Prohibits political subdivisions from taking into account any protected status when awarding contracts

SB 1622 prohibits local governments (cities, counties, towns, and other political subdivisions) from considering protected characteristics like race, gender, religion, or disability when awarding public contracts. The bill requires these entities to base contract decisions solely on merit, not on factors such as a contractor's race, gender identity, veteran status, or other protected categories. Violations carry a $100,000 fine per incident. This directly affects local government procurement processes and the contractors competing for public work. The bill is currently in committee review after its initial reading.