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SB-70 • 2026

Public contracts: Small Business Procurement and Contract Act.

Public contracts: Small Business Procurement and Contract Act.

Labor Small Business Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Seyarto
Last action
2025-08-29
Official status
August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact date for the first review of the maximum contract value is not specified in the provided official source material.

Small Business Procurement Act

This act allows state agencies and universities to award contracts worth up to $350,000 to small businesses without following strict bidding rules.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows state agencies and the California State University to award contracts between $5,000 and $350,000 to certified small businesses.
  • Includes microbusinesses and disabled veteran business enterprises in the definition of eligible small businesses.
  • Removes the need for competitive bidding requirements when giving these contracts to small businesses.
  • Requires the Director of General Services to review and adjust the maximum contract value every two years based on changes in the California Consumer Price Index.

Who It Names or Affects

  • State agencies
  • California State University
  • Certified small businesses, including microbusinesses and disabled veteran business enterprises

Terms To Know

certified small business
A business that meets specific criteria set by the state to qualify as a small business.
microbusiness
A very small business, often with fewer than 10 employees.
disabled veteran business enterprise
A business owned and controlled by veterans who have disabilities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the maximum contract value will be adjusted in the future.
  • It is unclear what happens if a small business exceeds the new $350,000 limit but still wants to bid on contracts.

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-29 California Legislative Information

    August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission.

  2. 2025-08-20 California Legislative Information

    August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  3. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  4. 2025-07-08 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  5. 2025-06-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on E.D., G., & H.I.

  6. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

  7. 2025-05-29 California Legislative Information

    Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1322.) Ordered to the Assembly.

  8. 2025-05-27 California Legislative Information

    Ordered to special consent calendar.

  9. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  10. 2025-05-23 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1190.) (May 23).

  11. 2025-05-16 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing May 23.

  12. 2025-04-07 California Legislative Information

    April 7 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  13. 2025-03-28 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing April 7.

  14. 2025-03-11 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0. Page 352.) (March 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  15. 2025-03-03 California Legislative Information

    From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

  16. 2025-02-25 California Legislative Information

    Set for hearing March 11.

  17. 2025-01-29 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on G.O.

  18. 2025-01-15 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 14.

  19. 2025-01-14 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 70, as amended, Seyarto.
Public contracts: Small Business Procurement and Contract Act.
The Small Business Procurement and Contract Act permits a state agency or the California State University to award a contract for goods, services, or information technology with an estimated value between $5,000 and $250,000 to a certified small business, including a microbusiness and a disabled veteran business enterprise, without complying with specified competitive bidding requirements.
This bill would increase the maximum estimated value of a contract for goods, services, or information technology awarded pursuant to the act from $250,000 to $350,000. Commencing January 1,
2026,
2028,
and biennially thereafter, the bill would require the Director of
General Services to conduct a review of that maximum value, and would authorize the director to adjust that value to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF