B 26-0226 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Place-Based Substance Use Disorder Outreach Amendment Act of 2025

This bill (B 26-0226) makes permanent a District of Columbia pilot program that provides targeted support for people with substance use disorders (SUD) in high-need neighborhoods. It requires the Department of Behavioral Health to establish a program offering direct support (like crisis assessments), relationship development through consistent outreach, and resource brokering to connect individuals with housing, healthcare, and other services. The program designates specific geographic areas for focused intervention based on criteria like overdose rates, public substance use, and high pedestrian activity. Performance data on outcomes - including connections to treatment and overdose reversals - must be publicly reported every 90 days.

Sub-Topics: Homelessness Property Development Substance Abuse Mental Health

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Council Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Aug 2026

Introduced Apr 11, 2025 Signed Aug 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into its enrolled version, adding new requirements for interagency coordination with police and other departments, expanding reporting on community feedback and business engagement, and clarifying the timeline for emergency designations. These changes aim to improve the program's effectiveness by ensuring better collaboration across agencies and providing a more comprehensive view of community impact and barriers to care.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include mandatory coordination with additional agencies like the Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Human Services, and to require reporting on outreach efforts with local businesses and community feedback.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection requiring the Department to hold regular meetings or create protocols for collaboration with the Metropolitan Police Department, Department of Human Services, Child and Family Services Agency, Department of Health, and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development.

Added a requirement for the annual report to include a narrative on outreach and engagement with local businesses and community-based organizations.

Added a requirement for the annual report to include feedback received from community members, businesses, or service providers, including efforts to solicit that feedback.

TIMELINE

Clarified that emergency designations for high-need areas can be made for up to 90 days, explicitly stating this applies notwithstanding the standard 180-day limit.

TECHNICAL

Corrected minor formatting and punctuation inconsistencies in the definition of 'Relationship development' and the list of performance metrics.

Floor votes · Council May 5, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

May 5, 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

May 5, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Mar 9, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0226 by the Health Committee

legislature

Apr 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Health

legislature

Apr 11, 2025

Introduced

B26-0226 Introduced by Councilmember Nadeau at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors