Committee hears unified push for bills to direct capital and reporting to micro and disadvantaged businesses

Members of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business heard testimony on March 12 urging swift action on a cluster of bills intended to improve access to capital for micro businesses and socially or economically disadvantaged firms.

Proponents said the bills would “create a stronger, more transparent, and more just economic ecosystem” and would address barriers that leave many small business owners unable to access or wait for state contract payments.

The bills under discussion included S.179 and H.312 (prioritizing capital assistance to socially and economically disadvantaged and micro businesses), S.178 (which proponents said would set minimum allocation percentages to micro and disadvantaged businesses), S.184 and H.312 (transparency and reporting…