District of Columbia Bills

This emergency resolution extends the deadline for the Prearrest Diversion Task Force to issue recommendations from one year after the Secure DC law's effective date to July 2026, due to staffing delays in starting meetings. It also modifies probate law to allow notices for estate matters (like appointments of personal representatives) to be published in general-circulation newspapers, not just legal periodicals, to improve accessibility and reduce delays. The changes directly affect the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (task force timeline) and residents/estate lawyers handling probate cases in D.C. The resolution was passed as an emergency measure to align with practical implementation needs.

This resolution authorizes the District of Columbia to issue up to $1.81 billion in bonds (including income tax secured, general obligation, and anticipation notes) to fund capital projects approved in the District's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and Financial Plan. It is an emergency measure to enable timely bond issuance for projects already underway or planned, ensuring access to favorable market conditions without requiring a full legislative process. The resolution itself does not create new policy but provides the procedural authorization for borrowing.

This is a procedural confirmation resolution, not a substantive bill. It formally confirms Mayor Bowser's appointment of Brad Belzak as an alternate member of the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Board, filling a vacancy left by Victoria Wassmer. The resolution specifies Belzak will serve until February 9, 2029, and requires the Council to adopt it for the appointment to take effect. No policy changes or mechanisms are involved - this is solely a personnel confirmation.

This resolution (PR 26-0336) extends the Streatery Program, which allows restaurants to serve alcohol on expanded outdoor spaces, through December 31, 2025. It also clarifies deadline requirements for medical cannabis license holders and applicants. The resolution addresses a timing gap: a temporary emergency law (D.C. Act 26-117) expires October 19, 2025, while a pending bill (Bill 26-300) requires a 30-day review period. The resolution ensures no interruption in program access during this transition. It directly affects licensed restaurants using outdoor seating and medical cannabis license applicants.

PR 26-0331 is an emergency resolution approving a 5-year contract (Contract No. CW124879) with Modaxo Traffic Management USA, Inc. for $100,457,950.38 to process parking and traffic violation tickets for the District of Columbia from October 2025 through October 2030. This contract directly affects the District's traffic management operations and Modaxo as the vendor, ensuring uninterrupted ticket processing services. The resolution bypasses standard procurement review under emergency provisions to maintain essential traffic enforcement functions.

This resolution extends the expiration dates for conditional licenses held by medical cannabis businesses in Washington, D.C., including cultivation centers, retailers, manufacturers, couriers, and testing laboratories. It changes the license term from 2 years to 4 years, giving current license holders additional time to secure permanent facilities and operational locations. The extension applies retroactively from June 28, 2025, to prevent expirations that would disrupt the legal market. This aims to stabilize the medical cannabis supply chain as the District addresses growing demand and supports businesses facing challenges in facility setup and capital access.

This resolution declares an emergency to expedite several amendments to existing District of Columbia laws, bypassing standard legislative review. It directly affects residents and agencies by: (1) allowing Metropolitan Police Department officer applicants to count certain college credits toward education requirements; (2) clarifying court procedures for sealing certain criminal records; and (3) updating rules for handling fare evasion citations and pretrial detention policies. The resolution cites urgent needs to resolve legal gaps, prevent system inefficiencies, and align with prior legislation like the Peace DC Omnibus Amendment Act. It is procedural in nature, enabling immediate implementation of these technical adjustments without new policy creation.

This emergency resolution amends two existing laws to streamline operations for the District Waterways Management Office (ODWM) and its Advisory Commission. It changes the mayoral appointment process for Commission members to align with similar bodies (reducing active approval time from 90 to 45 days), adds the Department of Parks and Recreation as a non-voting Commission member, adjusts meeting frequency from monthly to bi-monthly, and extends the timeline for developing and updating the Advisory Plan from 2 to 3 years. These changes directly affect ODWM staff, Commission members, and stakeholders involved in planning the Anacostia and Potomac River areas. The resolution aims to provide more realistic timelines for plan development and improve Commission engagement.

This resolution clarifies that DC Water may charge property owners - including those not connected to the sewer system (like parking lot owners) - an impervious area charge (CRIAC) to fund the Clean Rivers Project. The charge helps pay for upgrades to the District’s combined sewer system, mandated by a federal consent order, to reduce stormwater overflows during heavy rain. It addresses legal challenges questioning whether non-sewer-connected properties should pay the CRIAC, affirming the Council’s intent to spread the cost equitably. The resolution is an emergency measure to maintain this authority after temporary legislation expired.

This resolution declares an emergency to prevent a legal gap between two temporary laws affecting the District of Columbia's Volunteer Services Act. It ensures the Attorney General for the District maintains authority to regulate volunteer use during a transition period, specifically between the expiration of the "Volunteer Services Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025" (effective until November 9, 2025) and the implementation of the "Temporary Amendment Act." The resolution does not change the law itself but authorizes immediate adoption to avoid disruption in oversight of volunteer programs. It directly affects the District's Attorney General and their ability to manage volunteer-related regulations.

This resolution confirms Dr. Abidemi Oyedele's appointment to the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), filling a vacant seat left by Reginald Felton. It directs the Council to formally approve her appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term ending May 15, 2029. As a procedural resolution (not a policy bill), it has no direct policy impact beyond confirming a board member, which affects UDC governance and operations.