State by State Legislative Status
If you're interested in passing benefit corp legislation in your state, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . To see a draft of the model legislation, click here.
Enacted Legislation
- California Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed
Sponsors: Assemblymember Huffman
Legislation: AB361
Key Supporters: American Sustainble Business Council, Jonathan Storper, Donald Simon, John Montgomery, SVN, SB-Cal, New Voice of Business, Green Chamber of Commerce, Green America, CAMEO, CAC, Build It Green, ASBC, ACE, CAC, Bay Area Council, Montgomery & Hansen, HansonBridgett , Care2.com, Patagonia, RSF Financial and Green Seal.
Quotes/Testimony: Silicon Valley Leadership Group
- Hawaii Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed
Sponsors: Sen. Ihara, Sen. Chun Oakland, Sen. Green, Sen. Solomon, Sen. Espero, Sen. Fukunaga, Sen. Gabbard, Sen. Galuteria, Sen. Ige, Sen. Nishihara, Sen. Ryan, Sen. Slom, Sen. Taniguchi, Sen. Tokuda, Sen. Wakai, Rep. C. Lee, Rep. Browner, Rep. Carroll, Rep. Evans, Rep. Hanohano, Rep. M. Lee, Rep. Morita, Rep. Nakashima, Rep. Aquino, Rep. Awana, Rep. Chang, Rep. Chong, Rep. Choy, Rep. Cullen, Rep. Hashem, Rep. Mizuno, Rep. Nishimoto, Rep. B. Oshiro, Rep. Pine, Rep. Tsuji, Rep. Yamashita
Legislation: SB 298
Key Supporters: Gary Hooser
- Maryland Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed
Sponsors: Sen. Raskin, Sen. Frosh, Sen. Feldman
Legislation: SB690/HB1009
Key Supporters: Jim Epstein, Michael Shuman
Quotes/Testimony: Sen. Jamie Raskin, Rep. Brian Feldman, Michael Shuman
- New Jersey Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed
Sponsors: Sen. Ruiz, Sen. Kean Jr., Assemblymember Wagner, Assemblymember Stender, Assemblymember O'Donnell
Legislation: S2170
Key Supporters: Natural Systems Utilities
Quotes/Testimony: Dominic Kulik, Natural Systems Utilities - New York Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed
Sponsors: Speaker Silver, Sen. Squadron
Legislation: A4692-a and S79-a
Key Supporters: ASBC, Buffalo First, Local First Ithaca, NYS B Corps, Singlebrook Technology,
Quotes/Testimony: Speaker's Press Release - Vermont Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed
Sponsors: Sen. Shumlin, Sen. Miller
Legislation: S.263
Key Supporters: VBSR, VEOC, Merritt & Merritt & Moulton
Quotes/Testimony: Jeffrey Hollender, Seventh Generation, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry's, Jim Feinson, Gardener's Supply Company, Ken Merritt - Virginia Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed
Sponsors: Delegate McClellan, Delegate Brink, Delegate Cline, Delegate Dance, Delegate Herring, Delegate Kory, Delegate Lingamfelter
Legislation: HB2358
Key Supporters: Impact Makers
Pending Legislation
- Colorado Benefit Corporation
Status: Introduced 4/26/12. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing 4/30/12, Appropriations 5/2/12. Passed Senate Floor 5/7/12. House Business and Economic Development Committee 5/8/12 Regular Session of the Colorado General Assembly expired on 4/9/12. Colorado General Assembly Special Session started 5/14/12, Senate Bill 003. Passed Senate Judiciary and Appropriations 5/14/12. Passed Senate Floor on 4/15/12. Special Session ran out of time.
Sponsor: Sen. Bacon, Sen. Mitchell, Sen. Heath, Sen. Johnston, Sen. Shaffer B., Sen. Cadman, Sen. Harvey, Rep. Massey, Rep. Ramirez
Key Supporters: The Alliance for a Sustainable Colorado
Quotes/Testimony: Aspen Skiing Company
- Illinois Benefit Corporation
Status: Introduced February 2nd 2011. Passed Senate. Passed House 5/10/12 on its way to the Governor.
