Councilmember Phil Mendelson

Maddy summaryThis resolution approves permanent rules for managing street-side outdoor dining ("streateries") in Washington D.C. It establishes a permit program requiring businesses to pay $15 per square foot in fees to operate in public right-of-way, replacing a temporary program. The rules also create new civil infractions for violations, with penalties outlined in amended Chapter 43 of Title 16. The resolution directly affects restaurants and businesses operating outdoor dining, making the program permanent after public feedback reduced fees from $20 to $15 per square foot.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves transferring jurisdiction over a 709-square-foot parcel of federally owned land (part of Reservation 357, Lot 1008 in Square 1299) from the National Park Service to the District of Columbia. It directly affects the District’s ability to manage a small public right-of-way area needed for a private redevelopment project - a vacant office building being converted to multifamily housing with ground-floor educational space. The transfer enables necessary building permits by providing access (ingress/egress) to the development, with the developer responsible for maintaining the land as public greenspace. This is a procedural administrative transfer with no new policy or cost to the District.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural confirmation resolution, not a policy bill. It formally confirms Mayor Muriel Bowser's appointment of Rohan Young, a 10th-grade student from Ward 7, to fill a vacant seat on the Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes. The commission, established by the 2016 "Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes Establishment Act," oversees youth development programs and out-of-school time initiatives in Washington, D.C. The resolution solely approves Young's appointment for the remainder of an unexpired term ending November 2027.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Board (ABCA) to regulate cannabis in Washington, D.C., directly affecting cannabis businesses, social equity applicants, and residents. Key provisions include creating specific license categories (e.g., cultivator, retailer, microbusiness), requiring 25% of licenses for Social Equity Applicants (businesses owned by people from communities harmed by past cannabis laws), and setting up a Cannabis Equity and Opportunity Fund for grants and loans. It bans sales within 400 feet of schools/daycares, mandates a seed-to-sale tracking system, restricts advertising, and prohibits sales to minors or in residential areas. The ABCA will enforce rules, collect excise taxes on cannabis sales, and manage licensing fees and protests.

Maddy summaryThe Industrial Revenue Bond Forward Commitment Program Amendment Act of 2025 removes a $850 million cap on the total value of industrial revenue bonds the District can issue and shortens application review times from 30 to 10 days. It also broadens the program to cover more types of development projects, including those authorized under the Home Rule Act. These changes aim to help businesses and developers in the District secure financing faster for industrial, commercial, and other eligible projects. The bill directly affects organizations seeking bond-funded development and streamlines the District's revenue bond approval process.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a streamlined process for property owners to change their tax classification to residential when a building permit is issued for residential use. Owners must apply for the classification change with the Chief Financial Officer, providing documentation, and tax rates apply for the entire tax year if the application is submitted between October 1 and March 31, or only for the second half of the year if submitted between April 1 and September 30. If the property isn't used for residential purposes within three years (or by the date of a certificate of occupancy), the classification reverts, and owners must pay back taxes plus penalties. Property owners can appeal denied applications within 45 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes physical poker and blackjack gaming at designated locations in the District of Columbia, specifically at eligible establishments holding certain liquor licenses (like restaurants or hotels with Class C/H, D/H, or arena CX permits). It creates a regulatory framework where the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and the Office of Lottery and Gaming will issue licenses, collect taxes, and enforce rules for these card games, while explicitly excluding online or electronically determined play. The law defines "card gaming" as wagering on physical games with real cards at authorized venues, requiring operators to follow specific rules set by the Chief Financial Officer. This change aims to generate revenue from local gambling activities currently drawing residents to Maryland and support tourism through events like poker tournaments.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution (CER 26-0129) formally recognizes the University of the District of Columbia's (UDC) 175th anniversary in 2026. It acknowledges UDC's history as the District's only public university and the nation's second-oldest HBCU, tracing its origins to 1851. The resolution has no policy changes or funding mechanisms - it solely celebrates UDC's founding, academic programs, and community impact through symbolic recognition by the Council. It directly affects UDC's community (students, faculty, staff) and the District of Columbia.

Maddy summaryThis bill approves three contract modifications (M0007, M0008, and M0009) to an existing agreement with Keefe Commissary Network, LLC for inmate commissary services in the District of Columbia's Department of Corrections. It authorizes an increased payment amount of up to $2 million for option year two of the contract, reflecting a $600,000 increase due to a population increase in correctional facilities. The modifications cover the provision of food, personal care items, clothing, and other goods to incarcerated individuals. As a procedural contract approval, this bill does not create new policy but ensures funding for existing commissary services.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Washington D.C.'s urban agriculture programs by redefining "crops" to include non-food horticultural products like flowers and decorative plants, alongside traditional produce. It requires all crops grown under these programs to use methods like raised beds or hydroponics (with minimal soil contact), replacing the previous option to grow directly in site soil. The bill clarifies that "urban farms" must be managed by formal entities (e.g., organizations, nonprofits) rather than individuals, and updates definitions across tax credit and land lease programs to align with these changes. These adjustments aim to broaden participation in urban farming while addressing soil contamination concerns.