B 26-0243 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Automatic Enrollment for Utility Affordability Programs Act of 2025

This bill requires the District's Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) to create a system that automatically enrolls eligible low-income households in utility affordability programs using data from other agencies. It mandates that the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) share enrollment data from income-based programs like SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid with DOEE - **only after households affirmatively consent** to the data sharing. Households automatically enrolled must receive clear notice about their enrollment, expected benefit dates, and amounts. The policy directly affects low-income residents who currently face high energy burdens (nearly 16% of income for some), streamlining access to existing utility assistance without requiring new applications.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 6, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
10
Key actions
0
Committee
1
May 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation and the Environment with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development, Committee on Human Services, and Committee on Health
legislature
May 6, 2025
Introduced
B26-0243 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Charles Allen
Charles Allen
DDemocratic
DC
Ward 6