S1313 requires the New Jersey Treasury Department to establish a standardized LGBTQ+ business certification process for businesses at least 51% owned and controlled by LGBTQ+ individuals. It sets criteria for certification, denial, revocation, and appeals while ensuring confidentiality. The bill aligns with Governor Murphy’s 2022 Executive Order 295, which directed the Treasury to develop an LGBTQ+ certification program and integrate it into the state's Minority and/or Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) program, expanding access to state contracts. It also allows reciprocal agreements with other certifying entities to streamline the process.
The New Jersey State House of Representatives passed S1313 on March 18, 2024 by a vote of 61 to 8. We have assigned pluses to the nays because government-mandated certification based on identity promotes reverse discrimination, fosters division, and advances a woke agenda. Taxpayers should not be forced to fund policies that prioritize contracts based on identity rather than merit. Government interference in business and personal matters undermines free enterprise and violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.
