HB21-1168 Summary

• Establishes a pilot program by the Department of Local Affairs by August 13, 2021 to help local governments identify barriers to entry for historically underutilized businesses in procurement.

• Defines "historically underutilized business" as a business at least 51% owned and controlled by U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are minorities, women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ members, or veterans.

• Requires at least five diverse local governments representative of rural, urban, and suburban areas to participate in the pilot program and determine appropriate contract sizes, types, software needs, and participation benchmarks.

• Mandates the Department of Local Affairs report pilot project progress to its committee of reference in January 2022 and include final findings in January 2023 as part of SMART Government Act presentations.

• Allows pilot program participants to collaborate with the General Assembly on future legislation that could require all local governments to establish historically underutilized business preference programs.