B 26-0665 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

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

This bill temporarily amends the District of Columbia's Certified Business Enterprise Program to update how businesses are certified and enforced. It requires applicants to be independently owned and operated, meaning they manage their daily operations without external control from other businesses. The legislation also sets specific performance rules for joint ventures, mandating that they complete work proportional to their ownership and subcontract at least 35% of work to certified businesses. Finally, it establishes clearer procedures for filing complaints, distinguishing between formal written submissions and informal reports, while requiring the Department to maintain records of all formal complaints.

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

Jun 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced Apr 20, 2026 Signed Aug 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends the District of Columbia's Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act to strengthen enforcement and clarify eligibility. Key changes include requiring businesses to be 'independently owned and operated' to qualify for certification, updating net worth limits for disadvantaged individuals to match federal standards, and establishing a formal complaint process that requires notarization. The bill also modifies performance requirements for joint ventures and clarifies how complaints are investigated and dismissed.

Scope change

The bill's scope is expanded to include stricter eligibility criteria for business certification and a more rigorous enforcement mechanism for complaints.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a requirement that certified businesses must be 'independently owned and operated,' meaning they cannot be controlled or restricted by another business with a financial interest in them.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'economically disadvantaged individual' to align with federal Department of Transportation net worth limits.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a new 'formal complaint' category that must be submitted in writing, sworn to, and notarized, distinct from informal complaints.

Added specific reporting requirements when the Department dismisses a formal complaint as frivolous, ensuring transparency in dismissal decisions.

REQUIREMENT

Changed performance requirements for certified joint ventures to ensure each member performs work proportional to their ownership interest, rather than a flat percentage.

Floor votes · Council Jun 2, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Jun 2, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% 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

Jun 2, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Apr 20, 2026

Introduced

B26-0665 Introduced by Councilmember Felder at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors