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B26-0207 • 2025

Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
at the request of the Mayor
Last action
2025-09-12
Official status
Official Law
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

What This Bill Does

  • Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-09-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Law L26-0025, Effective from Aug 16, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 009564, Expires on Mar 29, 2026

  2. 2025-07-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress

  3. 2025-07-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0087 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 007536

  4. 2025-06-26 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0087

  5. 2025-06-26 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  6. 2025-06-10 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jun 25, 2025

  7. 2025-06-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  8. 2025-05-09 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0207 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  9. 2025-05-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  10. 2025-04-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development

  11. 2025-04-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  12. 2025-03-26 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0207 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Certified Business Enterprise Program Compliance and Enforcement Support Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-87
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
JUNE 26, 2025
‘Toamend,onatemporarybasis,theSmallandCertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopmentandAssistanceActof2005torequireabusinessapplyingforcertificationasalocalbusinessenterprisetobeindependentlyownedandoperated,toamendminimumcertifiedbusinessenterpriseperformancerequirementsinacertifiedjointventure,andtoestablishuniformhearingproceduresforenforcementactions.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“CertifiedBusinessEnterpriseProgramComplianceandEnforcementSupportTemporaryAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.TheSmallandCertifiedBusinessEnterpriseDevelopmentandAssistanceActof2005,effectiveOctober20,2005(D.C.Law16-33;D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.01etseq.),isamendedasfollows:(a)Section2302(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.02)isamendedasfollows:(1)Paragraph(7)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“()“Economicallydisadvantagedindividual”meansanindividualwhoownsatleasta51%interestinabusinessenterpriseandwhosepersonalnetworthdoesnotexceedthelimitssetbytheUnitedStatesDepartmentof Transportation,pursuantto49C.F.R.§26.68.”.
(2)Paragraph(8A)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(8A)“Equityimpactenterprise”meansabusinessenterprisethatisaresidentowned business,smallbusinessenterprise,and disadvantagedbusinessenterprise.”.
(3)Paragraph(9)isredesignatedasparagraph(8B).(4)A newparagraph(9)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(9)“Formalcomplaint”meansacomplaintthatissubmittedtotheDepartmentinwriting,sworntobythecomplainant,andnotarized.”.(5)Anewparagraph(0A)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(10A)“Informalcomplaint”meansacomplaintotherthanaformalcomplaintandincludescomplaintssubmittedinperson,byemail,bytelephone,orthroughtheDepartment’scomplainthotline.”.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(6)Anew paragraph(10B) isadded toreadas follows:
“(10B)“Independentlyownedandoperated”meansthatthebusinessenterprise
managesandcontrolsitsday-to-dayoperationswithoutbeingsubjecttocontrol,restriction,
modification,or limitationby anotherbusinessenterpriseor not-for-profitbusinessthathas an
ownershiporotherfinancialinterestinthebusinessenterprise.”
(7)A newparagraph(13A-i)isaddedtoreadasfollows:“(13A-i)“Person”meansanyindividual,firm,partnership,jointventure,general
partnerofapartnership,limitedliabilitycompany,registeredlimitedliabilitypartnership,foreign
limitedliabilitypartnership,association,corporation,unincorporatedbusiness,company,
syndicate,estate,trust,businesstrust,trustee,trusteeinbankruptcy,receiver,executor,
administrator,assignee,fiduciary,orentityofanykind.”.
(b)Section2331(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.31)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph
(IA)toreadasfollows:
“(LA)(A)Ist

