The bill seeks to amend various sections of Florida Statutes to eliminate preferences in government contracting based on race or ethnicity. It specifically revises section 287.05701 to prohibit awarding bodies from giving preference to vendors based on these characteristics and repeals existing statutes that reserve contracts for certified minority business enterprises. Additionally, the bill modifies reporting requirements for the Chief Financial Officer by removing references to minority business enterprises and repeals the Office of Supplier Diversity, thereby streamlining compliance and reporting processes. The overall aim is to remove race and ethnicity considerations from government contracting while still addressing minority participation in procurement.

Furthermore, the bill introduces new provisions regarding contract management and procurement processes, including mandatory training for contract managers and the establishment of independent evaluation teams for larger contracts. It also updates definitions related to small business enterprises, replacing the term "minority business enterprise" with a new definition of "small business" and emphasizing local and small business inclusion in state contracts. The bill includes specific amendments to enhance the efficiency of state operations, particularly in procurement practices, and is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1694 Filed: 287.05701, 17.11, 24.113, 255.101, 255.102, 255.20, 287.059, 287.093, 287.094, 288.7031, 288.706, 348.754, 373.1135, 373.607, 376.84, 1001.706, 1013.46, 43.16, 110.116, 212.096, 215.971, 282.201, 282.709, 286.101, 287.0571, 288.0001, 295.187, 320.63, 376.3072, 394.47865, 408.045, 570.07, 627.351