PRINTER'S NO. 1077
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 993
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY INGLIS, BASHLINE, GIRAL, HILL-EVANS, KHAN,
M. MACKENZIE, McNEILL, SOLOMON, PIELLI, MALAGARI, RIVERA,
BENHAM, SANCHEZ, GAYDOS, KENYATTA, VENKAT, BOROWSKI, STEELE,
MAYES, WEBSTER AND RUSNOCK, MARCH 20, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, MARCH 20, 2025
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 51 (Military Affairs) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, in veteran-owned small businesses,
3 providing for veteran-owned business logotype; and imposing a
4 penalty.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Chapter 96 of Title 51 of the Pennsylvania
8 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
9 SUBCHAPTER D
10 VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS LOGOTYPE
11 Sec.
12 9621. Definitions.
13 9622. Veteran-owned business logotype.
14 § 9621. Definitions.
15 The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
16 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
17 context clearly indicates otherwise:
 1 "Veteran-owned business." A business owned or controlled by
2 a veteran. A business is controlled or owned by a veteran if at
3 least 51% of the ownership interest in the business is held by a
4 veteran.
5 § 9622. Veteran-owned business logotype.
6 (a) Logotype.--
7 (1) No later than 30 days after the effective date of
8 this paragraph, the department shall develop and design an
9 official veteran-owned business logotype to be used by a
10 veteran-owned business.
11 (2) The logotype shall not include any language that may
12 be construed as an endorsement by the Commonwealth and shall
13 only indicate that the business is a veteran-owned business.
14 (b) Application.--No later than 30 days after the effective
15 date of this subsection, the department shall develop an
16 application for which a veteran-owned business may apply to use
17 the logotype under subsection (a). The application shall be made
18 available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
19 website.
20 (c) Eligibility.--The department shall develop guidelines
21 with the criteria to establish veteran-owned status of
22 businesses applying for the logotype. The criteria shall be made
23 available on the department's publicly accessible Internet
24 website.
25 (d) Contributions.--The department may provide a space on
26 the application where an applicant may voluntarily make a
27 contribution of any amount to be deposited into the Veterans'
28 Trust Fund.
29 (e) Public notice.--Within 30 days of the creation of a
30 logotype under this section, the department shall post on the
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 1 department's publicly accessible Internet website a notice that:
2 (1) The logotype under this section is available for use
3 by an approved veteran-owned business.
4 (2) Includes instructions on how to complete and submit
5 an application.
6 (f) Notice of decision.--Within 60 days of receiving an
7 application under this subchapter, the department shall decide
8 and notify the applicant of whether the applicant is approved to
9 use and display the logotype.
10 (g) Penalty.--
11 (1) In addition to any other penalty prescribed by law,
12 an individual commits a misdemeanor of the third degree if
13 the individual fraudulently holds the individual out to be a
14 veteran for the purpose of using a logotype under this
15 subchapter.
16 (2) The full amount of each fine collected for a
17 violation of paragraph (1) shall be deposited into the
18 Veterans' Trust Fund.
19 (h) Report.--By March 31 of each year, the department shall
20 prepare an annual report on the number of veteran-owned
21 businesses approved to use the logotype and the number of
22 applications received. A copy of the report shall be sent to the
23 Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the
24 Senate and the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness
25 Committee of the House of Representatives.
26 Section 2. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
27 may issue guidelines to implement and administer the addition of
28 51 Pa.C.S. Ch. 96 Subch. D.
29 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1077: 51-96