Indiana Shifts State Contracts to Merit | Indianapolis News

Indiana’s state contracting overhaul is heating up as Governor Mike Braun drops the old race- and sex-based diversity programs—deemed unconstitutional by the Attorney General—replacing them with a merit-driven system focused on excellence and innovation. While the move aims to ensure equal protection under the law and level the playing field, critics warn it risks undoing progress by ignoring historical inequities and overlooking the fact that opportunity, not talent, has long been the barrier for Black-owned businesses. A new initiative is set to launch soon to help small businesses compete fairly for state contracts, signaling a bold pivot toward merit—but one that’s sparking fierce debate across the state. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/822b2930d75b2b25