District of Columbia Bills

This bill temporarily amends local regulations to officially ratify and adopt a series of sign rules previously issued by city officials between 2014 and 2020. The law incorporates these specific rules into the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, ensuring they remain in effect unless later changed or if emergency rules expire. It clarifies how sign rules are created and explicitly bans off-premises advertising, while also preventing criminal penalties for violations that occurred before November 2, 2022.

This temporary bill clarifies the rules for medical cannabis patients in the District of Columbia by defining "another jurisdiction" to include all U.S. states, territories, and foreign countries. It expands access for non-residents by allowing them to use District-issued cards for dental treatment and other medical needs, while also authorizing the cannabis board to issue patient and caregiver registration cards without a fee. The law is designed to expire automatically after 225 days, ensuring these changes remain in effect only for a limited period.

This bill allows the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development to extend financial assistance for the Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program beyond the standard 12-month limit. To qualify for an extension, participants must demonstrate a good faith effort toward their housing goals and not yet have secured permanent affordable housing. The program will grant these extensions in increments of no more than six months, with formal reviews every three months to ensure continued progress. Additionally, if an extension request is denied, participants will receive written notice explaining the reason and retaining the right to appeal the decision while their services continue pending the outcome.

This bill creates a temporary pilot program in the District of Columbia to address student truancy by allowing five high schools with high absence rates to refer students aged 14 to 17 to the Department of Human Services. Under the new rules, schools must refer a student to the department no later than two days after the student accumulates 15 unexcused absences in a school year, and participating schools are exempt from standard compulsory attendance requirements for these referred students. The Department of Human Services is required to provide services to these students and submit detailed reports by March and August 2025 analyzing the reasons for absences, the interventions used, and the impact on attendance and academic performance. This measure is designed to test whether connecting chronically absent students with social services improves their school attendance and academic outcomes.

This resolution appoints Nakeisha Neal Jones as a voting member of the District of Columbia's Commission on Health Equity to replace Alicia Wilson. The appointment is effective immediately and serves a three-year term ending on July 7, 2027. The Council will send a copy of the resolution to the appointee, the commission chair, and the Mayor's office once adopted. This procedural bill does not change health policies but rather fills a specific leadership vacancy within the existing commission structure.

This resolution appoints Dr. Nura Green Lane as a nonvoting community advisory member representing Ward 7 to the District of Columbia's Commission on Health Equity. The appointment is effective immediately and remains in force until the Council decides otherwise. The Council must send a copy of this resolution to Dr. Green Lane, the commission chair, and the Mayor's office once it is adopted.

This resolution appoints Kimberly Burrowes as a voting member of the District of Columbia's Commission on Health Equity, replacing Dr. Christopher King to serve a three-year term ending in July 2027. The Council of the District of Columbia will formally notify the appointee, the commission chair, and the Mayor's office once the resolution is adopted. Burrowes, who works with the Urban Institute on research related to racial equity in housing and public spaces, brings expertise in community engagement and urban development to the role. This appointment is an administrative action that adds a new member to an existing committee established by previous legislation.

This resolution reappoints Dr. Delia L. Houseal as a voting member of the Commission on Health Equity in the District of Columbia. The bill extends her current service to a three-year term ending on July 7, 2027, ensuring her continued role in the body established to address health disparities in the region. Upon approval, the Council will send copies of the resolution to Dr. Houseal, the commission chair, and the Mayor's office. This action is an administrative procedure that maintains the commission's membership without altering its existing powers or responsibilities.

This ceremonial resolution honors the FRESHFARM H Street NE Market on its 20th anniversary and acknowledges its upcoming switch to year-round operations in 2025. The bill formally recognizes the market's history as a vital community hub that has provided fresh food access since 2004, including pioneering programs like SNAP/EBT acceptance and food donation drives. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as an official record of the market's contributions to local food security and community resilience.

This ceremonial resolution honors Joseph "Joe" Jackson, a community leader and artist in Washington, D.C.'s Ward 8, for his courage and contributions to the district. The bill formally recognizes his personal achievements, including overcoming a past prison sentence to become a successful GoGo music entrepreneur and youth advocate who founded local music programs and businesses. It also specifically highlights his heroic actions in March 2019 when he helped rescue an elderly woman from a vehicle that caught fire. The measure does not create new laws or funding but serves to publicly acknowledge his bravery and dedication to the community.