B 26-0765 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Restoration of Covenanted Roads and Alleys by the District Government Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This bill clarifies the District of Columbia government's authority to repair or restore private roads and alleys used for trash collection. It allows the Mayor to enter these properties and make necessary repairs if the owner has not agreed to maintain them and has signed a liability release. The legislation also requires the Mayor to attempt to obtain liability releases from other nearby property owners before proceeding with any work. These changes are intended to ensure that essential trash removal vehicles can safely pass through private rights-of-way that are in poor condition.

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jul 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

Jul 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jul 13, 2026 Signed Jul 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was finalized as an emergency act to clarify the District's authority to repair private driveways used for trash collection. The main change adds a requirement that property owners must consent to the repair and sign a liability release before the District can proceed, replacing a previous clause that allowed the Mayor to impose other conditions. The bill also removed the Mayor's ability to impose additional terms and conditions on the repair process.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on repairing private rights-of-way used for District trash removal, but the conditions for doing so have been tightened to require explicit owner consent and a liability release.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that the property owner must consent to the repair and provide a release of liability and indemnification before the District can enter the property.

Removed the Mayor's ability to impose 'such other conditions as the Mayor deems appropriate' on the repair process.

Changed the pre-repair process to require the Mayor to obtain a liability release from the property owner, rather than just attempting to obtain it.

Floor votes · Council Jul 14, 2026

How they voted

12–1

Passed

Total votes 13

Jul 14, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1 Nay

90% 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

Jul 14, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (12-1)

council

Jul 13, 2026

Introduced

B26-0765 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors