Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

This resolution declares an emergency to update the Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) Program, which provides bidding preferences to locally owned businesses in the District of Columbia. The bill reinstates rules requiring CBE applicants to be independently owned and operated, and it establishes uniform hearing procedures to ensure fair and consistent enforcement actions. By making these changes permanent, the measure aims to maintain program integrity and improve administrative efficiency for the over 2,000 businesses currently participating. The Council determines that immediate action is necessary because previous temporary provisions expired on March 29, 2026, and their lapse would disrupt program operations.