The Housing Investment Protection Act of 2026 aims to support tenants and protect housing investments by clarifying rules for repairs and expanding affordable housing options. It allows the District of Columbia Housing Authority to temporarily transfer rental assistance to different properties while units undergo renovations and expands eligibility for the Local Rental Supplement Program to include very low-income residents. The bill also updates tenant definitions to clarify who can exercise purchase rights under the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act and streamlines the process for the Mayor to buy buildings to preserve affordable units. Additionally, the legislation improves the eviction court process by setting specific hearing timelines and modernizing how eviction notices are delivered to ensure predictability for both landlords and tenants.
This bill clarifies the District of Columbia government's authority to repair or restore private roads and alleys used for trash collection. It allows the Mayor to enter these private properties to fix them if they are in poor condition and the owner has not agreed to maintain them, provided the owner consents and signs a liability release. The legislation also requires the Mayor to seek liability releases from all impacted property owners before beginning any work. By amending an existing 2024 law, the bill aims to ensure that essential municipal services like waste removal can proceed safely on private land.
This bill temporarily extends the deadline for the Prearrest Diversion Task Force to submit its initial recommendations on how to handle certain misdemeanor offenses and specific groups of people. Originally set for June 2025, the new deadline is moved to July 2026, allowing the task force more time to study and propose alternatives to arrest for eligible individuals. The legislation also includes a separate provision that permits legal notices regarding probate matters, such as requests for formal probate or appointments of representatives, to be published in local newspapers. These changes are temporary and will expire 225 days after the bill takes effect.
This temporary bill updates the rules for medical cannabis in Washington, D.C., by extending the validity of existing conditional licenses for one year and clarifying how unlicensed businesses are defined and enforced. It specifically expands the definition of unlicensed establishments to include any business selling Schedule I substances, such as heroin or LSD, and sets a clear start date of April 1, 2025, for enforcement actions against these unlicensed operations. The legislation also adjusts licensing requirements by allowing applicants to use zoning certificates instead of occupancy certificates, modifies distance rules for new shops near schools and parks, and permits summary closures to continue as long as an immediate public danger exists. Additionally, it grants enforcement authorities the power to take action against licensed businesses if they engage in specific unlawful activities.
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.
This bill temporarily requires the District of Columbia Department of Corrections to provide free public education to young adults with disabilities who are in its custody. Specifically, it mandates that individuals aged 18 through the end of their eligibility for special education services receive instruction under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. The legislation achieves this by adding new language to existing correctional codes, ensuring that secure facilities offer appropriate educational opportunities to this specific population. The provision is set to expire 225 days after the bill takes effect, making it a short-term measure rather than a permanent change.
This bill temporarily clarifies the legal definition of a private vehicle-for-hire operator in Washington, D.C., to include individuals who use a company's digital dispatch system to transport passengers. It directly affects drivers who operate their own vehicles through ride-sharing platforms by formally recognizing them under existing for-hire vehicle laws. The change is set to take effect on March 1, 2024, and will remain in force for 225 days after that date.
This bill temporarily clarifies the District of Columbia government's authority to repair or restore private roads and alleys used for trash collection. It allows the Mayor to enter private property to fix these paths if they are in poor condition, the owner is not legally required to maintain them, and the owner has provided consent along with a liability release. The legislation also requires the Mayor to attempt to obtain liability releases from nearby property owners before undertaking such repairs. This measure is set to expire 225 days after it takes effect.
This bill temporarily amends the Omnibus Barry Farm Redevelopment Act of 2022 to allow the District's Surveyor to officially record street and alley closing plans in multiple stages rather than all at once. It directly affects the Barry Farm redevelopment project by establishing specific deadlines for recording these plans for different phases, with Phase 1A due by December 2028 and later phases due by December 2034. The legislation requires that each phase be approved by the District Department of Transportation before its corresponding plan is recorded, ensuring the process aligns with ongoing construction work. The act includes a provision that it will automatically expire 225 days after it takes effect.
This legislative bill, titled the Fiscal Year 2027 Local Budget Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026, is a formal submission by Mayor Muriel Bowser to the Council of the District of Columbia proposing a new budget plan called Grow DC. The resolution outlines a financial plan designed to address current economic challenges such as slower population growth, remote work trends, and federal job losses, while maintaining funding for essential services like education, public safety, healthcare, and homelessness prevention. Key provisions include increasing per-student funding, investing in public school facilities and higher education support, providing resources for police and fire departments, and offering incentives to stimulate the local economy and housing development. The bill directly affects the approximately 700,000 residents of Washington, DC, by detailing how city funds will be allocated to support schools, public safety agencies, healthcare programs, and small businesses in the upcoming fiscal year.
This bill is a procedural resolution that formally declares a fiscal emergency for the District of Columbia's 2026 budget year. It directly affects the District government by authorizing the Mayor to submit a revised budget plan to the Council amid slower economic growth and reduced federal revenue. The resolution serves as a procedural step to enable the adoption of the Grow DC budget, which outlines spending priorities for education, public safety, and economic development. By declaring the emergency, the bill allows the city to adjust its financial planning to address current economic challenges without changing specific policy details.
This resolution declares an emergency to allow the District of Columbia Council to pass the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Support Act after a single reading. The measure is designed to ensure time-sensitive provisions of the budget support act are in place before October 1, 2026, enabling government agencies to prepare for implementation. By adopting the legislation through this expedited process, the bill facilitates the timely execution of the district's upcoming fiscal year budget.
