This bill creates a 10-point hiring preference for District government jobs for people who complete qualifying transitional employment programs like Project Empowerment. It requires job postings to clearly state this preference and standardizes criminal history reviews to include only convictions and pending charges. The bill also mandates that applicants denied jobs receive written explanations of the denial, appeal steps, and reapplication dates. Additionally, it requires annual reports on hiring practices for returning citizens. These changes aim to improve transparency and fairness in hiring for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking District government employment.
This bill amends the District of Columbia's Universal Paid Leave Act to expand eligibility for paid leave benefits. It allows workers who are unemployed (and not receiving unemployment benefits) to qualify for leave, which previously required current employment. The change specifically adds this new eligibility category to the law's requirements and clarifies that individuals receiving unemployment benefits cannot also claim paid leave for the same period. This directly affects District workers between jobs who are not on unemployment insurance but need leave for qualifying events like childbirth or medical care.
This bill amends the Youth Employment Act of 1979 to allow participants in the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to count their program participation toward retirement credit if they later become District government employees. Specifically, SYEP service will be credited from the participant's enrollment date for those who complete the program and join the District workforce, as defined in the bill. It also updates the District's personnel act to reflect this change in retirement credit calculation. The bill directly affects SYEP participants who transition to District government jobs by expanding their eligibility for retirement benefits.
This bill requires landlords to maintain rent payment plans agreed upon between March 2020 and July 2022 for tenants facing pandemic-related financial hardship. It directly affects residential and small commercial tenants (under 6,500 sq. ft.) who demonstrated hardship from the COVID-19 emergency. Key provisions include banning fees/interest for payment plans, prohibiting credit reporting of plan-related rent, and preventing evictions for nonpayment during the plan period. Landlords must approve applications without requiring lump-sum payments and allow online/phone applications, with denied applicants able to file complaints with the Rent Administrator or Department of Licensing.
This bill temporarily extends foreclosure protections for District of Columbia homeowners who applied for the DC Homeowner Assistance Fund (DC HAF) before September 30, 2022, and whose applications are still pending (under review, approved, or under appeal). It prohibits residential foreclosures, sales, or redemption judgments under specific DC codes until DC HAF resolves the application or denies it following appeal. Lenders and housing entities must send notices to these homeowners before starting foreclosure actions, informing them about DC HAF’s potential to cover their debts and the September 30, 2022, application deadline. The protections apply only to those with pre-September 30, 2022, applications still pending as of September 30, 2022.
The "Kidnapping Amendment Act of 2025" (Bill B 26-0203) updates Washington D.C.'s kidnapping statute to close gaps identified by a 2024 court ruling. It defines "substantial confinement or movement" as moving someone 20+ feet or confining them for 10+ minutes, ensuring short-duration incidents (like a 20-minute vehicle transport) qualify as kidnapping. The bill expands second-degree kidnapping to cover intent to commit any crime (not just felonies), creates a new misdemeanor offense for less severe restraints (up to 180 days), and clarifies jury requirements for intent. These changes directly affect individuals committing kidnapping or restraint offenses and victims in such incidents across the District.
This bill establishes a $50,000 minimum payment for individuals providing information leading to a homicide conviction in Washington, D.C., directly affecting witnesses in murder cases. It requires the Mayor to advertise available witness assistance resources and creates a new Witness Protection and Assistance Program to support witnesses through security, relocation, and wellbeing services during investigations and trials. The bill also mandates the Comprehensive Homicide Elimination Strategy Task Force to submit a detailed report by December 2025 on current witness protection programs, including safety protocols, available support services, and recommendations for improvement. These changes aim to strengthen witness cooperation in homicide investigations while ensuring clear accountability and resource transparency.
This bill removes the sunset date for pretrial detention provisions in the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, making them permanent. It extends a rule that creates a rebuttable presumption requiring courts to detain individuals charged with violent crimes (like assault or robbery) unless they prove they aren’t a flight risk or danger to the community. This applies to all violent crime charges regardless of prior offenses, affecting people arrested for such crimes in Washington, D.C. The change eliminates a temporary measure set to expire on July 15, 2025.
This resolution reauthorizes a District of Columbia Council committee investigation into Empower (Yazam, Inc.), a ride-hailing app operating without proper authorization in the District. It specifically allows the Public Works & Operations Committee to use subpoenas to investigate Empower’s violations of for-hire vehicle laws, including unpaid fines, safety risks (like reported stalking and impaired driving), and lack of insurance coverage. The investigation will assess impacts on riders, drivers, and the industry, and determine if new laws are needed for rider protection. The committee aims to uncover how many safety incidents occurred and whether drivers with violations remain active on the platform. This action directly affects Empower, District residents using the service, and the Department of For-Hire Vehicles’ enforcement efforts.
The FAIR Act of 2025 (B 26-0218) bans District of Columbia higher education institutions from using donor or legacy preferences in admissions. It requires these institutions to submit annual reports tracking District residents and graduates of local public schools who apply, are admitted, and enroll. The bill also prohibits the Mayor from issuing or renewing government contracts, grants, or permits to institutions that maintain these preferences. This directly affects all DC colleges and universities operating under the District’s jurisdiction.
This resolution prevents a legal gap between two existing pretrial detention laws in Washington, D.C. It extends the temporary provisions of the Secure DC Pretrial Detention Emergency Act (D.C. Act 26-7, expiring May 14, 2025) until the Secure DC Pretrial Detention Temporary Act (Bill 26-0082, effective July 12, 2025) takes effect. The resolution is procedural - no new policy changes are made - and solely ensures continuous legal authority for pretrial detention rules during the transition period. It was adopted as an emergency measure to avoid a lapse in the law.
The Stability and Equity in Arts Grantmaking Amendment Act of 2025 would reform how the District of Columbia's Commission on the Arts and Humanities distributes General Operating Support (GOS) grants to arts organizations. It requires grant amounts to be proportional to an organization’s annual expenses (based on recent tax filings), while setting a maximum cap on awards for larger organizations and a minimum floor to ensure adequate funding for small and mid-sized groups. The bill restricts eligibility to local arts organizations with a primary mission in the arts or humanities, requiring active boards, over half of activities within the District, and excluding national institutions with budgets exceeding $100 million. It also establishes clear criteria for supplemental funding based on program quality, community impact, and diverse leadership.
