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HB61Introduced in the House of Delegates

Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program; established, report.

Vetoed

Introduced by Jeion Ward, District 87

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity; Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program established. Establishes the Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program with a statewide goal of 42 percent of certified small SWaM business, as such term is defined in the bill, utilization in all discretionary spending by executive branch agencies and covered institutions in procurement orders, prime contracts, and subcontracts, as well as a target goal of 50 percent subcontracting to small SWaM businesses in instances where the prime contractor is not a small SWaM business for all new capital outlay construction solicitations that are issued. The bill provides that executive branch agencies and covered institutions are required to increase their small SWaM business utilization rates by three percent per year until reaching the 42-percent target or, if unable to do so, to implement achievable goals to increase their utilization rates. In addition, the bill provides for a small SWaM business set-aside for executive branch agency and covered institution purchases of goods, services, and construction, requiring that purchases between $10,000 and $200,000 be set aside for award to certified small SWaM businesses, and a microbusiness set-aside for such purchases, requiring that such purchases up to $10,000 be set aside for award to microbusinesses.The bill creates the Division of Procurement Enhancement within the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity for purposes of collaborating with the Department of General Services, the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, the Department of Transportation, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and covered institutions to further the Commonwealth's efforts to meet the goals established under the Small SWaM Business Procurement Enhancement Program, as well as implementing initiatives to enhance the development of small businesses, microbusinesses, women-owned businesses, minority-owned businesses, and service disabled veteran-owned businesses in the Commonwealth.Finally, the bill requires the Director of the Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity to conduct, or contract with an independent entity to conduct, a disparity study every five years, with the next disparity study due no later than January 1, 2031. The bill specifies that such study shall evaluate the need for enhancement and remedial measures to address the disparity between the availability and the utilization of women-owned and minority-owned businesses.

Where it stands

Vetoed by Governor

May 19, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House of Delegates votes

7 recorded votes · each counted separately

Senate votes

5 recorded votes · each counted separately

SenateStage: Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation nos 1 - 3 (21-Y 18-N 0-A) · April 22, 2026

21

Yes

18

No

1

Absent or Not Voting

40 senators recorded in this Senate vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each senator voted

SenatorDistrictVote
Elizabeth Bennett-Parker5Yes
Michael Jones77Yes
Timmy French1No
Mark Obenshain2No
Chris Head3Absent
David Suetterlein4No
Travis Hackworth5No
Todd Pillion6No
William Stanley7No
Mark Peake8No

Bill history

  1. Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101943D

  2. Referred to Committee on General Laws

  3. Assigned HGL sub: Procurement/Open Government

  4. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB61)

  5. House subcommittee offered

  6. Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)

  7. Reported from General Laws with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (16-Y 5-N)

  8. Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources

  9. Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)

  10. Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)

  11. Read first time

  12. Read second time

  13. committee amendments agreed to

  14. Engrossed by House as amended

  15. Read third time and passed House (64-Y 33-N 0-A)

  16. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  17. Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

  18. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB61)

  19. Senate committee offered

  20. Reported from General Laws and Technology with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)

  21. Committee substitute printed 26108648D-S1

  22. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB61)

  23. Reported from Finance and Appropriations with substitute (10-Y 5-N)

  24. Rules suspended

  25. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  26. Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

  27. Committee substitute printed 26109055D-S2

  28. Read third time

  29. General Laws and Technology Substitute rejected

  30. Finance and Appropriations Substitute agreed to

  31. Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute

  32. Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

  33. Senate substitute agreed to by House (62-Y 36-N 0-A)

  34. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB61)

  35. Enrolled

  36. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB61ER)

  37. Signed by Speaker

  38. Signed by President

  39. Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 14, 2026

  40. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  41. Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB61)

  42. Governor's recommendation received by House

  43. Governor's amendment nos. 1 - 3 agreed to (64-Y 36-N 0-A)

  44. Governor's recommendation no. 4 passed by

  45. Senate concurred in Governor's recommendation nos 1 - 3 (21-Y 18-N 0-A)

  46. Governor's recommendation adopted

  47. Reenrolled

  48. Reenrolled bill text (HB61ER2)

  49. Signed by Speaker

  50. Signed by President

  51. Communicated to Governor

  52. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., May 23, 2026

  53. Vetoed by Governor

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