Councilmember Christina Henderson

Maddy summaryThe Surveillance Pricing Prohibition Amendment Act of 2026 prohibits companies in the District of Columbia from using personal data to charge different prices for the same goods or services. It achieves this by legally defining 'surveillance-based price discrimination' as setting prices based on information gathered through electronic surveillance, such as device tracking or biometric monitoring, and classifying this practice as an unfair trade activity. This law directly affects digital marketplaces and other businesses that currently use consumer data to manipulate pricing, ensuring that quoted prices reflect market value rather than individual customer profiles.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent funding source for Washington, D.C.'s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and related behavioral health services by imposing a modest monthly fee on telecommunications services (landlines, wireless, prepaid, VoIP). The fee structure mirrors the existing E911 charge, generating an estimated $12.5 million annually from D.C.'s 16.3 million telecom lines. Revenue will fund three key crisis response components: the 24/7 988 hotline, mobile crisis teams (CRT and ChAMPS), and crisis stabilization facilities. The legislation replaces temporary federal grants with a dedicated "988 Fund" within the Department of Behavioral Health, ensuring sustainable operations and reducing reliance on volatile budget allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the District of Columbia's College Savings Plan by requiring the Chief Financial Officer to periodically review and adjust the maximum contribution limit to keep pace with rising education costs. It directly affects District residents who use the savings plan to fund higher education for themselves or their dependents. The key provision mandates that the maximum limit be revised every five years starting in 2027, using a formula based on tuition, fees, room and board at the 10 most expensive regional colleges, along with federal financing limits. The bill also requires the Chief Financial Officer to publish the actuarial estimates used to determine any limit increases, ensuring transparency in how the cap is adjusted.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all District of Columbia colleges and universities to implement specific protections and resources for students experiencing sexual misconduct. Key provisions include mandating a confidential resource advisor (CRA) at each institution to provide trauma-informed support, amnesty for students reporting misconduct related to minor policy violations (e.g., underage drinking), and annual mandatory training for all students on consent, bystander intervention, and reporting resources. Institutions must also establish minimum policy standards, provide trauma-informed training for staff handling cases, and allow academic accommodations for students reporting misconduct. The bill directly affects students - particularly women, transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary students - by improving access to confidential support and clear reporting pathways.

Maddy summaryThe Community Health Amendment Act of 2025 allows pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in Washington, D.C., to order and administer vaccines without a prescription, directly affecting residents, visitors, and workers who receive vaccinations at pharmacies. It replaces the requirement to follow only CDC guidelines with a provision permitting vaccines based on guidelines from CDC or any "competent medical or public health organization" designated by D.C. Health through public notice. This permanently codifies emergency measures approved in September 2025 that temporarily expanded vaccine access during federal uncertainty. The bill does not address insurance coverage, which remains covered under separate insurance guidelines.

Maddy summaryThe Lowering the Cost of Prescription Drugs Act of 2026 (B 26-0593) authorizes the Mayor to partner with ArrayRX, a multi-state prescription drug discount program, to create a citywide drug discount card program for all District residents. This program would provide access to lower-cost prescription drugs regardless of insurance status (public, private, or none), expanding beyond existing targeted laws like the Insulin Affordability Act. The key mechanism is a cooperative purchasing agreement that leverages collective buying power to secure deeper discounts than individual consumers could achieve. It directly affects all DC residents facing high drug costs, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket expenses for medications. The bill does not alter insurance coverage but creates a new access point through this partnership.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a centralized Medicaid credentialing system managed by the District's Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF), replacing the current process where each Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) independently credentials providers. It requires DHCF to develop a single application process by 2027, allowing providers credentialed through DHCF to serve all MCOs without additional MCO-specific requirements. The bill sets strict timelines: DHCF must notify providers of missing application information within 10 days and issue temporary credentials within 30 days of receiving a complete application. This directly affects healthcare providers (like doctors and clinics) and Medicaid patients by reducing delays in care access and administrative burdens.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects District of Columbia residents' health data by requiring companies that collect it to obtain explicit consent before use, publish clear privacy policies, and allow data deletion within 183 days. It directly affects health apps, medical providers, and any organization handling personal health information (like medical records or mental health data). Key provisions ban location tracking near health facilities (geofencing), mandate transparent data-sharing disclosures, and give people the right to demand data removal. The law creates enforceable privacy rules for health data, aligning DC with similar state-level protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Mayor of the District of Columbia to include the cost of secure, rodent-resistant trash and recycling containers in the budget for specific public infrastructure projects, including school, park, and recreation center renovations, sidewalk replacements, and curb extensions. Currently, many public waste containers have open lids that allow pests to access trash and contribute to litter and sanitation issues, so this legislation mandates replacing these with front-loading, secure units at project sites starting in Fiscal Year 2027. By integrating the higher upfront cost of these improved containers into capital improvement budgets, the bill aims to address long-term maintenance and sanitation challenges associated with public waste management infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes Washington D.C.'s 911 emergency communication system funding by updating fees and clarifying how funds are used. It establishes a uniform $1.00 monthly fee per access line (replacing older structures), increases prepaid wireless fees to 5%, and explicitly directs funds toward Next Generation 911 (NG911) infrastructure, cybersecurity, and multimedia capabilities. The legislation requires annual reporting and audits to ensure transparency, while mandating triennial fee reviews to account for inflation and system costs. These changes directly affect telecommunications providers (through updated fees) and residents (by improving emergency response reliability and technology).