PR 26-0413 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Porchfest Permitting Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution declares an emergency to temporarily amend the Block Party Act for the 2025 PorchFest events. It clarifies that individual residents hosting musical performances on their porches as part of neighborhood PorchFest gatherings (like Petworth and Adams Morgan) qualify for standard block party permits - not costly special event permits. The resolution prevents permit denials for these volunteer-led events, ensuring they can proceed this spring without complex or expensive applications. It’s a temporary measure until permanent legislative changes are finalized.

Tags: Emergency Management

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Council Passage

Dec 2025

Signed into Law

Dec 2025

Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Signed Dec 2, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 3 edits

MINOR

This document shows the transition of a proposed resolution into an enrolled bill version. The main substantive change is in Section 3, where the resolution name changed from 'Porchfest Permitting Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025' to 'Porchfest Permitting Emergency Amendment Act of 2025' to reflect that it will amend the Block Party Act. The enrolled version also includes a resolution number (26-280) and shows the bill has passed through the Council's enrollment process.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains the same - it addresses Porchfest events and their eligibility for block party permits. The change is primarily procedural, indicating the bill has been enrolled and is ready for the Mayor's signature.

TECHNICAL

Section 3 was modified to change the document title from 'Resolution' to 'Amendment Act' to reflect that this emergency declaration will result in an amendment to the Block Party Act of 2012 rather than just a standalone resolution.

Resolution number 26-280 was added to identify this enrolled bill within the District's legislative numbering system.

Formatting changes reflect the enrolled version's standard layout, including page numbering and header information indicating this is the 'ENROLLED ORIGINAL' version.

Floor votes · Council Dec 2, 2025

How they voted

12–1

Passed

Total votes 13

Dec 2, 2025

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

1 Yea 1 Nay

50% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 2, 2025

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (12-1)

council

Dec 1, 2025

Introduced

PR26-0413 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors