Bill > SB1439

This bill establishes the Best Customer Price Act, which aims to create a more level playing field for small and mid-sized businesses in state procurement, particularly for minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. The bill requires that when public higher education institutions or state agencies purchase goods, suppliers and resellers must provide the "best customer pricing," which means the lowest price offered to any customer, including all discounts and incentives. Suppliers must obtain a "letter of supply" from manufacturers confirming they can secure the goods and that the manufacturer has extended the same best pricing to all state-registered suppliers. The bill defines key terms like "best customer pricing" and "reseller," and provides that if a state agency or institution does not believe the offered price is competitive, they may decline the bid. Importantly, the legislation does not require manufacturers to extend best pricing for goods not being purchased by the state, and it protects proprietary information. The bill's underlying motivation is to prevent manufacturers from offering better prices only to large suppliers, which can exclude smaller businesses from state procurement opportunities, and to ensure taxpayers receive the most advantageous pricing possible.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1439&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104