The Portable Tenant Screening Report Amendment Act of 2025 (B 26-0477) requires District of Columbia housing providers to accept a single tenant screening report for 30 days when renting to prospective tenants, eliminating repeated application fees. The report must include name/contact info, credit history, current address, rental history, and eviction records, and must be provided at no cost to the tenant. This directly affects renters - especially low- and moderate-income residents - who currently pay multiple fees for similar screenings - and housing providers who must accept the reusable report instead of charging new fees. The bill prohibits housing providers from charging application fees or additional costs for using the report and bars them from denying applications based solely on the report's age.
The Condominium Insurance Amendment Act of 2025 raises the deductible amount that unit owners must cover when a property loss (like a fire or water leak) originates in their unit, from $5,000 to $25,000. It requires condominium associations to pass this deductible responsibility directly to the unit owner responsible for the loss, allowing them to use their own required insurance policy instead of the association's master policy. This affects individual unit owners in District of Columbia condominiums whose units cause property damage, shifting costs from shared fees to the specific owner. The bill also updates minimum insurance requirements, including a $25,000 loss assessment coverage limit for unit owners' policies.
The DC Young Adult Corps Act of 2026 establishes a paid service program for District residents aged 17-24 who have recently earned a high school equivalency credential or meet alternative eligibility criteria set by the Department of Employment Services (DOES). It creates 9-12 month, full-time placements (30-40 hours weekly) with host organizations like schools, nonprofits, or government agencies, requiring participants to be paid at or above the District’s minimum wage with labor protections. Key provisions include structured mentorship, a one-time completion award for successful participants, program oversight by the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education, and a non-lapsing fund for sustainability. The bill mandates annual public reporting and independent evaluations to track outcomes in workforce development and community service.
This bill modifies the District of Columbia's subcontracting requirements for vendors bidding on health benefits contracts for District government employees and their families. It allows bids to be considered responsive even if a subcontracting plan (showing 35% allocation to small businesses) isn't submitted at bid time, as long as the plan is provided before the plan year begins. The change specifically applies to health benefits contracts, which have unique timing because their value depends on annual enrollment projections unknown until after the open enrollment period. The bill maintains the existing 35% subcontracting requirement but adjusts the submission timeline to align with enrollment cycles, with no expected fiscal impact.
This bill creates a one-year pilot program for young parents aged 16-24 in Washington D.C. who are custodial or non-custodial parents of children under 18. It provides up to 100 employment vouchers to subsidize 50% of market-rate wages (up to 40 hours weekly) for participating employers, requiring them to cover the remaining wages and provide standard employee benefits. Employers must commit to considering participants for permanent roles after the subsidy ends. The program targets a gap in existing youth employment services by directly supporting young parents' workforce entry and stability through wage subsidies and employer partnerships.
This bill amends existing District of Columbia energy laws to streamline how residents connect solar systems to the local power grid, aiming to reduce utility costs and accelerate clean energy adoption. It establishes clearer definitions for solar interconnection customers and small generator facilities, requires the Public Service Commission to maintain updated cost guides on Pepco's website, and creates an ombudsman role to help customers navigate approval processes and resolve delays. The legislation also permits residents to install smaller "balcony solar" systems without undergoing the same permitting requirements as larger rooftop installations, potentially offering monthly savings of $35 to $55 depending on location.
This bill requires DC Water to provide residential tenants with copies of their water bills and allows them to apply directly for utility assistance programs. It primarily affects low-income renters - especially Black households who disproportionately rent - who often face water disconnections because landlords, not tenants, are responsible for payments. Key provisions let tenants pay their share directly to DC Water, with those payments counted as rent reduction (reducing the amount tenants owe landlords). This aims to prevent service interruptions by making assistance programs more accessible to eligible tenants who previously couldn't enroll without paying overdue bills.
This bill prohibits electric and gas utilities from disconnecting service for vulnerable households during summer (May 15-September 15) and winter (November 1-February 29) months. It directly protects households with children under 18, seniors 65+, people with disabilities, pregnant individuals, or those receiving public assistance. Utilities must offer payment plans for eligible customers instead of requiring full payment to restore service, and limit reconnection fees. Additionally, utilities must report monthly data on unpaid bills and disconnections to the Public Service Commission.
This bill modernizes DC Water's billing and disconnection practices to protect tenants in rental properties, especially in master-metered buildings where a single meter serves the entire building. It requires DC Water to provide tenants with earlier, detailed notices about landlord payment delinquencies - including in their preferred language - and mandates monthly reports on disconnection actions. The bill also creates pathways for tenants to secure water service in their own name or seek alternative housing before disconnections occur. These changes aim to prevent tenants from losing critical water access due to landlords' unpaid bills while helping DC Water recover $36 million in outstanding debts.
The Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs Act of 2026 (B 26-0593) authorizes the Mayor to partner with ArrayRX, a multi-state prescription drug discount program, to create a citywide drug discount card program for all District residents. This program would provide access to lower-cost prescription drugs regardless of insurance status (public, private, or none), expanding beyond existing targeted laws like the Insulin Affordability Act. The key mechanism is a cooperative purchasing agreement that leverages collective buying power to secure deeper discounts than individual consumers could achieve. It directly affects all DC residents facing high drug costs, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for medications. The bill does not alter insurance coverage but creates a new access point through this partnership.
This bill creates a centralized Medicaid credentialing system managed by the District's Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), replacing the current process where each Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) independently credentials providers. It requires DHCF to develop a single application process by 2027, allowing providers credentialed through DHCF to serve all MCOs without additional MCO-specific requirements. The bill sets strict timelines: DHCF must notify providers of missing application information within 10 days and issue temporary credentials within 30 days of receiving a complete application. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and clinics) and Medicaid patients by reducing delays in care access and administrative burdens.
The "Theatrical Wrestling Regulation Amendment Act of 2025" defines "theatrical wrestling" as a performance art with predetermined outcomes, choreographed moves, and noncompetitive elements, held in venues with fewer than 2,000 attendees. It exempts these events from the District's standard combat sports regulations - which previously treated them identically to competitive boxing or wrestling - reducing licensing costs and administrative burdens. This directly affects small independent wrestling events, often created by and for Black, Latino, and LGBTQ communities, which have been forced to relocate to Maryland and Virginia due to current regulations. The bill aligns with similar policies in Washington State, Louisiana, and Virginia to support community-based performance spaces.
