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HB 1322

Public purchasing laws; revise to include set asides for businesses owned by veterans and people with disabilities.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Bell and 1 co-sponsor

HB 1322 reserves portions of Mississippi government contracts for veteran-owned and disability-owned businesses to expand their procurement access.

Died In Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 1322

Legislative bill overview

HB 1322 would modify Mississippi's public purchasing laws to establish set-aside requirements for government contracts designated for businesses owned by veterans and people with disabilities. These set-asides would reserve a portion of public procurement opportunities exclusively or preferentially for these groups. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, without advancing further in the legislative process.

Why is this important

Set-aside programs aim to address historical barriers to government contracting that veterans and disability-owned businesses face, potentially increasing their access to public funds and economic opportunities. Such policies can impact taxpayers (through potential cost variations), existing contractors competing for bids, and the targeted business communities seeking economic inclusion.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost considerations: Set-asides may limit competitive bidding, potentially affecting contract pricing and whether government agencies receive the lowest bids or best value for taxpayer dollars
  • Implementation complexity: Defining and verifying veteran or disability-owned business status requires administrative infrastructure and oversight mechanisms that increase bureaucratic costs
  • Fair competition concerns: Non-set-aside contractors may argue the policy unfairly restricts their access to government contracts regardless of their qualifications or pricing

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

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