Sponsors: Sen. Frerichs, Sen. Noland, Sen. Collins, Sen. Steans, Rep. Feigenholtz, Rep. Sente, Rep. Thapedi, Rep. Zalewski, Rep. Barickman
Legislation: SB2897
Key Supporters: TBA
Quotes/Testimony: TBA
- Louisiana Benefit Corporation
Status: Passed House on 4/25/12. Passed the Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs Committee on 5/16/12
Sponsors: Rep. Leger, Rep. Ortego
Legislation: HB1178
Key Supporters: New Orleans Business Alliance
Quotes/Testimony: TBA
- Michigan Benefit Corporation
Status: Introduced May 4th 2011. Referred to Senate Committee on Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing, and House Committee on Judiciary
Sponsors: Sen. Jansen, Sen. Hunter, Sen. Pappageorge, Rep. Schmidt, Rep. Barnett, Rep. Lipton, Rep. Liss, Rep. Gilbert, Rep. Meadows
Legislation: S 359, S 360, HB 4615, HB 4616
Key Supporters: TBA
Quotes/Testimony: TBA
- North Carolina Benefit Corporation
Status: Introduced February 1 2011. Passed Senate. House Commerce and Job Development Committee Meeting on 5/23/12
Sponsors: Sen. Vaughan, Sen. Stevens, Sen. Kinnaird, Sen. Brunstetter,
Legislation: SB26
Key Supporters: Former President of the American Bar Association AP Carlton, Redwoods Group, Bull City Forward, Center for Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, UNC Center for Sustainable Enterprise, The Institute for Sustainable Development, Ad Spice Promotional Marketing, Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine, Burt’s Bees, Dirtball Fashion, Fiberactive Organics, Foundation for a Sustainable Community, IContact, Highland Craftsmen, JustNeem, Larry’s Beans, Machen Advisory Group, NC Center for Nonprofits, Rain Water Solutions, Inc., Resourcing Natural Solutions, Self-Help Credit Union, Skin Care for Athletes, Southern Energy Management, Relevance, Inc., Watershed Capital
Quotes/Testimony: TBA
- Pennsylvania Benefit Corporation
Status: Introduced June 2nd 2011, Passed House 5/2/12
Sponsors: Rep. Denlinger
Cosponsors: Rep. DePasquale, Rep. Cutler, Rep. Bloom, Rep. Boyd, Rep. Briggs, Rep. Cohen, Rep. Creighton, Repr. Daley, Rep. Fleck, Rep. Gabler, Rep. Geist, Rep. Grove, Rep. Hickernell, Rep. Killion, Rep Longietti, Rep. Milne, Rep. Murt, Rep. Pyle, Rep. Rapp, Rep. Swanger, Rep. Wagner, Rep. Payton
Legislation: HB1616
Key Supporters: SBN Philadelphia and the Fay-Penn Economic Development Council, Vertex, Dansko, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners
Quotes/Testimony: B Lab Testimony
- South Carolina Benefit Corporation
Status: Introduced February 9th 2012. Passed House 4/26/12. Passed Senate Judiciary Sub-Committee 5/8/12
Sponsors: Rep. Stringer, Rep. Weeks, Sen. Sheheen
Legislation: HB4766
Key Supporters: South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
Quotes/Testimony: TBA
- Washington, DC Benefit Corporation
Status: Referred to Public Services and Consumer Affairs Committee
Sponsor: Councilmember Mendelsohn
Cosponsors: Councilmember Cheh, Councilmember M. Brown
Legislation: B19-0584
Supporters: Jim Epstein, EFO Capital Management; Laura Jordan, The Capital Law Firm; Amy Kincaid, Change Matters; Andy Shallal, Busboys & Poets
Quotes/Testimony: TBA
This site is run as a public service by B Lab, a nonprofit whose mission to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.
For information on B Lab's other initiatives, please visit www.bcorporation.net.
Legal Disclaimer: The information on this site does not constitute legal advice and is provided solely as a reference. Those interested in electing benefit corporation status should discuss with their legal advisors the potential risks and liabilities and specific processes associated with this for the company's circumstances and state of incorporation.