Virginia lawmakers recently passed a bill requiring state agencies to privilege bids for government contracts made by small businesses, especially those owned by women, minorities, and disabled veterans. In Orwellian fashion, the bill includes a clause prohibiting discrimination against bidders on the basis of "sex," "race," or "status as a service disabled veteran."
On Saturday, the Virginia General Assembly sent House Bill (H.B.) 61 to Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger's desk. The bill, which passed along party lines earlier this month, establishes the Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program to increase the percentage of discretionary spending not just to small businesses in general, but "small women-owned, small minority-owned, or small service disabled veteran-owned" businesses specifically, by 3 percent each year until the state reaches its target of 42 percent.
