HB2833 amends the Illinois Procurement Code’s small business set-aside provisions. The bill requires the state’s definition of a “small business” for procurement purposes to mirror the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Table of Small Business Size Standards, tying Illinois eligibility thresholds for employee counts and dollar-volume limits to the federal size standards. It preserves the existing framework that allows chief procurement officers to reserve a fair proportion of construction, supply, and service contracts for qualified small businesses.
The bill also retains the current industry-specific limitations in the Procurement Code for wholesale, retail/service, manufacturing, and construction businesses, while clarifying that the state’s size standards should track the SBA table. Because the measure is effective immediately, it would take effect upon enactment and would directly affect how state agencies determine which firms qualify for small business set-aside contracts and how procurement officers administer those set-asides.
Impact
HB2833 would change Section 45-45 of the Illinois Procurement Code by aligning Illinois small-business procurement eligibility with federal SBA size standards. In practice, this could expand or narrow eligibility for some firms depending on their industry and size, affecting which vendors may compete for state set-aside contracts. The bill would primarily affect state procurement officers, agencies issuing bids, and small businesses seeking state contracting opportunities, while leaving the broader set-aside structure and reporting requirements in place.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears administrative and technical in nature, aimed at standardizing procurement eligibility criteria rather than changing the overall policy of small-business set-asides. The absence of recorded opposition or amendments suggests no documented controversy in the materials provided.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is whether Illinois should tie its small-business procurement thresholds to the federal SBA table rather than maintain state-specific standards. Supporters would likely favor consistency, predictability, and easier compliance for vendors that already track federal size standards. Opponents, if any, might argue that federal thresholds could alter the pool of eligible firms in ways that either reduce opportunities for truly small Illinois businesses or complicate state procurement discretion. No specific stakeholder objections or committee concerns are included in the provided record.