Columbus council holds hearing on proposed Title 39 changes for Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Columbus City Council held a public hearing on proposed changes to Title 39 of the Columbus City Code on Oct. 25, 2025, during which the deputy city attorney and the director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) described a plan to revise how the city sets procurement goals and incentives for certified businesses. The proposals include new "small regional business enterprise" and "regional business enterprise" categories and would shift bid goals and incentive points away from race- and gender-based criteria toward size- and geography-based criteria while retaining certification tracks for minority-, women-, veteran- and LGBTQ-owned firms.

The hearing focused on legal risk and operational steps. Deputy City Attorney Laura Baker Morris told council that Title 39 programs were grounded in federal law and court precedent but observed that recent federal litigation and executive actions have changed the legal landscape. "The potential negative impact of running a foul of some of the provisions of those executive orders can include not only the loss of considerable federal funding, but also the potential for prison terms and penalties," Morris said, summarizing why the administration seeks code changes now. She also said the U.S.…