Senate passes Kilmer’s bill to identify businesses owned by veterans

OLYMPIA – Shopping at a business owned by a veteran is one way people can show appreciation for the vet’s military service, but often customers have no way of knowing who owns the business.

That would change under a bill passed Friday by the state Senate.

Senate Bill 5253, sponsored by Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, directs the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to develop a database of veteran-owned businesses (including those owned by reservists and members of the National Guard) that would be available to Washington citizens seeking to support such businesses. The bill also directs the DVA to develop and distribute a decal for veteran-owned businesses.

“This legislation came directly from the mouths of some of our own soldiers in Kitsap County,” said Kilmer. “Over the last few years, I’ve met with dozens of our local servicemen and servicewomen who have faced some real challenges after their deployment. Some have seen their small businesses on the verge of closure. I thought it was important for our state to say that serving our country shouldn’t mean suffering financially.”

The first Senate bill to pass for Kilmer, who served in the House for two years, SB 5253 was approved on a 48-to-0 vote, with one member excused. The bill had received support during committee testimony from the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Legislative Coalition, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce.

“I’ve spoken with dozens of people in our community who want to do everything possible to help veterans and their families,” Kilmer said. “They want to spend their money with veteran-owned businesses, but often cannot find them. This bill provides a tool for consumers and a step forward for veterans seeking to find greater economic opportunity. We need to do everything we can to protect those who protect us.”

The bill dovetails with another Kilmer bill, SB 5289, which sets new goals for state agencies to contract with veteran-owned businesses. “The state can do a better job of reaching out to these businesses and purchasing from them once we’ve made the initial effort to identify them,” Kilmer said.

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