District of Columbia Bills

This bill (PR 26-0449) is a procedural resolution confirming Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointment of Jorge Galindo to the District Waterways Advisory Commission. It formally approves his appointment as a new member with expertise in athletics and recreation, filling a newly created seat on the commission established under the Office of District Waterways Management Establishment Act of 2022. Galindo’s initial term ends April 19, 2026, with a subsequent term ending April 19, 2030. The resolution requires Council confirmation but does not create new policy or alter existing laws.

This emergency resolution exempts the indoor pool at the modernized Congress Heights Recreation Center and the indoor gym at the Douglass Community Center (both in Ward 8) from the District’s net zero energy requirements under the Green Building Act of 2006. It allows these facilities to proceed with community-requested features - indoor pools and gyms - without requiring costly geothermal systems that were deemed impractical due to site constraints like heritage trees and limited space. The resolution bypasses standard exemption review processes to avoid further delays in completing these projects.

This bill exempts District-built recreation centers in Ward 8 with indoor pools or gyms from the standard net zero energy requirements under the Green Building Act of 2006. Instead, it requires that indoor pools at these Ward 8 recreation centers meet at least LEED Silver certification standards. The exemption applies specifically to facilities with indoor pools or gyms in Ward 8, not to other District buildings. As an emergency amendment, it takes effect immediately upon approval but expires after 90 days.

This resolution (PR 26-0480) delays the implementation of ranked choice voting in Washington D.C. elections from the 2026 cycle to 2027. It amends the Election Code to provide the Board of Elections additional time to prepare, focusing on voter education and avoiding legal risks. The resolution addresses concerns about insufficient time (six months), lack of dedicated funding for outreach, and unvetted third-party training sessions that could mislead voters about the new voting system. It directly affects District voters and election officials by postponing the first use of ranked choice voting.

This procedural resolution disapproves a $7 million reprogramming request by the Mayor to redirect funds from the Anacostia pool replacement and Congress Heights modernization projects toward completing the Southeast Tennis Learning Center. It formally blocks the transfer of FY 2026 Capital Funds within the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) without creating new policy. The resolution directly affects DPR's budget allocation for capital projects in 2025. (1 sentence)

This bill temporarily exempts District-built recreation centers in Ward 8 with indoor pools and gyms from net zero energy compliance requirements under the Green Building Act of 2006. Instead, it requires that Ward 8 recreation center indoor pools must meet at least LEED Silver standards. The exemption applies only to these specific facilities and expires 225 days after the bill takes effect. The change directly affects new or renovated Ward 8 recreation centers with indoor pools and gyms, altering their building standard requirements.

The Shine Safely Act of 2025 (B 26-0361) bans the sale and distribution of mercury-containing compact fluorescent and linear fluorescent lamps in the District of Columbia starting in 2027 for screw/bayonet types and 2028 for pin-base types. It directly affects retailers, manufacturers, and consumers purchasing these lamps, requiring a transition to safer LED alternatives. The bill includes exemptions for specialized lamps used in medical imaging, disinfection, ozone generation, and other specific applications. This phaseout aims to reduce mercury exposure risks to public health, workers, and the environment while promoting energy-efficient lighting.

This bill authorizes the Mayor to use eminent domain to acquire property at 1950 Capitol Avenue, N.E. in Ivy City (Ward 5) for a climate resilience hub. The hub would serve residents directly by providing year-round community services and emergency support during disasters, including power, communications, and resource distribution during climate-related disruptions. It addresses environmental injustices in Ivy City, which faces severe heat islands, flooding, and pollution, as identified in the District's 2022 climate report. The legislation specifically targets the Capitol Street Site to establish a hub where none currently exists in Ward 5, despite prior recommendations.

This bill (B 26-0091) requires the District of Columbia's Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to create a secure online portal and a standardized checklist for housing voucher applications. It directly affects DC residents applying for behavioral health housing, DBH caseworkers, and property managers. Key provisions include a real-time portal showing application status, automated reminders for deadlines, and a published checklist detailing required documents, submission timelines, and responsible parties. The bill mandates these changes to reduce processing delays, prevent document loss, and improve transparency in the housing voucher process.

This bill creates new criminal penalties for distributing AI-generated or digitally altered sexually explicit content that falsely depicts real people without their consent. It directly affects individuals who share such content, adding two offenses: a misdemeanor for standard cases and a felony for aggravated situations (like targeting minors, repeat offenses, or causing violence). Key provisions define "false sexual imagery" as AI-altered content a reasonable person would believe depicts a real person, and establish fines up to $25,000 or 2 years in prison for felony violations. The law closes gaps in current D.C. law, which previously only covered authentic non-consensual sexual images or obscene material, not AI-generated content.

This bill requires the District of Columbia Board of Elections to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment by January 1, 2027, before implementing ranked choice voting (RCV). The assessment must review the Board's capacity to run RCV (including staff, technology, and costs), voter awareness - especially among marginalized communities - equity impacts, and lessons from other jurisdictions. The Board must then submit a report to the Mayor and Council including a detailed RCV implementation plan, timeline, cost model, and public education strategy. This process ensures the District evaluates operational readiness and community needs before adopting RCV, directly affecting the Board's election planning and DC voters' future voting experience.

This bill changes how vacancies in Washington, D.C.'s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) are filled. It requires the Board of Elections to oversee the process, including publishing vacancies within 15 days, verifying candidate petitions with at least 25 neighborhood voters, and banning petition signers from altering voter information. If only one qualified candidate applies, the Board certifies them directly; otherwise, the ANC holds a meeting with at least two commissioners (no quorum needed) to select a replacement. These changes apply directly to ANCs and their members filling vacancies, streamlining the process and increasing Board oversight.