Senate hearing examines legislation improving small business state contracts

The Senate State Government Committee recently held a hearing on Senate Bill 1140, legislation that would make small, diverse, and veteran-owned businesses more competitive regarding how the state awards contracts.

In addition, under the bill, the state would provide companies with education explaining how to do business with state agencies.

“This legislation would have an immediate effect by creating certainty for the future for more than 5,000 small, diverse, and veteran businesses who benefit from our programs and policies,” Curt Topper, Pennsylvania Department of General Services secretary, said during his testimony. “This commitment, in turn, will encourage these businesses, and others, to become certified and to continue to invest and grow in our Pennsylvania communities.”

State Sens. Camera Bartolotta (R-Greene County) and Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), Democratic Appropriations chairman, sponsored the bill.

“Rather than primarily awarding state contracts to big companies – which may or may not even reside in Pennsylvania or employ state residents – we should allow others an opportunity to grow and contribute to our economy, too,” Bartolotta said.

“Small business is the backbone of our communities and too many small businesses, minority-owned businesses, and veteran-owned businesses have been unable to compete on a level playing field for Commonwealth contracts,” Hughes said.