Senator Emil Jones, III (D), 14th District. | www.ilga.gov
Senator Emil Jones, III (D), 14th District. | www.ilga.gov
According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Creates the Best Customer Price Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education or a State agency may require best customer pricing for any goods it procures. Provides that, if goods are to be purchased by the State from a supplier or reseller, the supplier or reseller shall attest that the price is the best customer price. Provides that the supplier or reseller shall include a provision in the letter of supply from the manufacturer that the supplier or reseller can secure the supply and quantity of goods to be purchased, and that the manufacturer has extended the same best customer pricing from the manufacturer to each of the suppliers or resellers registered with the State for the goods to be purchased. Provides that, if a public institution of higher education or a State agency requires best customer pricing for the goods but does not believe the price is competitive, the public institution of higher education or the State agency may decline to award the bid. Effective immediately."
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, the bill, known as the Best Customer Price Act, mandates that public institutions of higher education and State agencies in Illinois may require suppliers or resellers to provide goods at the best customer price. This price is defined as the most favorable terms offered by manufacturers to any customer, including discounts and incentives. The bill requires suppliers or resellers to include a manufacturer's letter of supply attesting that they can secure the goods, and that best customer pricing is extended to all suppliers or resellers registered with the state. If a required best customer price is deemed uncompetitive by a public institution or State agency, the bid may be declined. The bill aims to create a level playing field for small, minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses in state procurement. It takes effect immediately upon becoming law.
Emil Jones III is currently serving in the Illinois State Senate, representing the state's 14th Senate District. He replaced previous state senator Emil Jones Jr. in 2009.
Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.
You can read more about bills and other measures here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| SB1439 | 01/31/2025 | Creates the Best Customer Price Act. Provides that a public institution of higher education or a State agency may require best customer pricing for any goods it procures. Provides that, if goods are to be purchased by the State from a supplier or reseller, the supplier or reseller shall attest that the price is the best customer price. Provides that the supplier or reseller shall include a provision in the letter of supply from the manufacturer that the supplier or reseller can secure the supply and quantity of goods to be purchased, and that the manufacturer has extended the same best customer pricing from the manufacturer to each of the suppliers or resellers registered with the State for the goods to be purchased. Provides that, if a public institution of higher education or a State agency requires best customer pricing for the goods but does not believe the price is competitive, the public institution of higher education or the State agency may decline to award the bid. Effective immediately. |
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