State and local governments could not set hiring policies based on anything but merit

The state and local governments could not set policies that require hiring based on anything other than merit, and could not try to shape their workforce by race, ethnicity, sex, or national origin. This applies to the state and every political subdivision of the state when they hire public employees. Merit means qualifications, skills, knowledge, experience, and shown ability to do the essential duties of a job, judged by objective criteria such as education, training, work history, job performance, and relevant assessments. The one exception is hiring that is color-blind and race-neutral, as state and federal antidiscrimination laws require. Voluntary veterans' preference policies are not affected.

The attorney general, a county attorney, or any other person could sue for declaratory relief, a court order, or damages over a violation. This applies to violations of the merit-hiring section by the state or a local government. A party that wins a case against the state or a local government gets costs and reasonable attorney fees. The section does not override state or federal employment laws that ban discrimination.