Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment Act of 2025
This bill requires tenants applying for District of Columbia's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to provide specific documentation of their emergency situation (e.g., job loss or medical costs) to qualify for aid, or submit an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury if documentation isn't possible. It clarifies that an "emergency situation" includes unforeseen events threatening a tenant's ability to pay rent and avoid eviction. For eviction cases, the bill allows courts to stay proceedings when a tenant has a pending ERAP application (instead of mandating a stay) and requires landlords to reschedule evictions by at least three weeks if ERAP is approved to cover unpaid rent. These changes directly affect tenants seeking rental assistance, landlords facing eviction cases, and courts handling housing disputes.
Bill status
signed
all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Council Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025
Signed Jul 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossment
→
Enrollment
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was finalized into its enrolled version, removing a requirement for the Mayor to issue specific regulations by a certain date and simplifying the language regarding court stays. It also added new definitions for 'ERAP provider' and 'payment information' to clarify who can process applications and what documents are needed.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed slightly by removing a mandate for the Mayor to issue implementing regulations, shifting that requirement to a general duty to implement the section.
REQUIREMENT
A specific deadline and requirement for the Mayor to issue regulations by January 13, 2025, was removed.
DEFINITION
New definitions were added for 'ERAP provider' (vendors processing applications) and 'payment information' (documents needed to perfect an application, excluding payment plans).
ENFORCEMENT
The language regarding court discretion to extend stays was simplified by removing the word 'continue'.
Floor votes · Council May 6, 2025
How they voted
11–1
Passed
Total votes 12
May 6, 2025
D
Democratic10
90% Yea
I
Independent2
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
2
Committee
6
Amendments
1
May 6, 2025
Council · Passed
Council Vote: pass (11-1)
council
Apr 1, 2025
Introduced
AMENDMENT (CM Frumin)
legislature
Mar 28, 2025
Committee
Re-Referral published.
legislature
Mar 25, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Committee Mark-up of B26-0046 by the Human Services Committee
legislature
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Re-Referral published.
legislature
Feb 4, 2025
Committee
Re-Referred to Committee on Human Services with comments from the Committee on Housing
legislature
Feb 3, 2025
Committee
Re-Referred to Committee on Housing with comments from the Committee on Human Services
legislature
Jan 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Human Services
legislature
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
B26-0046 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Phil Mendelson
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about B 26-0046
Scope: DC
Hi! I can help you understand B 26-0046. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline