B 26-0320 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Long Bridge Project Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

This bill temporarily amends the Urban Forest Preservation Act to allow removal of Heritage Trees near the Long Bridge Project (managed by Virginia Passenger Rail Authority) under specific conditions. It requires the Mayor to issue a permit only if: no design alternative avoids the tree, the tree cannot be protected in place, relocation costs exceed $1 million or would cause public burden, and the applicant pays $1,200 per inch of tree circumference. The amendment applies solely to this project and expires 225 days after enactment. It directly affects developers of the Long Bridge Project and the District’s tree preservation enforcement process.
Sub-Topics: Bridges Rail Forestry
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2025
Committee Review
Council Passage
Jul 2025
Signed into Law
Oct 2025
Introduced Jul 11, 2025 Signed Oct 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 2 edits
MINOR
The bill transitioned from its Engrossed version to its Enrolled version with minor formatting and structural changes. The core policy content regarding Heritage Tree removal permits for the Long Bridge Project remains substantively the same, with no changes to eligibility criteria, funding amounts, or requirements.
TECHNICAL

The bill's title and introductory text were reorganized and reformatted for the Enrolled version, with some line breaks and spacing adjustments.

Page numbering and document headers were updated to reflect the Enrolled status, including the addition of signature lines for the Council Chairman and Mayor.

Floor votes · Council Jul 28, 2025

How they voted

12–0
Passed
Total votes 12
Jul 28, 2025
D Democratic10
10 Yea
100% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
1
Committee
0
Jul 28, 2025
Council · Passed
Council Vote: pass (12-0)
council
Jul 11, 2025
Introduced
B26-0320 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Charles Allen
Charles Allen
DDemocratic
DC
Ward 6