B 26-0768 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Net Zero Continuity Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

This bill temporarily modifies the District of Columbia's green building laws to provide exemptions from strict net-zero energy standards for specific projects. It directly affects new construction, additions, and alterations by allowing temporary buildings, small additions under 10,000 square feet, and facilities like police stations, fire stations, and swimming pools to bypass certain energy requirements. The legislation also clarifies legal definitions for terms such as "aquatic center" and "temporary building" to ensure consistent application of these rules. Additionally, it grants a grace period for projects that submitted permits before October 1, 2024, to comply with updated regulations once final rules are established.

Issues: ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

Sub-Topics: Climate Change

Bill status introduced 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

Jul 2026

Governor

Introduced Jul 13, 2026 Last action Jul 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Engrossment · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten between Introduction and Engrossment. The original version addressed net-zero-energy building code exemptions for District projects, but the engrossed version instead amends the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 and the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010 to clarify data-sharing authority for determining eligibility for federal and District health and human service programs. This is a total subject-matter replacement, not an incremental amendment.

Scope change

Complete replacement: from building energy code exemptions (net-zero-energy standards) to health and human services data-sharing clarifications for program eligibility determinations.

SCOPE

The entire original bill content regarding net-zero-energy building code exemptions (Green Building Act of 2006 amendments, Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022 amendments, and repealer provisions for two prior temporary acts) was removed.

New bill amends the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to clarify that data sharing within DHS and between DHS and other District agencies is authorized for determining eligibility for federal and District health and human service programs, subject to the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010.

DEFINITION

Expands the definition of 'agency' in the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010 to include any subdivision of an agency, department, unit, authority, or instrumentality of the District government.

REQUIREMENT

Clarifies that data sharing for eligibility determinations is subject to authorized uses and mandatory disclosures under Title I of the Data-Sharing and Information Coordination Amendment Act of 2010.

TECHNICAL

Changes reference from 'Budget Director' to 'Chief Financial Officer' in the fiscal impact statement section, and removes the requirement for publication in the D.C. Register as part of the effective date trigger.

Floor votes · Council Jul 14, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Jul 14, 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

Jul 14, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Jul 13, 2026

Introduced

B26-0768 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors