District of ColumbiaB26-0664Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

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

Sponsored By: Wendell Felder (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Businesses face suspensions and certification bans

Beginning March 29, 2026, the Department can immediately suspend business or joint-venture certification after investigating and finding imminent danger to health, safety, or welfare. A timely hearing request requires a hearing within 14 days, unless the business agrees to a longer hearing period. The Office of Administrative Hearings must decide within 14 days after the record closes. After a final revocation, businesses and joint ventures cannot apply for new certification for 36 months. On the firm's request, the Department can lift a suspension or reissue certification earlier if doing so serves the District and does not endanger public health, safety, or welfare. It must consider satisfactory proof that the problems causing the sanction have been corrected.

Certified businesses face new shared-contract rules

Beginning March 29, 2026, every certified business in a certified joint venture must perform work matching at least its ownership share. This applies to both majority and minority partners, using their own organizations and resources. If the venture subcontracts work, at least 35% of that work must go to certified businesses. This reserves work for certified subcontractors while limiting how venture partners divide and perform work.

New ownership rules for local businesses

The emergency law applies beginning March 29, 2026, and lasts up to 90 days after taking effect. Local business certification has three ownership paths: independent ownership and operation; more than 50% ownership, operation, and control by a District-based business or nonprofit; or ownership by an outside business that is itself more than 50% District-resident-owned. Independent businesses must manage themselves without control or limits imposed by another business or nonprofit with an ownership or financial interest. An economically disadvantaged owner must own at least 51% of a business and meet federal transportation net-worth limits. An equity impact enterprise must be District-resident-owned, small, and disadvantaged.

Public can report business program violations

Beginning March 29, 2026, anyone can report alleged violations of the District's certified business program. Formal complaints must be written, sworn, and notarized. Informal complaints can be made in person, by email, by phone, or through a required Department hotline. The Department must investigate unless it finds a complaint frivolous or without merit, and take enforcement action when warranted. Dismissing a formal complaint on that basis requires a written report. Public formal-complaint records must identify the alleged violator, complaint date, and allegation.

Business hearing rights carry strict deadlines

Beginning March 29, 2026, the Department must give notice before civil penalties or certification denial, suspension, change, or revocation. The notice must explain the decision, its basis, any proposed penalty, and how and when to request a hearing. Affected people and certified joint ventures have 10 days after receiving notice to request a hearing. Missing that deadline makes the action final and waives court review. At the Office of Administrative Hearings, the Department must prove a violation is more likely than not. Its final decision is the basis for court review, and final suspensions or revocations must appear on the Department's website.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Wendell Felder
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 26 • No: 0

House vote • 5/5/2026

Other

Yes: 13 • No: 0