District of Columbia Bills

This bill clarifies that voter initiatives in Washington, D.C., cannot bypass the funding process. It requires initiatives to explicitly state they are "subject to appropriations" before being certified, and mandates the Board of Elections to request a fiscal impact statement from the Chief Financial Officer within 15 days. This directly affects citizens proposing initiatives and the Board of Elections, ensuring initiatives align with the 1978 Home Rule Act’s original intent that initiatives cannot require funding without proper budget approval. The bill does not change what initiatives can propose, only the procedural requirement for funding alignment.

This bill allows certain entertainment establishments - specifically those with Class C (serving spirits) or Class D (beer/wine only) alcohol licenses that operate 24 hours or are open at 3:00 am at least twice weekly - to refuse cash payments if they display clear written notice on their door or menu. It amends a 2020 law prohibiting cash refusal, addressing safety concerns raised by businesses about robbery risks. The change recognizes increased use of contactless payments (17.9 billion transactions in 2023) and aims to balance employee safety with access for cash-dependent customers. Only eligible businesses may choose this option, and the law does not require all establishments to adopt it.

This bill reforms Washington D.C.'s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA), which gives tenants the right to buy their building during a sale. It directly affects tenants in existing rental buildings, building owners, and new developers. Key changes include exempting new apartment buildings from TOPA for three years after construction, creating certification requirements for tenant support organizations and qualified buyers, clarifying sale notice procedures, and establishing a public transparency portal for TOPA transactions. These updates aim to streamline the process while preserving tenants' purchase rights and addressing concerns about delays.

This bill, the Eviction Reform Amendment Act of 2025 (B 26-0141), changes District of Columbia eviction procedures to better protect tenants and clarify landlord rights. It gives courts discretion to dismiss eviction cases lacking sufficient facts or documentation, and requires landlords seeking eviction for nonpayment to request a "protective order" at the first hearing, forcing tenants to pay rent directly into court registry until the case concludes. The bill also creates an expedited process for landlords to evict tenants involved in violent criminal activity on the premises (with a 10-day notice and 20-day court hearing), while allowing tenants who are victims of domestic violence to use police reports or protection orders as a defense. These changes directly affect tenants facing eviction and landlords seeking to regain possession of rental units.

The Justice-Involved Youth in Community Act of 2025 creates a program pairing youth on Deferred Disposition Agreements (DDAs), Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs), or Consent Decrees (CDs) with "Trusted Adults" for support during their agreements. It directly affects youth in these programs - 443 were active in 2023 - with a focus on high-risk cases. The Trusted Adult provides practical help with school, transportation, healthcare access, and social services, while requiring monthly coordination between the adult, probation officers, and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to track compliance. The program limits initial participation to 50 youth and mandates that noncompliance still leads to prosecution under existing terms.

This bill creates a 10-point hiring preference for District government jobs for people who complete qualifying transitional employment programs like Project Empowerment. It requires job postings to clearly state this preference and standardizes criminal history reviews to include only convictions and pending charges. The bill also mandates that applicants denied jobs receive written explanations of the denial, appeal steps, and reapplication dates. Additionally, it requires annual reports on hiring practices for returning citizens. These changes aim to improve transparency and fairness in hiring for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking District government employment.

This bill amends the District of Columbia's Universal Paid Leave Act to expand eligibility for paid leave benefits. It allows workers who are unemployed (and not receiving unemployment benefits) to qualify for leave, which previously required current employment. The change specifically adds this new eligibility category to the law's requirements and clarifies that individuals receiving unemployment benefits cannot also claim paid leave for the same period. This directly affects District workers between jobs who are not on unemployment insurance but need leave for qualifying events like childbirth or medical care.

This bill amends the Youth Employment Act of 1979 to allow participants in the Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) to count their program participation toward retirement credit if they later become District government employees. Specifically, SYEP service will be credited from the participant's enrollment date for those who complete the program and join the District workforce, as defined in the bill. It also updates the District's personnel act to reflect this change in retirement credit calculation. The bill directly affects SYEP participants who transition to District government jobs by expanding their eligibility for retirement benefits.

The "Kidnapping Amendment Act of 2025" (Bill B 26-0203) updates Washington D.C.'s kidnapping statute to close gaps identified by a 2024 court ruling. It defines "substantial confinement or movement" as moving someone 20+ feet or confining them for 10+ minutes, ensuring short-duration incidents (like a 20-minute vehicle transport) qualify as kidnapping. The bill expands second-degree kidnapping to cover intent to commit any crime (not just felonies), creates a new misdemeanor offense for less severe restraints (up to 180 days), and clarifies jury requirements for intent. These changes directly affect individuals committing kidnapping or restraint offenses and victims in such incidents across the District.