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

This bill amends the District of Columbia's Certified Business Enterprise Program to clarify eligibility requirements and strengthen enforcement procedures. It requires businesses seeking certification to be independently owned and operated, meaning they must manage their own daily operations without external control. The legislation also updates performance rules for joint ventures, mandating that certified partners complete work proportional to their ownership stake and ensuring at least 35% of subcontracted work goes to other certified businesses. Additionally, the bill establishes a formal complaint process that includes a hotline for informal complaints and creates specific rules for investigating and documenting violations. These changes aim to make the certification process clearer and provide the Department with more structured tools to enforce compliance.