AR HB2218

Amends Arkansas Code Title 15, Chapter 4, Subchapter 3 to rename the "Minority Business Economic Development Act" to the "Minority and Women-Owned Business Economic Development Act" and expands the act's scope to include women-owned businesses throughout.

Modifies contracting goals in Section 15-4-302(c) by replacing a single 10% minority business goal with: 10% for minority business enterprises (allocated as 2% for service-disabled veteran-owned and 8% for other minority businesses) and 5% for women-owned business enterprises.

Increases the Minority and Women-owned Business Advisory Council from 7 to 9 members, with appointment authority distributed among the Governor (3 members), President Pro Tempore of the Senate (2 members), Speaker of the House (2 members), and Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (2 members).

Creates a new small procurement exception allowing purchases up to two times the threshold in § 19-11-204(13) to be procured without competitive bidding if made with certified minority or women-owned business enterprises.

Repeals § 19-11-106 establishing separate contracting goals for service-disabled veteran businesses, consolidating those protections within the minority and women-owned business framework.