District of Columbia Bills

This resolution confirms Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointment of Dr. Jimmy Ortiz to fill a vacant seat on the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) Board of Directors. It specifically appoints Ortiz, a Ward 6 resident with experience in government relations and sustainability, to serve the remainder of an unexpired term ending September 12, 2026. The resolution follows standard confirmation procedures under District law for board appointments. It directly affects DC Water's governance structure and the nominee's official role on the board.

This bill establishes a one-year pilot program targeting secondary schools in Washington, D.C., with truancy rates exceeding 50% in 2023-2024. It requires these schools to refer students aged 14-17 who accumulate 15 unexcused absences to the Department of Human Services (DHS) within two school days. DHS must then provide interventions, document reasons for absences (like housing instability), and publish two reports by March and August 2025 comparing attendance, academic performance, and arrest rates before and after referrals. Participating schools are exempt from standard truancy reporting requirements for students in this age group during the pilot.

This bill creates a temporary "Stabilization and Reform Board" to govern the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA), replacing its previous governing board. The new board requires 9 voting members with specific expertise (including housing development, affordable housing, federal regulations, and resident/voucher holder perspectives) and includes non-voting members from key city offices. It directly affects DCHA operations and the 50,000+ residents living in DCHA-managed housing by mandating the board to take specific actions to reform and revitalize the agency. The bill establishes this structure as an emergency measure to address DCHA's operational challenges.

This bill updates Washington, D.C.'s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) by requiring tenants to provide specific documentation (such as proof of job loss or medical costs) to qualify for rental assistance, with an option for an unsworn statement under penalty of perjury if documentation isn't available. It changes eviction procedures to allow courts to delay evictions for tenants with pending ERAP applications (rather than mandating a stay) and requires landlords to reschedule evictions if a tenant has an approved ERAP application covering the rent. The bill also creates a defense for tenants in eviction cases if landlords fail to follow ERAP application rules during the process.

This bill requires the District of Columbia Department of Corrections to provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) under federal special education law and District regulations to young adults with disabilities who are in its custody or detained in secure facilities. It specifically applies to individuals aged 18 and older during the 2024-2025 school year, covering their education until they reach the end of their eligibility under federal and District law. The bill amends two existing laws to add this requirement as a new provision, effective May 30, 2025, for one school year. This change directly affects incarcerated young adults with disabilities and the Department of Corrections' educational responsibilities.

This bill approves emergency modifications to an existing fuel supply contract between the District of Columbia and Mansfield Oil Company. It authorizes payment of up to $6.3 million for fuel delivered under Modifications 4, 5, and 6 to Contract CW88823, covering option year three of the agreement for fuel storage sites across the District. The bill bypasses standard procurement rules under emergency procedures to finalize payments for goods already received and to be received. It directly affects the District government (as the buyer) and Mansfield Oil Company (as the contractor), with no new policy changes beyond contract administration.

This bill (B 26-0268) amends the Homeless Services Reform Act to allow participants in the Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program (FRSP) to request extensions beyond the standard 12-month program period under specific conditions. It requires the Department of Human Services to consider the "totality of the circumstances," including a participant’s progress toward housing goals and lack of approved permanently affordable housing, when reviewing extension requests. Extensions can be granted in 6-month increments with 3-month reviews, and denials must include a 30-day written notice with appeal rights. The bill directly affects families in the FRSP struggling to achieve housing stability without permanent affordable housing solutions.

This emergency bill amends District of Columbia law to extend the deadline for contractors providing health benefits to District government employees and their families to submit subcontracting plans. It directly affects health benefit contractors bidding on city contracts by allowing bids without a subcontracting plan to be considered responsive. The key change adds a new provision requiring subcontracting plans to be submitted before the plan year begins, rather than at the time of bid. This adjustment aims to streamline the contracting process for health benefits while maintaining compliance with local hiring requirements.

The Tipped Minimum Wage Increase Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 delays the next scheduled increase in the District of Columbia's tipped minimum wage from July 1, 2025, to October 1, 2025. This affects tipped workers, such as restaurant servers and bartenders, and their employers by postponing when the new wage rate would take effect. The bill amends the Minimum Wage Act Revision Act of 1992 to change the effective date provision, explicitly stating the increase cannot occur before October 1, 2025. As an emergency measure, it will take effect immediately upon approval and remain in force for up to 90 days.

This bill extends the deadline for housing providers to register rental properties from 90 to 180 days after a new rent control database launches. It directly affects landlords and property owners in Washington, D.C., particularly those with units not subject to rent stabilization. The key change requires these owners to report current monthly rent and the rent for each of the previous two calendar years when they register. This reporting is only required at registration time, with no ongoing annual requirements. The bill aims to provide more time for compliance while adding specific rent history data collection for exempt properties.

This bill approves modifications to a contract with Umbrella Therapeutic Services, Inc., authorizing $2.6 million for pre- and post-transitional care services for youth in the District of Columbia's juvenile justice system. It specifically covers the third option year of the contract, extending services for youth aged 10-18 who have been arrested or failed probation. The contract provides residential care alternatives to secure detention through fixed daily rates based on facility capacity. The payment authorization covers services already received and to be delivered through March 2026.

This emergency resolution approves the Ninth Master Agreement between the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) and its faculty union (UDC Faculty Association/NEA) for the period October 2022-September 2025. It establishes new salary structures with discipline-specific pay bands for faculty ranks (e.g., Professor, Associate Professor), includes a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for fiscal year 2025, and provides longevity-based "continuity pay" increases (1.5%-7.5% based on years of service). The agreement directly affects approximately 214 UDC faculty members and will cost UDC $3.8 million in fiscal year 2025, totaling $14.8 million over the agreement period. The resolution bypasses standard legislative timelines to implement these compensation terms urgently.