Certified Business Enterprise Program Protection Amendment Act of 2025
The Certified Business Enterprise Program Protection Amendment Act of 2025 would amend the District of Columbia’s Small and Certified Business Enterprise Development and Assistance Act of 2005 to tighten eligibility, reporting, and enforcement rules for businesses certified under the CBE program. The bill adds or revises definitions for terms such as “independently owned and operated,” “formal complaint,” “informal complaint,” “managerial functions,” and “material change,” and it requires local business enterprise applicants to meet an independence standard. It also clarifies ownership and control requirements for certain certified businesses, including joint ventures and veteran-controlled enterprises.
The measure would strengthen oversight of certified business enterprises by requiring them to report material changes to the Department of Small and Local Business Development within 30 days, and by making failure to do so a basis for enforcement action. It also revises quarterly subcontracting and certified joint venture performance rules so that certified partners must perform work proportionate to their ownership interest, with at least 35% of subcontracted effort going to certified business enterprises. In addition, the bill establishes a more detailed complaint and hearing process, including a hotline for informal complaints, mandatory investigation of complaints unless frivolous, notice of determination before penalties or certification actions, and expedited hearings for summary suspensions involving imminent danger.
If enacted, the bill would directly amend D.C. Code provisions governing CBE certification, compliance, complaints, and enforcement. It would impose new reporting obligations on certified firms, expand grounds for suspension or revocation, create a 36-month waiting period for reapplication after revocation, and authorize summary suspension in urgent public-safety situations. The bill also shifts enforcement procedures toward a more formal administrative record and hearing process through the Office of Administrative Hearings, while preserving the Department’s authority to investigate and act on violations.
The bill’s overall tone is protective and enforcement-oriented, suggesting support for strengthening the integrity of the CBE program and preventing misuse of certification benefits. The text and structure indicate a policy preference for clearer standards, more transparency, and stronger accountability rather than loosening requirements. No committee transcript or vote record was provided, so there is no documented public debate or recorded sentiment from members in the materials supplied.
The likely points of contention are the stricter certification standards, the expanded reporting duties, and the enhanced enforcement tools, especially the summary suspension authority and the 36-month reapplication bar after revocation. Businesses that rely on CBE status may view the bill as increasing compliance burdens and creating greater risk of losing certification, while supporters would likely argue that these changes are necessary to prevent fraud, ensure genuine local ownership and control, and protect the program’s credibility. The complaint process provisions may also draw attention because they broaden who can file complaints and require the Department to maintain records and investigate allegations.