FINANCE-VETERANS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Mike Porfirio

Illinois agencies can include veterans in affirmative action contracting goals under the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments

Bill overview

Title: FINANCE-VETERANS

Sponsor: Senator Mike Porfirio (co-sponsor)

Introduced: February 2, 2026

Jurisdiction: Illinois

Session: 104th General Assembly

Committee actions (status): Referred to Procurement, then to Executive; Rule 2-10 deadlines established with subsequent readings as of 2026. Dates shown in action history.

Effective date: Immediate upon becoming law.

Main purpose and intent

SB 3230 amends the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying Qualifications Based Selection Act to explicitly authorize, and not restrict, public agencies in Illinois from pursuing affirmative action contracting goals that include veterans. The bill aims to ensure that veterans can be considered within affirmative action or set-aside contracting programs established by law, rules, regulations, or executive orders.

Key provisions and changes

Affirmative action language clarified:

The bill adds language to Section 80 of the Act clarifying that nothing in the Act should be interpreted as prohibiting or restricting agencies from establishing or maintaining affirmative action contracting goals specifically for veterans.
The existing language already allows goals for minorities, women, and small business set-asides; SB 3230 extends this to explicitly include veterans as a protected or prioritized group in contracting goals.

Scope retained: The bill preserves existing authority for agencies to implement affirmative action contracting goals for other groups (minorities, women, small businesses) and now vacuums in veterans as an additional eligible group.

Who/what would be affected

Public agencies that utilize the Qualifications Based Selection Act for architectural, engineering, and land surveying procurements.

Veterans seeking representation within agency contracting goals, including set-aside or affirmative action programs.

Contracting and procurement processes may incorporate specific veteran-focused goals or considerations as part of affirmative action policies.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Process: The bill follows the standard legislative path for Illinois: introduction, assignment to committees (Procurement, then Executive), and scheduled committee deadlines with Rule 2-10 dates (e.g., deadlines established for April 24, 2026, and May 15, 2026, for subsequent readings).

Effective date: Immediate upon enactment (takes effect as soon as it becomes law).

Practical impact

The bill clarifies and reinforces the ability of Illinois agencies to set and pursue veteran-focused contracting goals within the framework of affirmative action and set-aside programs.

It is a relatively narrow amendment that does not change the core selection process but expands the scope of permissible affirmative action targets to include veterans, alongside existing groups.

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison with current law to highlight the exact changes, or outline potential fiscal and administrative considerations for agencies implementing veteran-focused contracting goals.

Bill