B 26-0414 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Community Health Amendment Act of 2025

The Community Health Amendment Act of 2025 allows pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Washington, D.C., to order and administer vaccines without a prescription, directly affecting residents, visitors, and workers who receive vaccinations at pharmacies. It replaces the requirement to follow only CDC guidelines with a provision permitting vaccines based on guidelines from CDC or any "competent medical or public health organization" designated by D.C. Health through public notice. This permanently codifies emergency measures approved in September 2025 that temporarily expanded vaccine access during federal uncertainty. The bill does not address insurance coverage, which remains covered under separate insurance guidelines.
Sub-Topics: Prescription Drugs
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Dec 2025
Council Passage
Jan 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Oct 6, 2025 Signed Apr 3, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 1 edit
MINOR
The bill was finalized and renamed from the 'Community Health Amendment Act of 2025' to the 'Community Health Amendment Act of 2026' to reflect the current year. The core policy content regarding who can order vaccines and the specific guidelines used remains identical to the previous version.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it applies to the same healthcare providers and uses the same medical guidelines.
TIMELINE

The act's citation year was updated from 2025 to 2026 to align with the current legislative session.

Floor votes · Council Jan 6, 2026

How they voted

11–0
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 12
Jan 6, 2026
D Democratic11
10 Yea 1
90% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
16
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Jan 6, 2026
Council · Passed
Council Vote: pass (11-0-1)
council
Dec 8, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Committee Mark-up of B26-0414 by the Health Committee
legislature
Oct 7, 2025
Committee
Referred to Committee on Health
legislature
Oct 6, 2025
Introduced
B26-0414 Introduced by Councilmember Henderson at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Christina Henderson
Christina Henderson
IIndependent
DC
At-Large