Councilmember Phil Mendelson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for the acquisition, use, and disposal of radiation within the District of Columbia, directly affecting businesses, healthcare facilities, and individuals who handle radioactive materials or radiation-producing equipment. It requires most entities and individuals involved in these activities to obtain specific licenses, certifications, or registrations from the Mayor's office, while exempting certain medical professionals and existing solid waste facilities. The legislation also grants officials the authority to inspect operations, seize non-compliant materials, and impose civil or criminal penalties for violations, replacing the previous 1990 policy with updated rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the District of Columbia Rent Supplement Program to allow applicants to self-certify their eligibility when documents are difficult to obtain. It also restricts the Housing Authority from asking about an applicant's immigration status or prior criminal arrests, except in specific situations involving federal funding rules or current criminal activity that threatens resident safety. The law permits the Authority to consider criminal history only if it can prove through evidence that the individual's continued presence endangers others, and it requires the Authority to notify support services if a participant is terminated. These changes aim to simplify the application process while maintaining safety standards and ensuring compliance with federal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires property owners, contractors, or permit applicants in the District of Columbia to provide proof of insurance that covers adjacent property owners for any damage caused by construction work. It specifically applies to permits involving additions, alterations, demolitions, excavations, and other activities conducted near property lines or on shared walls. The insurance requirement is set to take effect on November 21, 2024, and is defined to protect real property located within 30 feet of the construction site.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily amends the District of Columbia's 2025 budget to increase the funding for the National Cherry Blossom Festival grant from $1 million to $1.5 million. The change applies starting October 1, 2024, and is designed to correct a previous budget provision. The additional funds are intended specifically for the festival, and the amendment will expire 225 days after it takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the District of Columbia Administrative Procedure Act to require courts and administrative tribunals to defer to the Mayor or agencies when they reasonably interpret the laws those agencies administer. The key provision states that courts must accept an agency's interpretation unless it is plainly wrong or conflicts with the actual text of the law or the legislature's intent. As an emergency measure, the law is designed to take effect quickly and will remain in force for no longer than 90 days pending further action. This change directly affects how legal challenges to agency decisions are reviewed in the District of Columbia.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the District of Columbia's streatery program to allow businesses at the Washington Convention and Sports Authority to apply for outdoor dining permits. It requires alcohol sellers to obtain a three-year streatery endorsement starting in 2025 and mandates a 45-day public comment period for all new applications. The legislation also clarifies definitions for stateries and ensures that existing businesses can continue operating while their new applications are reviewed.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development to provide temporary grant funding to Capital Factory, a technology incubator located in the District of Columbia. The legislation allocates $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2024 and an additional $1,500,000 for Fiscal Year 2025 to support the incubator's operations. The funding is established as a temporary measure that will automatically expire 225 days after the act takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily amends local regulations to officially ratify and adopt a series of sign rules previously issued by city officials between 2014 and 2020. The law incorporates these specific rules into the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, ensuring they remain in effect unless later changed or if emergency rules expire. It clarifies how sign rules are created and explicitly bans off-premises advertising, while also preventing criminal penalties for violations that occurred before November 2, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary pilot program in the District of Columbia to address student truancy by allowing five high schools with high absence rates to refer students aged 14 to 17 to the Department of Human Services. Under the new rules, schools must refer a student to the department no later than two days after the student accumulates 15 unexcused absences in a school year, and participating schools are exempt from standard compulsory attendance requirements for these referred students. The Department of Human Services is required to provide services to these students and submit detailed reports by March and August 2025 analyzing the reasons for absences, the interventions used, and the impact on attendance and academic performance. This measure is designed to test whether connecting chronically absent students with social services improves their school attendance and academic outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the District of Columbia's streatery program to include locations under the Washington Convention and Sports Authority that have street frontage. It requires alcohol businesses to obtain a three-year streatery endorsement from the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board starting in 2025 and mandates a 45-day public comment period for all new applications. Additionally, the legislation ensures that businesses currently operating streateries can continue doing so until their new applications are reviewed, preventing immediate disruption of existing outdoor dining services.