Senate committee hears SB 71 to expand procurement reporting, create statewide diverse-business council

CARSON CITY — The Senate Committee on Government Affairs opened a hearing on Senate Bill 71 on SB 71, a bill to expand procurement reporting and create a statewide Nevada Diverse Business Advisory Council, with testimony from state commissioners, business owners and local governments.

Gabriela White, chair of the Nevada Commission on Minority Affairs, testified SB 71 “reinforces Nevada’s commitment to economic empowerment, business growth and self sufficiency,” saying the bill would create a “learn to do business with the state” training program and streamline procurement reporting so small and first‑time bidders can better compete for public contracts.

White said the measure would consolidate two existing commissions, broaden reporting across Clark and Washoe counties and state agencies, and promote “keeping Nevada businesses at the forefront of economic growth.”

Supporters told the committee the bill mainly standardizes reporting and outreach already performed in Clark County and would extend it statewide. Jim Haning, a former chair of the Regional Business Development Advisory Council (RBDAAC) in Clark County and current chair of the Nevada Public Purchasing Study Commission, testified RBDAAC already produces biennial reports that stratify total spend by diverse categories and by whether businesses have a physical presence in Nevada. “We’re just expanding what we’re doing in Clark County into the rest of the State,” Haning said. He told senators the Clark County reports are sent to the Legislative Counsel Bureau every other year and that roughly 30 entities use a single system, the Nevada Government Marketplace, to publish solicitations.

Small business owners who testified said the procurement process is difficult to navigate and that published, consolidated contract information would help. Ganesh Kadam, a civil engineering consultant, said that as a small firm he competes for qualifications‑based work against much larger firms and that improved transparency and training would make it easier to find and pursue opportunities. “As a small business owner, I have a firsthand experience navigating the complex and often opaque procurement system,” Kadam said.

Lani Romero, CEO of Mothership Coffee and a commissioner on the Nevada Commission on Minority Affairs, urged support while describing the bill as a way to keep taxpayer dollars in Nevada. “This bill isn’t just about procurement reform. It’s about protecting Nevada’s economy and ensuring that the businesses that contribute to our communities get a fair shot at success,” Romero said.

Opponents and local-government witnesses asked for clarifications and amendments. Miranda Hoover, representing the National Electrical Contractors Association Reno division, said the bill’s language in Section 11 raised concerns that could be read to encourage preferential treatment rather than equitable consideration: “This section reads as public entities should be encouraged encouraged to give preferential treatment to entities whose owners are classified as diverse,” Hoover said, and she requested an amendment to clarify intent. David Cherry, Government Affairs Manager for the City of Henderson, said the bill would require public employers to provide disaggregated employee demographic information but that cities cannot compel employees to disclose ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation. He asked for language such as “to the extent that this information is volunteered by an employee of a public entity” to reflect that limit.

Committee members pressed for details on whether the measure duplicates existing statutes. Senators noted references to procurement statutes (identified in testimony as NRS 332 and NRS 333 and related purchasing statutes) and asked whether preferences for diverse firms would be created. Haning and other supporters said SB 71 does not change the purchasing statutes and does not create procurement preferences; it focuses on reporting, training and outreach. Haning told the committee the Clark‑County program holds an annual “Committed to Our Business Community” event that has drawn about 200–300 attendees and that the council is developing short videos and handouts to train businesses on how to respond to bids and RFPs.

White said the council’s definition of a “diverse person” includes members of racial or ethnic minorities, women, veterans, persons with physical disabilities and people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex; she confirmed that Native Americans are included under that definition. Senators also asked about a new reporting metric that would show the amount and percentage of public spending with businesses that do not have a physical location or employees in Nevada; Haning said RBDAAC already stratifies spend into local, diverse and out‑of‑state categories and that expanding that reporting statewide is the intent.

Committee members said they would follow up to request the existing Clark County reports referenced by Haning. Senators also pressed whether posting contract notices to the proposed council website would supplant traditional newspaper publication; Haning said it would not and that the Nevada Government Marketplace would remain the principal portal for formal solicitations.

The committee did not take a final vote on SB 71. Earlier in the hearing the sponsor asked that Senate Bill 210 be removed from the agenda and the chair noted SB 210 will be heard at a later date. Later in the session the committee voted to introduce a separate committee BDR, BDR 23E‑1031, related to public employment; the motion to introduce the BDR was made by Vice Chair Orinshaw, seconded by Senator Krasner, and the committee carried the motion unanimously.

The hearing record shows supporters emphasized transparency, training and statewide expansion of reporting practices already in place in Clark County. Opponents asked for statutory clarifications to avoid any appearance of procurement preference and for safeguards where employee demographic data is requested. Committee members said they would follow up with the sponsors and witnesses for additional documentation and suggested amendments.

The committee closed the hearing on SB 71 and moved on to other business.