MN SF1126

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 161.321 to modify bid preferences for highway construction contracts awarded by the state.

Authorizes the commissioner to award up to a six percent preference to small targeted group businesses and veteran-owned small businesses, and up to a four percent preference to small businesses in economically disadvantaged areas.

Creates a new subdivision 2a establishing subcontracting goals that require prime contractors to demonstrate good faith efforts to subcontract portions of work to small targeted group and veteran-owned small businesses, with procedures for waivers when qualified businesses are unavailable.

Removes previous language requiring subcontracting goals while maintaining at least 75 percent of subcontracts to these businesses must be performed by the awarded business or another similarly designated business.

Adds legislative findings that race-neutral measures alone are insufficient to remedy past discrimination in highway construction and requires periodic reevaluation of targeted group business programs to assess statistical disparities.