B 26-0737 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This bill updates the rules for the District of Columbia's Certified Business Enterprise Program to ensure fairer participation and stronger enforcement. It clarifies that businesses seeking certification must be independently owned and operated, preventing larger companies from controlling smaller ones just to gain certification status. The law also sets new performance requirements for joint ventures, mandating that each partner performs work proportional to their ownership share and that at least 35% of subcontracted work goes to other certified businesses. Additionally, the bill creates a clearer system for handling complaints by defining both formal and informal options and requiring the Department to investigate all valid complaints while maintaining public records of formal filings.

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics: Professional Licensing

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

Jul 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jul 9, 2026 Signed Jul 30, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the District of Columbia's Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act to strengthen enforcement against non-compliant businesses. Key changes include stricter definitions for 'independently owned' businesses, new requirements for joint ventures to perform work based on their ownership percentage, and a formalized complaint process that allows for dismissal of frivolous claims without investigation.

Scope change

The bill applies to all certified business enterprises and joint ventures participating in government-assisted contracts, tightening eligibility criteria and performance obligations.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'independently owned and operated' was updated to explicitly exclude businesses controlled by other entities with financial interests.

The definition of 'economically disadvantaged individual' was corrected to reference the United States Department of Transportation instead of the District's Department of Transportation.

REQUIREMENT

Joint ventures are now required to perform work equal to their ownership percentage, and at least 35% of any subcontracted work must go to certified businesses.

ENFORCEMENT

New definitions for 'formal' and 'informal' complaints were added, creating a structured process where formal complaints must be sworn and notarized.

The Department is now authorized to dismiss complaints without an investigation if they are deemed frivolous or without merit, provided a specific report is filed.

Floor votes · Council Jul 14, 2026

How they voted

12–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 13

Jul 14, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1

90% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 14, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (12-0-1)

council

Jul 9, 2026

Introduced

B26-0737 Introduced by Councilmember Felder at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors