The House has approved a bill, by a 48-22 vote, to provide optional registration of women- and minority-owned businesses.

The state currently has no method for tracking such businesses, said Rep. Mark Wheatley, D-Murray, sponsor of HB106. The bill would provide business owners the option of identifying themselves as women or minorities when they file with the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code.

Wheatley said the registration would make it easier for large corporations and institutions to find women- and minority-owned subcontractors to meet requirements of federal contracts.

"It's not mandatory, but it will give us another tool to make sure these federal dollars stay inside the state," Wheatley said.

Before the vote, Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, cautioned that the $4,500 fiscal note may not be enough to cover the cost of implementing the measure, which now moves to the Senate.