MN HF1345

Modifies Minnesota Statutes section 161.321 to establish legislative findings that race-neutral measures alone are ineffective at addressing underutilization of minority-owned, women-owned, and disability-owned businesses in highway construction contracts.

Allows the commissioner to award up to a 6 percent bid preference to small targeted group businesses and veteran-owned small businesses, and up to a 4 percent preference to small businesses in economically disadvantaged areas.

Creates a new subdivision establishing subcontracting goals requiring prime contractors to subcontract portions to small targeted group and veteran-owned small businesses, with procedures for waivers when qualified businesses are unavailable and authority for the commissioner to impose sanctions or incentives.

Requires at least 75 percent of subcontracts awarded to small targeted group or veteran-owned small businesses be performed by the awarded business or another business in the same category.

Directs the commissioner to periodically reevaluate targeted group business programs in cooperation with the commissioner of administration to assess statistical disparities in contract awards.