This bill allows the chief purchasing officer to waive the state’s bonding requirement for Rhode Island Office of Diversity, Equity, and Opportunity minority- and women-owned business enterprises. The bonding requirement forces businesses to provide a bond to the state that ensures that the business will follow the covenants it has agreed to in its contract. CPAC believes that the government should not favor certain businesses over others because of the sex or race of their owner and opposed this bill. The Senate passed this bill on June 13, 2024 by a vote of 32-5 and the bill later became law.