Consumer Protection Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2024

This bill clarifies that the District of Columbia government and its agencies are not considered "merchants" under local consumer protection laws, with one specific exception for the District of Columbia Housing Authority when it acts as a landlord. The legislation updates the legal definition of a merchant to explicitly exclude government entities, ensuring that standard consumer rules do not apply to the District's general operations or employees acting in their official capacities. While the District Housing Authority remains subject to these consumer protections in its landlord-tenant relationships, the change does not grant new rights or impose new duties on the government. The law is temporary and will expire 225 days after it takes effect, serving only to resolve a legal ambiguity regarding the District's status under existing statutes.