HARRISBURG – To support the entrepreneurial efforts of veterans throughout Pennsylvania, Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-46) sponsored legislation to create a logo promoting veteran-owned businesses. Today, the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee unanimously passed her bill.
Senate Bill 64 would authorize the creation of special logos to promote veteran-owned businesses. To be eligible, a business must be registered with the Department of State and at least 51% of the ownership interest must be held by a veteran, reservist or member of the National Guard.
“Because of my own experience, I can confidently say that opening and running your own business is not easy. I had the benefit of taking on those challenges without simultaneously fighting post-traumatic stress injury and trying to resume life as a civilian after serving our country – unlike our veterans,” Bartolotta said. “Let’s give them the best chance at success.”
To discourage the logo from being used fraudulently, anyone who falsely claims to be a veteran to obtain this designation would face a misdemeanor of the third degree. Fines associated with this violation would be awarded to the Veterans’ Trust Fund.
Administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Veterans’ Trust Fund issues grants to statewide charitable organizations that assist veterans and their families in need of housing, financial help, food, training and recovery.
The bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
In the 2023-24 legislative session, the bill was introduced as Senate Bill 438. It received unanimous support from the Senate but did not receive a vote in the House of Representatives.
Watch Bartolotta’s remarks about Senate Bill 64 here.
CONTACT: Katrina Hanna, 717-787-1463