B 26-0164 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Rebalancing Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act of 2025

The RENTAL Act of 2025 (B 26-0164) aims to stabilize Washington, D.C.'s affordable housing market by modifying pandemic-era housing policies. It directly affects low-income tenants (expanding eligibility for rent assistance to households earning up to 50% of area median income), landlords, and housing authorities. Key provisions include increasing Local Rent Supplement Program access, reforming emergency rental aid rules, strengthening tenant safety protections for violent offenses, streamlining eviction court processes, and preserving the DC Housing Authority's STAR Board structure. The bill also modernizes tenant protection laws and gives housing officials new authority to convert vacant properties into affordable housing.

Issues: ✓ Housing

Sub-Topics: Tenant Rights Renters Landlords

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jul 2025

Council Passage

Oct 2025

Signed into Law

Jan 2026

Introduced Mar 3, 2025 Signed Jan 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and renamed from the 'RENTAL Act' to the 'RENTAL Amendment Act' to reflect that it modifies existing laws rather than creating entirely new ones. The most significant substantive change is the reorganization of eviction procedures: the notice period for nonpayment evictions was reduced from 30 days to 10 days, and the notice must now be sent via certified mail or hand delivery instead of just regular mail. Additionally, the section detailing expedited evictions for dangerous crimes was moved to a new Title, clarifying that tenants can defend against eviction if they did not know about the crime or took reasonable steps to prevent it.

Scope change

The bill's scope was reorganized by splitting the original single title into two distinct titles: one for public safety evictions and one for general court eviction procedures. The applicability of the expedited eviction process for dangerous crimes was clarified to include specific tenant defenses.

TIMELINE

The required notice period for evictions due to nonpayment was reduced from 30 days to 10 days.

REQUIREMENT

The method for serving nonpayment eviction notices was updated to require certified mail with tracking or hand delivery.

ELIGIBILITY

New defenses were added for tenants facing eviction due to dangerous crimes, allowing them to argue they were unaware of the crime or took reasonable steps to prevent it.

TECHNICAL

The bill's title was changed from 'RENTAL Act' to 'RENTAL Amendment Act' to accurately describe its function as an amendment to existing statutes.

STRUCTURE

The bill's structure was reorganized, moving the dangerous crime eviction provisions into a new Title I and renaming the general procedures section to Title II.

Floor votes · Council Oct 21, 2025

How they voted

10–3

Passed

Total votes 13

Oct 21, 2025

D Democratic11

8 Yea 3 Nay

72% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Oct 21, 2025

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (10-3)

council

Oct 21, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (Bonds)

legislature

Oct 21, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (LGeorge)

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Nadeau, L.George, Mendelson Amendment

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Agendized; not considered at the request of L. George Amendment #2

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

R. White Amendment # 1

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Mendelson Amendment

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Reconsideration of Bonds Amendment #2 (Parker)

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

T. White Amendment #2

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

T. White Amendment #1

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

L. George Amendment #1

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Bonds Amendment #2

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Bonds Amendment #1

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Frumin Amendment #4 - WITHDRAWN

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Frumin Amendment #3

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Frumin Amendment #2 - WITHDRAWN

legislature

Sep 17, 2025

Introduced

Frumin Amendment #1 - WITHDRAWN

legislature

Jul 28, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (LGeorge)

legislature

Jul 28, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (Frumin #2)

legislature

Jul 28, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (Frumin #1)

legislature

Jul 9, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0164 by the Housing Committee

legislature

Mar 25, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0164 by the Human Services Committee

legislature

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Housing, Committee on Human Services, and Committee of the Whole

legislature

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

B26-0164 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors