Councilmember Phil Mendelson

Maddy summaryThis bill amends existing laws to strengthen consumer protections for residential electricity and natural gas customers in Washington, D.C. It requires third-party energy suppliers to cap their prices at no more than 110% of the standard utility rate, with exceptions allowed for suppliers offering renewable energy or those deemed to be in the public interest. Additionally, the legislation grants residents the right to cancel their energy contracts at any time without facing early termination fees or penalties. The bill also holds energy companies legally responsible for any violations committed by their agents, contractors, or brokers.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that guests in hotels, motels, and short-term rentals must leave the property once their reservation ends and have no right to stay longer without permission from the host. It explicitly defines individuals who remain beyond their agreed-upon stay as trespassers, allowing the Metropolitan Police Department to remove them if necessary. The law also extends these rules to vacation rentals and ensures that failure to make required payments is treated as a lack of lawful authority to remain. These changes aim to provide clear legal grounds for property owners and law enforcement to address unauthorized overstays.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the reporting rules for the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment, requiring the agency to publish certain reports on its website instead of sending them directly to the City Council. Key changes include reducing how often some reports are submitted, such as switching from annual to biennial schedules for the Green Building Commission, and extending the time period covered by some reports from one year to two. The legislation also removes outdated or duplicate reporting requirements and adjusts deadlines to better align with when data is available. Ultimately, the bill aims to streamline administrative processes while maintaining public access to information about environmental programs and expenditures.

Maddy summaryThe Protecting Judicial Privacy Act of 2026 prohibits government agencies and private entities from publicly displaying personal information about judges and magistrates in the District of Columbia. This information includes home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and details about their children under 18. Under the bill, a judge can send a written request to stop this information from being posted online or in public records, requiring agencies to remove it within five business days and private companies to do so within 48 hours. If a judge's personal data is shared after such a request, they can sue for legal relief and recover legal fees. The law applies to all active and retired judges serving in federal courts and the District of Columbia's court system.

Maddy summaryThe "Clemency Board Waiver Authority Amendment Act of 2025" would allow the District of Columbia's Clemency Board to grant waivers of the five-year waiting period required for pardon applicants. Currently, applicants must wait five years after release from confinement or five years after conviction (if no prison sentence was imposed) before applying for a pardon, but the federal Department of Justice can grant waivers of this requirement. This bill would enable the Board to grant similar waivers when the Office of the Pardon Attorney has already provided a waiver to the applicant, though the Board could decline to grant a waiver even with federal approval. The Board would not be permitted to grant waivers to individuals on probation, parole, or supervised release, and would need to provide written notice of their waiver decision.

Maddy summaryThis bill reappoints Laura Hankins as a voting member of the Commission on the Selection and Tenure of Administrative Law Judges for the Office of Administrative Hearings in the District of Columbia. The resolution establishes her 3-year term beginning immediately and ending on April 30, 2029, with the Council of the District of Columbia formally transmitting the appointment to relevant officials. Hankins, a former public defender and legal ethics committee member, will continue her role in overseeing the selection and tenure processes for administrative law judges who handle government hearings. The measure is a procedural appointment that does not alter existing laws or policies but confirms an existing position within the District's administrative justice system.

Maddy summaryThis bill confirms Barbara Jones as a voting member of the District of Columbia State Athletics Commission, filling a vacant seat for the remainder of an unexpired term ending in November 2028. The resolution follows a nomination by Mayor Muriel Bowser and requires confirmation by the Council of the District of Columbia in accordance with existing confirmation procedures. Once adopted, the Council will transmit a copy of the resolution to both the nominee and the Mayor, and the confirmation takes effect immediately. The bill does not change the commission's structure or powers but rather appoints an individual to an existing position.

Maddy summaryThis is a confirmation resolution, not a policy bill. It formally requests the Council of the District of Columbia to confirm Mayor Bowser's reappointment of May Chan to the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission for a term ending April 30, 2030. The resolution provides no new policy changes - it solely addresses the procedural confirmation of an existing nominee for a commission that handles property tax appeals. The bill text includes Ms. Chan's professional background but does not alter any laws or create new obligations.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural confirmation resolution, not a substantive legislative bill. It formally requests the Council of the District of Columbia to confirm Mayor Bowser's reappointment of Trent Williams as Chairperson of the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission (RPTAC) for a term ending April 30, 2030. The resolution follows standard confirmation procedures under D.C. law and does not establish new policies or alter existing laws. It directly affects the RPTAC's leadership structure and the Mayor's appointment process.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural confirmation resolution, not a policy bill. It formally confirms Mayor Bowser's nomination to reappoint Cliftine Jones as a full-time Commissioner of the Real Property Tax Appeals Commission for a term ending April 30, 2030. The resolution directly affects the Commission's membership and the confirmation process. It requires the Council of the District of Columbia to adopt the resolution, with no substantive policy changes or new mechanisms beyond the appointment.