The legislature has a plan to address why more white and male owned businesses are getting the majority of public contracts over women and minority owned companies.

A group of Assembly members today introduced a package of bills designed to create more equity in the system of awarding New Jersey's public contracts by requiring more oversight, in which subcontractors are hired by the state.

Mandatory outreach events like training workshops and educational programs for minority and women owned businesses.

Along with enforcing that, state agencies must make a good faith effort to increase contracts awarded to certified minority and women owned businesses.

The move comes in response to a study released last January which found despite women owning 38% of businesses in the state, they received less than 10% of public contracts.

Likewise, black owned companies represent about 9% of available construction business, yet they receive a fraction of the dollars available for construction contracts.

The evidence is clear systemic inequities persist, hindering the growth and prosperity of marginalized communities.

Today, we recommit to building a more inclusive and equitable business landscape, one where every entrepreneur, regardless of background, has the chance to thrive.