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Bill

A 7121

Requires an annual report on state agency utilization of minority and women-owned business enterprises

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and 3 co-sponsors

Requires the state comptroller to publish an annual agency-by-agency grade of agencies' MWBEs spending, boosting transparency and accountability in state procurement.

DELIVERED TO SENATE
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Bill Summary · A 7121

Summary of Bill A 7121

Overview

Bill A 7121 would require the state comptroller to prepare and release an annual report that grades every state agency based on its spending with minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs). The intent appears to be to increase transparency and accountability in how agencies procure goods and services from MWBEs.

Key Provisions

  • Annual Report by the Comptroller: The bill mandates the state comptroller to create and publicly release a yearly report focusing on MWBE expenditures across state agencies.
  • Agency-by-Agency Grading: Each state agency would receive a grade or rating reflecting its spending with MWBEs, allowing for comparative assessment and public visibility.
  • Public Release: The report would be released publicly, making agency performance accessible to lawmakers, stakeholders, and the general public.
  • Rubric and Methodology: The specific criteria, scoring rubric, and data sources for calculating the grades would be defined in the bill text (not provided here). The bill’s effect hinges on how spending with MWBEs is measured and weighted.

Affected Entities

  • State Agencies: All executive branch agencies subject to state procurement or contracting would be evaluated.
  • MWBEs: Minority-owned and women-owned businesses that participate as vendors or contractors in state procurement.
  • The Public: Taxpayers and stakeholders who would gain visibility into MWBE spending and agency performance.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations.
  • Introduced: March 20, 2025.
  • Legislative Actions: Referred to Governmental Operations again on March 20, 2025 (duplicate entry in the record).
  • Classification: Legislative bill (no revenue or appropriation designation noted in the summary).

Sponsorship

  • Primary Sponsor: Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn.
  • Cosponsors: John T. McDonald III, Eddie Gibbs, Maritza Davila (listed as cosponsors).

Related Legislation

  • Prior-session bills: A 9889, A 2511, A 6369, A 3895.
  • Companion bill in the Senate: S 6294 (listed as a companion in the record).

Potential Impact

  • Transparency and Accountability: Agencies may be incentivized to prioritize MWBE participation to achieve higher grades.
  • MWBE Opportunities: Greater public awareness of MWBE contracting could enhance opportunities for MWBEs.
  • Administrative Considerations: Implementation would require consistent data collection, a clear grading rubric, and timely reporting to ensure meaningful comparisons across agencies.

Next Steps

  • Committee review by the Governmental Operations committee.
  • Potential amendments to define the grading criteria, data sources, reporting timeline, and enforcement or follow-up measures.
  • If advanced, progress through the legislative process toward a full chamber vote.

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

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