The Opening Worker-Ownership: A New Economic Resilience Strategy (OWNERS) Amendment Act of 2025 aims to address the high closure rates of businesses in the District of Columbia by directing the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) to conduct a survey of the local business ecosystem. The legislation seeks to create a city-wide strategy that encourages business owners to sell their businesses to their employees through a process known as worker cooperative conversion. This approach is intended to enhance economic resilience, as evidence suggests that cooperatives tend to have higher survival rates compared to traditional business models.

The bill introduces a new section to the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act, which includes definitions related to alternative ownership models, community ownership, and potential business closures. It mandates the DLCP to release a survey by November 1, 2025, to gather insights from business owners and employees about their interests in retirement, selling, or closing businesses. Additionally, by March 1, 2026, the DLCP is required to produce a report with policy recommendations and strategies for supporting worker cooperative conversions, including potential financing options and collaborative grants to bolster community wealth-building initiatives.