SB 103: Department of Administrative Services, companies owned or operated by Iran to bid on or submit a proposal for a state contract; prohibit

Currently Georgia law does not specifically bar companies tied to Iran's government from competing for state contracts. This bill adds a new section to the law governing the Department of Administrative Services, which oversees state purchasing, to close that gap. The bill defines a 'scrutinized company' as any company owned or operated by the government of Iran and makes such companies ineligible to bid on or propose contracts with any Georgia state agency for goods or services. State agencies would have to require every company bidding on a contract to certify it is not a scrutinized company. If the Department of Administrative Services finds a company lied on that certification, the company would face a civil penalty of at least $250,000 or twice the contract amount, whichever is greater, the state would terminate the contract, and the company would become permanently ineligible for future state contracts.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.3) banning companies owned or operated by the government of Iran from bidding on or proposing Georgia state contracts for goods or services.
• Requires state agencies to make every company bidding on a contract certify it is not owned or operated by the government of Iran.
• Sets a civil penalty for false certification equal to the greater of $250,000 or twice the contract's value.
• Requires the state to terminate any contract awarded to a company that falsely certified it was not a scrutinized company.
• Permanently bars a company caught falsely certifying from bidding on any future state contract.

Companies that bid on Georgia state contracts for goods or services, especially any company with ownership or operational ties to the government of Iran, as well as state agencies and the Department of Administrative Services, which must collect certifications and enforce penalties.

Companies with ties to Iran's government would be locked out of Georgia's state contracting market, and every bidder would face a new certification requirement. A company that lies on that certification risks a large fine, losing its contract, and a permanent ban from future state work.

• Section 1 defines 'company,' 'government of Iran,' and 'scrutinized company' (any company owned or operated by Iran's government) in new O.C.G.A. § 50-5-84.3(a).
• Subsection (b) makes scrutinized companies ineligible to bid on or propose any state agency contract for goods or services.
• Subsection (c) requires state agencies to obtain a certification from bidders that they are not scrutinized companies.
• Subsection (d) sets penalties for false certification: a civil fine of the greater of $250,000 or twice the contract amount, mandatory contract termination, and a permanent bidding ban.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-06Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2. 2025-02-05Senate Hopper (Senate)

• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)Primary sponsor
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Randy Robertson (R, SD-029)
• Bill Cowsert (R, SD-046)
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• John Kennedy (R, SD-018)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Billy Hickman (R, SD-004)

• state contracts
• Iran sanctions
• government procurement
• business regulation