Councilmember Christina Henderson

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures couples can obtain marriage licenses in Washington, D.C., during federal government shutdowns. It authorizes the Mayor to temporarily issue marriage licenses and manage related duties when the Superior Court (which normally handles licenses) cannot operate due to a shutdown. The Mayor would use modified forms and maintain records during these periods, while the Court resumes full responsibility afterward. This directly affects engaged couples, families, and wedding officiants who previously faced uncertainty during shutdowns, which have occurred frequently in recent years.

Maddy summaryThe Medical Debt Mitigation Amendment Act of 2025 targets medical debt affecting nearly 90,000 District residents (20% of all residents) by requiring healthcare facilities to strengthen financial assistance policies with uniform income eligibility and clear cost estimates before treatment. It prohibits reporting medical debt to credit bureaus, bans wage garnishments and home liens for such debt, and mandates payment plans for low-income patients. The bill also restricts medical lending promotions and caps out-of-pocket costs relative to insurance rates. Enforcement will be handled by DC Health and the Office of the Attorney General to ensure compliance with these debt mitigation measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the District of Columbia Department of Health to create a digital system for submitting student health and dental certificates while banning healthcare providers from charging fees for these forms. It directly affects families of students in public and private schools by eliminating the current financial and logistical burden of obtaining and submitting paper forms, as well as reducing the risk of lost documentation. Additionally, the legislation mandates a new tiered fee structure for health professional licensing that aligns costs with the education level required for each profession. These changes aim to modernize the registration process and encourage more entry-level health workers to practice in the District.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily allows certain retail and restaurant businesses in Washington, D.C., to refuse cash payments as a form of payment. It specifically applies to establishments with Class C or Class D licenses and restaurants that operate 24 hours a day or at least two days a week after 3:00 am. To implement this change, businesses must display clear, written notices on their doors or menus stating that cash is not accepted. The law includes a sunset provision, meaning it will automatically expire 225 days after it takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a District of Columbia law to allow certain retail stores and restaurants to refuse cash payments. It specifically applies to businesses with Class C or D licenses and restaurants that operate 24 hours a day or stay open until 3:00 am at least two days a week. To implement this change, establishments must display clear, written notices at their doors or on menus stating that cash is not accepted. The legislation is designed to provide additional safety options for employees in late-night entertainment venues by reducing the need to handle cash.

Maddy summaryThe Rodent Education and Management Yields Results Amendment Act of 2026 aims to reduce rodent populations in Washington, D.C., by addressing food sources and limiting the misuse of poisons. The bill creates a pilot program that offers grants to Business Improvement Districts and Main Streets to help commercial businesses purchase and install rodent-proof dumpsters in areas with high infestation rates. Additionally, it requires that anyone selling or using anticoagulant rodenticides must be trained and certified as a pesticide applicator to protect children, pets, and wildlife from accidental poisoning. Finally, the legislation mandates that the Department of Health conduct public education campaigns to teach residents about effective prevention methods and the health risks associated with improper rodent control.

Maddy summaryThis resolution extends an emergency declaration to allow certain retail and restaurant businesses in Washington, D.C., to refuse cash payments. It directly affects establishments with specific Class C or Class D licenses, as well as locations that operate 24 hours or stay open until 3:00 am at least twice a week. The bill requires these businesses to post a clear notice on their doors or menus stating that cash is not accepted. This temporary measure keeps the policy in place until a permanent version of the bill is fully processed by the relevant committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that the District of Columbia's Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) must cover and reimburse remote patient monitoring for specific health metrics during pregnancy and up to 12 months postpartum. It specifically requires coverage for remote monitoring of blood pressure and blood glucose levels, directly affecting pregnant individuals and new mothers in DC who manage conditions like gestational hypertension (8.5% prevalence) or gestational diabetes (5% prevalence). The amendment narrows the scope of the 2013 Telehealth Reimbursement Act to focus exclusively on these two health metrics, addressing prior budget concerns about broad digital health coverage. This change aims to improve maternal health outcomes by enabling early complication detection, as supported by studies showing 43% better postpartum blood pressure control with such monitoring.

Maddy summaryThe Judith Heumann Memorial Workers with Disabilities Act of 2025 would create a District of Columbia program allowing employed residents with disabilities to maintain Medicaid health coverage while earning income above current eligibility limits. It establishes a "Medicaid Buy-In" system where participants pay modest monthly premiums based on income relative to the Federal Poverty Level, avoiding the current dilemma where people earning over $1,305/month (single) or $1,763/month (two-person household) lose Medicaid coverage. Eligible individuals must be DC residents aged 16-64 with a federally defined disability, currently employed (with a temporary unemployment grace period), and enrolled through the Department of Health Care Finance. The program includes hardship exemptions for premium payments and allows "Independence Accounts" for savings toward self-sufficiency expenses, while participants receive standard Medicaid health services through participating providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Smoke-Free Residential Environments Amendment Act of 2026, prohibits indoor smoking in multifamily housing (buildings with two or more dwelling units) and smoking within 25 feet of entrances or windows when others are present. It directly affects residents and landlords in such buildings by requiring landlords to include smoke-free notices in new leases and inform existing tenants. Key mechanisms include mandating uniform smoke-free standards across all multifamily properties, addressing health risks from secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure through shared walls and ventilation systems. The law closes a gap in DC’s existing smoking restrictions, which previously did not cover residential buildings despite documented health impacts like asthma and cancer.