Baskin Bill Helps Small Business Owners Navigate Application Process

March 27, 2025

Baskin Bill Helps Small Business Owners Navigate Application Process

Buffalo, NY – In an ongoing effort to fight for small business owners, State Senator April N. M. Baskin authored a bill that improves access and extends the time to correct omissions or errors in applications for minority and women-owned business certification. The bill passed Tuesday in the New York State Senate.

Baskin, the newly appointed Senate Procurements and Contracts Committee chair, is committed to helping businesses navigate the state certification process, ensuring that companies can thrive by growing their business by contracting with New York State.

“I want all small businesses that desire to contract with New York State to have every resource needed in order to succeed. Becoming a MWBE-certified business opens up the opportunity to take your business to the next level ” Baskin said. “In my district specifically, we have 18 commercial strips, many owned by minorities, women, and veterans. For far too long, they’ve faced a plethora of barriers in the application process, but with this bill’s passage, the process will be better and the rewards will be more accessible” she added.

This bill provides more time for business owners to remedy their application for certification technical errors without penalty. Additionally, the remedies would extend to applications that have been revoked due to error, thereby “curing” the omission or error, giving applicants an opportunity to reapply within 60 days rather than the current 30-day requirement.

For applicants who were denied certification for reasons other than error or omission, the bill allows the applicant 60 days instead of the current 30 to request a hearing.

Contact: Brenda Alesii, Communications Director, Office of Senator April N. M. Baskin (SD-63): Mobile: 716-861-7288; balesii@nysenate.gov