New York Senate Bill S06020

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/4/25
• Refer: 3/4/25
• Engrossed: 3/26/25
• Refer: 3/26/25
• Refer: 1/7/26
• Engrossed: 5/28/26
• Refer: 5/28/26
• Engrossed: 6/4/26

Caption

Requires the director of the division of minority and women's business development in the department of economic development to give additional time for a business enterprise to cure defects in its application for certification or correct defects when a certification is denied, revoked, or changed.

Summary

S06020 amends section 314 of the New York Executive Law, which governs certification by the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development for participation in the statewide minority- and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) certification program. The bill gives applicants additional time to cure application defects and expands procedural protections when a certification is denied, revoked, or changed. Specifically, it allows up to 60 days to correct omissions or technical errors in an application and reapply immediately after the defect is remedied. The bill also extends the time to request a hearing from 30 days to 60 days when a certification is denied, revoked, or changed for reasons other than an omission or technical error. If a hearing is timely requested, the affected certification is restored and remains in effect while the matter is pending. The hearing officer must hold the hearing within 21 days of the request, and the director must issue a final order within 30 days after receiving the hearing officer’s recommendation. The act takes effect immediately.

Impact

This bill changes the administrative process for MWBE certification under the Executive Law by lengthening deadlines, preserving certification status during appeals, and creating a clearer path for applicants to correct defects and challenge adverse determinations. It affects businesses seeking MWBE certification, the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development, and the director’s authority over certification decisions. The measure is intended to reduce procedural barriers and prevent businesses from losing certification because of correctable mistakes or short filing windows.

Sentiment

The available voting history shows strong support for the bill. It passed the Senate Procurement and Contracts Committee unanimously and later passed the Senate floor overwhelmingly, with one recorded dissent in the later floor vote. No committee transcript is available, but the vote pattern suggests broad agreement that the bill improves fairness and access in the certification process.

Contention

There is little evidence of major controversy in the available record. The main policy issue is whether applicants should receive more time and stronger interim protections when certification is denied, revoked, or changed. Supporters appear to favor the bill’s remedial approach and its effort to help businesses avoid losing MWBE status over technical or curable errors. Any opposition, reflected only by a single nay vote in the later floor action, may have concerned the extension of deadlines or the automatic restoration of certification during a pending hearing, but no specific objections are documented in the provided materials.