New Jersey A 1900: Establishes price preference program on State contracts for businesses owned by women veterans or women in military service.

Bill Text

A1900 AMV Statement 3/16/26 

ASSEMBLY MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO 

ASSEMBLY, 
No. 1900 

STATE 
OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: �MARCH 
16, 2026

����� The Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee 
reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 1900.

����� This bill establishes a price preference program for 
businesses owned by women who are veterans or who are serving in the United 
States Armed Forces that are competing for State contracts.

����� Under current law, certain purchases or contracts 
payable out of State funds are publicly advertised and competitively bid on by 
businesses.� The State then awards the contract to the lowest bidder.

����� This bill would establish a price preference of up to 
10 percent of the amount of the contract to a qualified business owned by a 
woman veteran or a woman serving in the military.� If the business meets the 
requirements of the contract solicitation and is the lowest bidder due to the 
preference, a State agency will enter into a procurement contract with that 
business.� If two or more qualified businesses bid on a contract utilizing the 
preference program, the business with the lowest bid will be awarded the 
contract.

����� This bill defines �woman veteran� to mean a resident 
of this State who identifies as female and was honorably discharged or released 
under conditions other than dishonorable from active service in a branch of the 
Armed Forces of the United States, and defines �woman serving in the military� 
to mean a resident of this State who identifies as female and is serving in the 
United States Armed Forces on full time active duty status, or who has 
completed Initial Entry Training.

����� This bill defines �qualified business� to mean an 
independently owned and operated business that has its principal place of 
business in the State, at least 51 percent of which is owned and controlled by 
persons who are women veterans or women serving in the military, and the 
management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more women 
veterans or women serving in the military, or, in the case of a woman veteran 
with a permanent and severe disability, are controlled by the spouse of such veteran.

����� This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 
2026-2027 session pending technical review.� As reported, the bill includes the 
changes required by technical review, which has been performed.