closer look at project labor agreements (PLAs) and why they remain one of the most complex and nuanced aspects of project delivery today.

As design-build authority continues to expand across the country, teams are navigating evolving policies, funding challenges and local requirements that can vary significantly by region. PLAs are a clear example of how those dynamics play out in real time.

Listen to the full episode:
All Politics is Local: The State-By-State Push for Design-Build Authority (Feb. 2026 full episode)

Stay informed:

•  Track state legislation  
•  Visit the DBIA Bookstore for free resources supporting state and local legislative efforts

Join the conversation in person:
State and local legislative issues will be a key topic at DBIA’s Spring Specialty Conferences in Grapevine, Texas.

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

Have thoughts? Text us!

Every year, the DBIA Project/Team Awards recognize the teams that demonstrate Design-Build Done Right®, but how does the jury actually evaluate submissions?

In this episode, your host Erin Looney chats with four members of the DBIA Awards jury to explain what they look for when reviewing projects and what makes a submission stand out.

The discussion covers:

• How collaboration and leadership influence award-winning projects
• Why documentation and storytelling matter in submissions
• How teams can demonstrate the real impact of VDC and technology
• The role of procurement strategy and risk allocation

If you're considering submitting a project, this episode offers practical insight directly from the people who review the applications.

Resources in the episode

• DBIA Project/Team Awards previous winners
  • Orange County Health Care Agency at Marine Way (2025 Best in VDC Award winner)
• DBIA Project/Team Awards Submission Guidelines
• Guest bios:
  • Rich Formella, PMP, CPPO, FAC-C III (Retired), FDBIA
  • Barbara Jackson, Ph.D., FDBIA
  • Praful Kulkarni, Ph.D., FAIA, DBIA
  • Brian Skripac, CM-BIM, CDT, LEED AP, DBIA

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

Have thoughts? Text us!

State legislatures across the country are in session, and like every year, the decisions made now could directly affect how projects are delivered for years to come.

In the latest episode of Design-Build Delivers, we hung out with DBIA’s Director of State and Local Legislative Affairs, Richard Thomas, and Legislative Committee Chair Vince Campanella to unpack what’s happening in 2026. From progressive design-build expansion to sunset clauses and subtle procurement language changes, the legislative landscape remains active and consequential.

Some states are refining mature programs. Others are transitioning from pilot programs to full authority. And in a few cases, familiar bills are resurfacing with new language that could impact Owners, designers and contractors alike.

Resources in this episode:

• Guide for Enactment of Design-Build Legislation
• Model Legislation
• State Statute Report
• DBIA State Advocacy Resources
• Design-Build for Transportation/Aviation and Design-Build for Water/Wastewater Conferences

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

Have thoughts? Text us!

Each year, the Design-Build Delivers Podcast chats with ED/CEO Lisa Washington, CAE, and DBIA’s new National Board Chair about what’s ahead for the industry.

In this episode, Washington and host Erin Looney are joined by 2026 National Board Chair Virginia McAllister for a forward-looking conversation on collaboration, risk and the priorities shaping design-build in the coming year. Together, they explore what’s driving continued growth in the delivery method, where teams tend to struggle and how education and shared understanding remain essential as design-build expands.

The discussion also touches on how DBIA is evolving to meet the moment, from expanded access to resources and membership to new and updated education designed to support owners and practitioners navigating design-build for the first — or fiftieth — time.

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time. 

Have thoughts? Text us!

In Part 2, we catch up with DBIA’s 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award recipients and the Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award winner

DBIA’s 2025 Design-Build Conference & Expo in Las Vegas celebrated more than award-winning projects and standout teams. It also recognized the leaders whose careers, influence and commitment continue to shape the design-build industry.

Part 2 of our post–Design-Build Conference & Expo podcast coverage focuses on DBIA’s individual honors, featuring interviews with this year’s Distinguished Leadership Award recipients and the 2025 Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award winner. These conversations highlight the achievements being recognized and the leadership behind them.

Featured Projects and Interviews

• Jennifer Macks — Distinguished Leadership Award (Industry Practitioner)
• Britt Sanford — Distinguished Leadership Award (Owner)
• David Shadpour — Distinguished Leadership Award (Young Professional)
• Janice Zahn — Distinguished Leadership Award (Legislator)
• Bill Reifsteck — 2025 Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award

Resources:

• William E. Reifsteck II, FDBIA, CRIS, Awarded the 2025 Brunelleschi Lifetime Achievement Award
• Inside the College of Fellows: Wisdom, Wit and What's Next
• Leadership in Every Corner: DBIA’s 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award Honorees

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.

DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time.