B 26-0059 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act of 2025

The Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act of 2025 updates Washington, D.C.'s tree protection rules by lowering the size threshold for protected trees and adjusting fees. It reduces the minimum trunk size for a "Special Tree" from 44 inches to 25 inches, expanding the number of trees requiring removal permits. The bill increases fees for removing Special Trees (to $55-$100 per inch of trunk size) and introduces new fees for Heritage Trees ($350 per inch or $250 per inch plus a conservation easement). Additionally, it limits the Tree Fund's use for public property plantings to 25% of the fund's average annual receipts.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Sub-Topics: Conservation

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Dec 2025

Council Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed May 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and signed into law, changing the official title year from 2025 to 2026. The substantive policy changes remain the same: the definition of a 'Special Tree' was lowered to include trees with a 40-inch trunk diameter (previously 44 inches), and the Mayor is now required to automatically adjust fines and fees for inflation starting in 2029. Additionally, the Tree Fund was modified to allow money to be used for tree planting on private land, while maintaining its use for public projects and subsidies for hazardous tree removal.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding tree protection was expanded by lowering the size threshold for 'Special Tree' status from 44 inches to 40 inches, thereby including more trees under the protection and fine regulations.

DEFINITION

The minimum trunk diameter for a tree to be classified as a 'Special Tree' was reduced from 44 inches to 40 inches, expanding the number of trees protected by the act.

FISCAL

The Tree Fund was authorized to use money for tree planting on private land, in coordination with the Department of Energy and Environment, in addition to existing public land projects.

TIMELINE

The Mayor is required to begin increasing fines and fees for tree removal to adjust for inflation starting July 1, 2029, and every three years thereafter.

ENFORCEMENT

The Mayor gained the additional authority to increase fines and fees by regulation beyond the automatic inflation adjustments, though the specific mechanism for this discretionary increase was simplified in the final text.

TECHNICAL

The official citation year of the act was updated from 2025 to 2026 to reflect its final enrollment.

Floor votes · Council Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 3, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Dec 18, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0059 by the Transportation and the Environment Committee

legislature

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation and the Environment

legislature

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

B26-0059 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors