Housing

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature May 28, 2025

B 26-0141: Eviction Reform Amendment Act of 2025

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.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly protects tenants via court dismissal of weak cases, requires landlord documentation, and forces rent payments into court registry to prevent unjust evictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Landlords Renters Tenant Rights

Track

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Apr 25, 2025

B 26-0196: Tenant Payment Plan Phasing Emergency Act of 2025

This bill requires landlords and property owners (referred to as "providers") to maintain any rent payment plans agreed upon with eligible tenants between March 11, 2020, and July 25, 2022, due to pandemic-related financial hardship. It prohibits providers from charging fees, interest, or penalties for these plans, reporting rent as delinquent to credit bureaus, or evicting tenants who comply with the plan during the covered period. The law directly affects residential tenants and small commercial tenants (occupying less than 6,500 sq. ft.) who entered payment agreements during the pandemic, ensuring they retain lease rights and access to online/phone application processes. Landlords must approve applications demonstrating pandemic hardship and cannot deny plans based on pre-pandemic payment issues.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits fees/penalties on pandemic-era rent plans, protects tenants from eviction for compliant payment plans during crisis, directly strengthening tenant protections in housing policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Renters

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 11, 2025

B 26-0283: Georgia Avenue Acquisition Authority Emergency Act of 2025

This bill authorizes the District of Columbia Mayor to immediately acquire six specific properties (Lots 809, 840, 841, 842, 843, and 848 in Square 2937) on Georgia Avenue. The properties are facing foreclosure and are at risk of becoming blighted, and the acquisition aims to prevent this while enabling cohesive development adjacent to District-owned Engine 22 fire station. The $2.8 million purchase, funded from the Contingency Cash Reserve Fund, must be completed within 90 days as an emergency measure. The bill directly affects the District government (as acquirer) and the current property owners (as sellers), with no impact on residents or businesses beyond the specific parcels.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAcquires properties to prevent blight and enable housing development adjacent to fire station, directly supporting housing development as defined in the topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mortgages Property Development

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Mar 3, 2026

B 26-0416: Displacement Prevention Amendment Act of 2025

The Displacement Prevention Amendment Act of 2025 increases the maximum amount of the District's Schedule H tax credit for renters and homeowners in four specific census tracts (73.04, 74.04, 98.04, and 104) that have high poverty rates and housing cost burdens. It allows eligible residents in these areas to claim a tax credit up to twice the current maximum, helping them offset housing costs. This targeted relief primarily affects low-income households in Ward 8 - where nearly 58% of residents are rent-burdened - and other high-risk neighborhoods. The bill aims to prevent displacement by providing immediate financial stability for residents most vulnerable to eviction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit max for low-income renters/homeowners in high-poverty areas, providing direct tax relief to offset housing costs.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingIncreases Schedule H tax credit up to double for low-income residents in high-poverty census tracts to offset housing costs, directly advancing affordable housing access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Incentives Affordable Housing Renters Tenant Rights

Track

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Apr 25, 2025

B 26-0193: Foreclosure Moratorium and Homeowner Assistance Fund Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency bill extends foreclosure protections for District of Columbia homeowners who applied for the DC Homeowner Assistance Fund (DC HAF) before September 30, 2022, and whose applications remain pending. It prohibits residential foreclosures, sales, or foreclosure judgments under specific D.C. codes while these applications are under review, pending approval, or under appeal. Mortgage lenders and housing entities must send notices to affected homeowners before foreclosure actions, detailing DC HAF’s availability to cure eligible debts and the September 30, 2022, application deadline. The law ensures homeowners receive documentation to prove their application status and requires updated notice templates on the DC HAF website.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents foreclosures for DC homeowners awaiting HAF assistance, protecting housing stability for vulnerable residents during application review.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homeownership Mortgages

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Jun 13, 2025

PR 26-0214: Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program Protection Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

This resolution declares an emergency to prevent the expiration of temporary protections for participants in Washington D.C.'s Family Re-Housing Stabilization Program (FRSP). It maintains existing due process safeguards that allow families facing housing termination to receive extended assistance if program funding is available and circumstances warrant it. The resolution specifically applies to FRSP participants who would otherwise be exited from the program without approved permanent housing. It does not create new policy but preserves current protections until permanent legislation is enacted.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill maintains temporary protections for FRSP participants, preventing housing termination without permanent housing and preserving due process safeguards, directly strengthening tenant protections and housing stability.95% confidence

Tags Emergency Management

died · District of Columbia · Legislature Jul 9, 2025

B 26-0297: Parkside Canopy Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill exempts specific Heritage Trees in the Parkside mixed-use development project from removal requirements under the Urban Forest Preservation Act. It directly affects the Parkside project (Lots 865-869, Square 5056) by allowing tree removal to proceed without violating heritage tree protections, as the Zoning Commission approved the project before July 1, 2016. The key provision amends the 2002 law to exclude these trees from preservation rules, enabling the development to move forward. The exemption applies only to the specified lots and is structured as an emergency measure.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts heritage trees from preservation rules, weakening urban forest protections for development approval under Urban Forest Preservation Act.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingExempts heritage trees to allow Parkside mixed-use development to proceed, enabling housing construction by removing preservation barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Historic Preservation Property Development Zoning

Track

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Aug 28, 2026

B 26-0157: Langston Slater Surplus Declaration and Disposition Approval Act of 2025

This bill declares District-owned property at 33-45 P Street NW (formerly Langston and Slater Elementary Schools) as surplus and approves its sale to developer Lebanon Village at Langston Slater (CSG Urban Partners and Mount Lebanon CDC). It mandates that the resulting 52-unit mixed-income housing project include at least 30% affordable units and require 35% of construction contracts to go to certified local businesses, with 20% equity participation from those businesses. The property, totaling about 30,000 square feet, will be developed for rental and for-sale residential use under a ground lease (for rentals) and fee-simple sale (for for-sale units). The disposition follows a public engagement process and community input on the property’s future use.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates 30% affordable units in mixed-income housing project, directly advancing affordable housing goals per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development

in committee · District of Columbia · Legislature Mar 3, 2026

B 26-0225: Unlocking Housing at Metro Property Tax Exemption Amendment Act of 2025

This bill waives property taxes for 20 years on qualifying housing developments at Washington Metro stations in the District. To qualify, developments must be part of a WMATA joint development agreement requiring at least half the project to be housing and 75% to be new construction or substantial rehabilitation. The exemption applies to properties currently generating no tax revenue for the District, aiming to unlock transit-oriented development at stations like Congress Heights and Deanwood. It takes effect January 1, 2026, to encourage mixed-use projects that increase housing density near transit hubs.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesBill waives property taxes for 20 years on qualifying developments, reducing potential tax revenue for the District's budget.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingTax exemption incentivizes new housing construction near Metro stations, advancing transit-oriented development to increase housing supply and affordability.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationPromotes transit-oriented development at Metro stations to increase public transit accessibility and ridership, directly advancing transportation infrastructure goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax Revenue Tax Incentives Property Development Property Taxes Zoning

Track

signed · District of Columbia · Legislature Sep 17, 2025

B 26-0333: Housing Authority Resident Empowerment Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill restructures the governing board of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) by adding two resident-elected seats to its nine-member board, directly affecting public housing residents through greater representation. It requires the Mayor to appoint seven board members with specific expertise (e.g., federal housing law, affordable development) every three years, while updating reporting requirements from monthly to quarterly. The bill also revises definitions (like "dwelling unit") and updates terminology to align with current housing authority structure. These changes aim to enhance resident input and governance clarity under the DCHA Act of 1999.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAdds two resident-elected seats to DCHA board, directly enhancing tenant representation and voice in public housing governance, aligning with tenant protection and empowerment indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Development