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S 2178

Establishes a product stewardship program for primary batteries

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

The bill requires the Supplier Diversity Office to collect and publish annual procurement data to reveal how state-related contracting benefits diverse and underrepresented busines

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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Bill Summary · S 2178

Summary — S.2178 (Transparency and Accountability in Procurement Act)

Note: The bill metadata provided lists the title “Establishes a product stewardship program for primary batteries,” but the bill text included in your request is for the “Transparency and Accountability in Procurement Act.” This summary covers the text supplied (procurement/supplier diversity). The text is truncated near the end; readers should consult the full bill for complete provisions.

Main purpose and intent

The bill directs the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Office (SDO) to collect and publish standardized, annual procurement data from large public- and private-sector entities to improve transparency about how state-related contracting benefits certified minority- and women-owned businesses and other defined groups. The stated goal is to better understand and promote inclusiveness in the Massachusetts marketplace.

Key provisions

  • Definitions: Establishes definitions for key terms used in the bill, including:
    • “Business,” “Non-profit corporation,” “State authority,” “Hospital,” “Institution of higher education,” and “Museum” — in many cases limited to entities with annual revenue of $100 million or more.
    • Ownership categories: “Black‑owned Business,” “Women‑owned Business,” “Western Hemisphere Hispanic,” “Minority Business Enterprise (MBE),” and “Women Business Enterprise (WBE).”
    • “Certified business enterprises” (MBE and WBE certified under M.G.L. c.7, §61) and “non‑certified businesses” (Black-, Hispanic-, and women‑owned businesses not certified).
    • “SDO” defined as the Commonwealth’s Supplier Diversity Office (per M.G.L. c.7, §§58A, 61).
  • Reporting and rulemaking: The SDO must promulgate regulations requiring annual collection and reporting of procurement activity by large businesses, nonprofits, and state authorities that relates to both certified and non‑certified businesses.
  • Annual report: The SDO is required to submit an annual report by April 30 that details procurement activity (the bill text is truncated at this point; the full reporting elements are not visible in the excerpt).

Who is affected

  • Covered reporting entities: businesses, nonprofit corporations, and state authorities with annual revenues of $100 million or greater (and other specifically defined institutions such as hospitals, certain higher education institutions, and museums meeting the revenue threshold).
  • Beneficiary groups tracked: certified MBEs and WBEs, and non‑certified Black-, Western Hemisphere Hispanic-, and women‑owned businesses.
  • SDO: charged with rulemaking, data collection, and reporting responsibilities.
  • Indirectly affected: procurement officers, prime contractors, and vendors who will need to provide data required under SDO regulations.

Potential impacts

  • Transparency: Provides a centralized data source on how statewide procurement dollars are distributed among diverse suppliers.
  • Policy and oversight: Enables the Commonwealth to measure supplier diversity outcomes and inform program adjustments.
  • Administrative burden: Large entities and the SDO will incur compliance costs to gather, validate, and report detailed procurement data.
  • Market effects: May incentivize greater outreach to and inclusion of diverse suppliers; could inform goals or targets in future procurement policy.

Procedural status & timeline (from submitted data)

  • Introduced: June 26, 2025 (various docket dates show filings beginning January 2025).
  • Referred: Committee referrals listed include Finance; State Administration and Regulatory Oversight; Environmental Conservation (duplicate references appear in the record you provided).
  • Hearing: A hearing was scheduled for July 15, 2025 (01:00 PM–05:00 PM, B‑1).
  • The bill text as provided is truncated; consult the official bill file for complete sections, regulatory timelines, enforcement mechanisms, and any penalties or data confidentiality provisions.

Recommendation: Review the full, current bill text and SDO regulatory language once available to determine exact reporting fields, data standards, compliance deadlines, and any exemptions or enforcement mechanisms absent from the truncated excerpt.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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