Bill > HB225

This bill, titled the "Historically Underutilized and Disadvantaged Business Opportunity Act," aims to promote equal business opportunities by encouraging state agencies to use historically underutilized businesses (HUBs) and disadvantaged businesses (DBs) in their purchasing decisions. A HUB is defined as a for-profit business with average annual revenues under $5 million or fewer than 50 employees over the last three years, that is a resident business, and is at least 51% owned by a woman, veteran, or minority. A disadvantaged business is one that demonstrates social disadvantage based on factors like race, ethnicity, gender, or disability, and has experienced chronic disadvantage impacting their business opportunities. The bill establishes initial statewide goals for the utilization of HUBs and DBs across various industries, with the General Services Department responsible for updating these goals based on economic research. The General Services Department will also manage a certification process for HUBs and DBs, maintain a public database, and report on state agency spending with these businesses, while state agencies are required to set their own specific goals, make good-faith efforts to meet them, and report their progress.