Senate BillPassed first houseGovernment
SB 70: Public contracts: Small Business Procurement and Contract Act.
What SB 70 does, verified December 7, 2025
The bill aims to amend the law related to public contracts in California. It allows state agencies and the California State University to award contracts to certified small businesses, including microbusinesses and disabled veteran businesses, without following competitive bidding requirements. The estimated contract value for these awards can range from $5,000 to $350,000. The bill increases the maximum estimated value from $250,000 to $350,000. The new maximum value will be reviewed and adjusted every two years to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. (2025-08-29)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions22 total · showing 5
| Aug. 29, 2025 | August 29 hearing: Held in committee and under submission. |
| Aug. 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on APPR. suspense file. |
| Aug. 20, 2025 | August 20 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file. |
| Jul. 08, 2025 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Jul. 08, 2025 | Coauthors revised. |
Latest bill textAmended version, March 3, 2025 · 696 words
| Amended IN Senate March 03, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 70
| Introduced by Senator Seyarto |
January 14, 2025 |
An act to amend Sections 14838.5 and 14838.64 of the Government Code, relating to public contracts.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 14838.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:14838.5.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding the advertising, bidding, and protest provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of this part and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12100) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, a state agency may award a contract for the acquisition of goods, services, or information technology that has an estimated value of greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000), but less than three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000), to a certified small business, including a microbusiness, or to a disabled veteran business enterprise, as long as the agency obtains price quotations from two or more certified small businesses, including microbusinesses, or from two or more disabled veterans business enterprises.(2) Commencing January 1, 2026, 2028, and biennially thereafter, the Director of General Services shall conduct a review of the maximum estimated contract value specified in this subdivision and may adjust that value to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index.
(b) In carrying out subdivision (a), a state agency shall consider a responsive offer timely received from a responsible certified small business, including a microbusiness, or from a disabled veteran business enterprise.
(c) If the estimated cost to the state is less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for the acquisition of goods, services, or information technology, or a greater amount as administratively established by the director, a state agency shall obtain at least two price quotations from responsible suppliers whenever there is reason to believe a response from a single source is not a fair and reasonable price.
SEC. 2.
Section 14838.64 of the Government Code is amended to read:14838.64.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, including, but not limited to, the advertising, bidding, and protest provisions of Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 14825) of this part and Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 10700) and Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12100) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code, the California State University may award a contract for the acquisition of goods, services, or information technology that has an estimated value of greater than five thousand dollars ($5,000), but less than three hundred fifty thousand dollars ($350,000), to a certified small business, including a microbusiness, or to a disabled veteran business enterprise, if the California State University obtains price quotations from two or more certified small businesses, including microbusinesses, or from two or more disabled veteran business enterprises.(2) Commencing January 1, 2026, 2028, and biennially thereafter, the Director of General Services shall conduct a review of the maximum estimated contract value specified in this subdivision and may adjust that value to reflect changes in the California Consumer Price Index.
(b) In carrying out subdivision (a), the California State University shall consider a responsive offer timely received from a responsible certified small business, including a microbusiness, or from a disabled veteran business enterprise.
Text of SB 70 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions