Smoke-Free Residential Environments Amendment Act of 2026

This bill, the Smoke-Free Residential Environments Amendment Act of 2026, prohibits indoor smoking in multifamily housing (buildings with two or more dwelling units) and smoking within 25 feet of entrances or windows when others are present. It directly affects residents and landlords in such buildings by requiring landlords to include smoke-free notices in new leases and inform existing tenants. Key mechanisms include mandating uniform smoke-free standards across all multifamily properties, addressing health risks from secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure through shared walls and ventilation systems. The law closes a gap in DC’s existing smoking restrictions, which previously did not cover residential buildings despite documented health impacts like asthma and cancer.