This bill symbolically designates a 0.4-mile stretch of 3rd Street, SW (between I Street and M Street) as "Lenora Baker Way" to honor Lenora Baker, a Southwest DC community leader who volunteered at local schools, preserved African American culinary traditions at her church, and organized community events despite facing systemic challenges. It directly affects the local community by commemorating her legacy through a street name change, with no financial impact or new regulations. The designation follows a unanimous endorsement by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D and adheres to existing District street-naming procedures.
This bill updates District of Columbia education laws to focus on overall attendance patterns rather than just unexcused absences. It requires schools to track and report chronic absenteeism (frequent missed days) and attendance improvements after student support team referrals, replacing previous "unexcused absence" language. Key changes include moving school census deadlines from November 1 to December 15, adding chronic absenteeism metrics to reporting, and updating school enrollment and charter school references. These adjustments directly affect DC Public Schools (DCPS), public charter schools, and education research partnerships that collect attendance data.
This bill symbolically designates the 200 block of 62nd Street, NE in Washington, D.C., as "Roland 'Fatty' Taylor Way." It directly affects residents, visitors, and local businesses in that specific neighborhood by changing the street name for commemorative purposes. The bill follows standard District procedures for street naming under the Street and Alley Closing and Acquisitions Procedures Act of 1982, with no associated policy changes or fiscal impact beyond the designation itself. It is a purely commemorative measure with no substantive legislative effect.
This bill extends the timeline for So Others Might Eat (SOME) to certify its 23-unit affordable housing property at 2607 Connecticut Avenue NW as tax-exempt under the Nonprofit Workforce Housing Properties Real Property Tax Exemption Act of 2019. It changes the required certification period from 12 to 36 months after property acquisition and forgives/repays real property taxes paid since January 2023 if the property qualifies. The legislation directly affects the specific housing building owned by 2607 Connecticut LLC, which serves low-income tenants and has experienced slower lease-up than anticipated. The policy change ensures the Council's intended tax exemption aligns with the nonprofit's housing operations, allowing funds to stay focused on housing services rather than tax payments.
This bill adds a formal appeal process for property transfer and recordation taxes in Washington, D.C. It allows property sellers (transferors) and buyers (transferees) to challenge the fair market value used to calculate these taxes. If the Office of Tax and Revenue determines a value that seems too high, affected parties can file a petition for review within 45 days, with appeals possible to the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission or Superior Court. The key change is creating a clear legal path to contest tax valuations on property transfers, aiming to address cases where taxes may exceed the actual property value.
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.
This bill prohibits the District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL) from signing or renewing e-book licensing agreements with publishers that include terms restricting public access. It specifically bans contracts that limit how many times a book can be lent, inflate prices beyond what the public pays, or prevent libraries from preserving digital materials. The law takes effect only after 10 other jurisdictions with at least 50 million combined residents pass similar laws, aiming to create a national strategy for fairer pricing. This directly affects DCPL and its patrons, who face longer wait times (36 days for e-books) and rising costs (e-book prices jumped from $60 to $75 per license in FY24).
The Tax Sale Equity Amendment Act of 2026 updates the District of Columbia's tax sale laws to modernize procedures and strengthen protections for property owners. It expands the types of taxes that can be collected through tax sales and introduces a cost-of-living adjustment for attorney fees to ensure they keep pace with inflation. The bill also clarifies the rules for redeeming property after a tax sale and establishes a 90-day window for owners to claim their equity or make required payments. Additionally, it adjusts the amount of additional fees payable to the Recorder of Deeds and updates the list of expenses that can be claimed if a foreclosure judgment is reopened. These changes aim to create a fairer and more transparent process for both property owners and tax sale purchasers.
This bill updates the District of Columbia's corporate tax rules by switching from the Joyce method to the Finnigan method for calculating how much income from a group of related companies should be taxed in the city. The change directly affects businesses that operate as a single unit across multiple locations, requiring them to file a combined tax return and share joint liability for the tax owed. Key provisions redefine how a "unitary business" is identified and establish new rules for selecting which company in the group will file the return and how income is apportioned. Additionally, the legislation clarifies definitions for terms like "tax haven" and "nexus" to ensure the tax code accurately reflects modern business structures.
This bill grants a permanent real property tax exemption for three specific properties owned or being sold to Society for Science, Inc. The exemption applies to properties at 1719 N St. NW (Lot 0062, Square 0158), 1723 N St. NW (Lot 0802, Square 0158), and 800 8th St. NW (Lot 0031, Square 0404), covering both the land and any improvements. The exemption removes the requirement for these properties to pay real property taxes under Chapter 8 of the District of Columbia tax code, provided Society for Science continues to own and use them. This exemption is in addition to any other tax benefits the organization may receive.
This bill symbolically designates a specific alley behind Union Wesley AME Zion Church (located at 1860 Michigan Avenue, NE) in Ward 5 as "Union Wesley Way." It directly recognizes the church's historical significance and community role through a formal street name, without altering physical infrastructure or imposing new requirements. The designation applies to a defined portion of public alley space in Square 4176, bounded by Queens Chapel Terrace, N.E., Michigan Avenue, N.E., Eastern Avenue, N.E., and Crittenden Street, N.E. This is a ceremonial measure to honor the church's 140-year service to the Queens Chapel neighborhood and the District.
This bill, the "Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025" (B 26-0173), would protect licensed architects and engineers in the District of Columbia from civil liability when volunteering during emergencies. It limits liability (except for gross negligence or willful misconduct) for professionals providing free, voluntary assistance at life-threatening emergencies in the built environment - like building safety assessments after disasters - when acting at an official's direction during a declared emergency or within 90 days after. To qualify, volunteers must complete a specific training program (referencing California's Safety Assessment Program) and work without compensation in good faith. The law aligns DC with 41 states that offer similar protections to these professionals.