i)Independentlyownedandoperated;
“Gi)Morethan50%owned,operated,andcontrolledbyaDistrict-
basedenterpriseornot-for-profitbusiness;or
“(ii)Ownedbyanon-District-basedbusinessenterprisethatis
more than50% owned by Districtresidents;”.
(c)Section2346(b)(2)(A)(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.46(b)(2)(A))isamendedby
strikingthephrase“thecertifiedbusinessenterpriseperformatleast50% ofthe contracting
effortwithitsown organizationand resourcesand,ifitsubcontracts,35%ofthe subcontracted
effortshallbe withcertifiedbusinessenterprises.”and insertingthephrase“each certified
businessenterpriseholdingamajorityorminorityinterestinthecertifiedjointventureshall,
withitsown organizationand resources,perform a percentageof thework equaltoor greater
than itspercentageinterestinthejointventure,and,ifthecertifiedjointventuresubcontracts,at
least35% of thesubcontractedeffortshallbe with certifiedbusinessenterprises.”initsplace.
(d)Section2363(D.C.OfficialCode§2-218.63)isamendedasfollows:
(1)Subsection(c)isamendedbystrikingthephrase*,inaccordancewith
proceduressetforthinsubsection(¢)ofthis section,that”and insertingtheword “that”in its
place.
(2)Subsection(¢)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Paragraphs(1),(2),and(3)areamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(e)(1(A)AnypersonmayfilewiththeDepartmentaformalorinformalcomplaint
allegingaviolationofthisact.
“(B) The Departmentshailmaintaina hotlineforthefilingof informal
complaints.
“(2)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(3)ofthissubsection,theDepartmentshall
investigateeach formalor informalcomplaintfiledwith it.
2
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(3)TheDepartmentmaydismissacomplaintwithoutconductinganinvestigationiftheDepartmentdeterminesthecomplaintisfrivolousorotherwisewithoutmerit.IftheDepartmentdismissesaformalcomplaintasfrivolousorotherwisewithoutmerit,theDepartmentshallprepareareportthatincludes:“(A)A statementdetailingtheformalcomplaint,includingthename,address,andtelephonenumberofthepersonfilingthecomplaint;“(B)Thenameofthepersonorcertifiedjointventureallegedtobein
violationofthisact;“(C)Thefactsandlawconsideredinrenderingthedetermination;and“(D)Anyotherinformationconsideredinrenderingthedetermination.”.
(B)Paragraph(4)isrepealed.(C)Newparagraphs(5)and(6)areaddedtoreadasfollows:
“(5)Afterthecompletionofaninvestigationconductedpursuanttothissubsection,theDepartmentshalltakesuchenforcementaction,ifany,itdeemsappropriate.“(6)TheDepartmentshallmaintainarecordlistingallformalcomplaints,which
shallcontain: “(A)Thenameofthepersonallegedtobeinviolationofthisact;“(B)ThedatetheformalcomplaintwasmadetotheDepartment;and
“(C)A descriptionoftheformalcomplaint.”(3)Subsection(g)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(g)(1)Exceptasprovidedinparagraph(8)ofthissubsection,beforeissuingacivilpenaltyto,ordenying,suspending,changing,orrevokingacertification,apersonoracertifiedjointventure,theDepartmentshallissueanoticeofdeterminationtothepersonorcertifiedjoint
venture.Thenoticeofdeterminationshalldescribethe:“(A)BasisfortheDepartment'sdetermination;
“(B)Proposedpenalty,ifany;and“(C)Processandtimelinebywhichthepersonorcertifiedjointventure
mayrequestaheating,“(2)Pursuanttoparagraph(3)ofthissubsection,aperson,oradesignatedrepresentativeonbehalfofa certifiedjointventure,mayrequestahearingbeforetheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingswithin10daysafterreceivingthenotice.Ifthepersonorcertifiedjointventuredoesnotrequestahearingwithinthattime,thecivilpenalty,denial,suspension,change,
orrevocationshallbecomefinal,andthepersonorcertifiedjointventureshallbedeemedtohavewaivedtheopportunityforjudicialreview.“(3)Ifahearingisrequested,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconsiderthematterpursuanttosection19oftheOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsEstablishmentActof2001,effectiveMarch6,2002(D.C.Law14-76;D.C.OfficialCode§2-1831.16),andtherules
issuedpursuanttoit,TheDepartmentshallbeartheburdenofestablishingtheviolationbyapreponderanceoftheevidence

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(4)The OfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductsuchhearingbased on
therecorddevelopedby theDepartment.The decisionof theOfficeofAdministrativeHearings
shallbethefinaladministrativedecisionforthepurposeofjudicialreview.
“(5)Noticeofa finalsuspensionor revocationofa certificationshal!be published
‘ontheDepartment'swebsite.
“(6)A businessenterpriseorjointventurewhosecertificationhasbeenrevoked
shallnotbe eligibletoapplyfora new certificationfrom theDepartmentuntil36 months after
thedatethattherevocationbecame final.
“(7)(A)TheDepartmentmayatanytime,uponmotionbya businessenterpriseor
jointventurewhosecertificationhasbeensuspendedorrevoked,removethesuspensionorreissueacertificationiftheDepartmentdeterminesthatitisintheDistrictgovernment'sinterest
toremove thesuspensionor reissuethecertificationbeforetheend of the36-month periodand
theremovalor reissuancewillnotendangerthehealth,safety,or welfareof thegeneralpublic.
“(B)Indeterminingwhethertoremoveasuspensionorreissuea
certification,theDepartment shallconsiderwhether thebusinessenterpriseor jointventure
submittedsatisfactoryproofthatconditionswithin,oractionsby,thebusinessenterpriseorjoint
venturethatledto thesuspensionorrevocationhave been corrected.
“(C)A businessenterpriseorjointventurewhosecertificationisreissued
shallceasetobesubjecttothe36-monthwaitingperiodestablishedinparagraph(6)ofthis
subsection.
“(8)(A)If,afteran investigation,theDepartmentdeterminesthata business
enterpriseorjointventurecertifiedunder thisacthas violatedany provisionof thisactinsuch a
mannerastopresentanimminentdangertothehealth,safety,orwelfareofanypersonorthe
generalpublic,theDepartmentmaysummarilysuspendthecertificationofthebusiness
enterpriseorjointventureuponissuingthenoticeofdeterminationdescribedinparagraph(1)of
thissubsection.
“(B)(i)Thenoticeofdeterminationshallinformthebusinessenterpriseor
jointventureofthereasonforthesummarysuspensionandtherighttorequestahearingbefore
theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingspursuanttothissubsection.
“GiIfabusinessenterpriseorjointventuretimelyrequestsa
hearingonasummarysuspension,theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallconductthe
hearingwithin14daysafterreceivingtherequest,unlessalongerperiodoftimeisagreedtoby
thebusinessenterpriseorjoint venture,and theOfficeofAdministrativeHearingsshallissuea
decisionwithin14 days aftertherecordof thehearingcloses.”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementof the ChiefFinancialOfficeras thefiscal
impactstatementrequiredby section4a of theGeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,
approvedOctober 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
4

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.4.Effectivedate.(a)ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approved
December24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).(b)Thisactshallexpireafter225daysofitshavingtakeneffect.
—
airman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

Ris ic of ‘olumt
JUNE 26, 2025

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