Relating to: preferences for woman-owned businesses in state procurement for architectural and engineering services. (FE)

SB 704 establishes a 5% annual spending target for state agencies on architectural and engineering services contracts with woman-owned businesses certified by the department. It defines "woman-owned business" as one certified under existing state law and requires the department to annually report on spending with woman-owned businesses, along with other minority and veteran-owned businesses. The bill applies specifically to state procurement for architectural and engineering services, not all state contracts. The policy change directly affects state agencies that issue such contracts and the certified woman-owned businesses seeking those contracts.