Fair Hiring Opportunities for Public Employment (HOPE) Amendment Act of 2025

This bill creates a 10-point hiring preference for District government jobs for people who complete qualifying transitional employment programs like Project Empowerment. It requires job postings to clearly state this preference and standardizes criminal history reviews to include only convictions and pending charges. The bill also mandates that applicants denied jobs receive written explanations of the denial, appeal steps, and reapplication dates. Additionally, it requires annual reports on hiring practices for returning citizens. These changes aim to improve transparency and fairness in hiring for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking District government employment.