Provides that definition of minority business enterprise include persons of Middle Eastern and North African descent for State certification and assistance purposes; revises definition for school board and local government contract set-aside purposes.

This bill (A 2082) updates New Jersey’s definition of "minority" for business certification and contracting purposes. It explicitly adds "Middle Eastern or North African" (MENA) individuals - defined as those with origins in countries like Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, or Morocco - to the list of groups qualifying as "minority" for state certification programs and assistance. The change directly affects businesses owned by MENA individuals, making them eligible for state minority business enterprise (MBE) certification and access to set-aside contracts (where contracts are reserved for MBEs, women’s businesses, or small businesses). The bill amends two existing laws (P.L.1985, c.490 and P.L.1985, c.482) to include this new category in definitions used for state agencies, school boards, and local government contracting.