Councilmember Janeese Lewis George

Maddy summaryThe Public Trust in Utility Regulation Act of 2026 requires electric and gas companies in the District of Columbia to provide detailed information about proposed capital investments when seeking rate increases. This legislation mandates that utility firms disclose the purpose, cost, and expected benefits of each project to the Public Service Commission and make this data publicly available. Additionally, the bill establishes a requirement for the Commission to audit public utility finances, expenditures, and service quality every three years. These measures aim to increase transparency and accountability in utility regulation without changing the Public Service Commission's existing authority. The primary goal is to help residents and policymakers better understand how utility costs are determined and ensure investments serve the public interest.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Block Party Act of 2012 to allow residents hosting Porchfest events to apply for block party permits. It specifically clarifies that permits may be issued for music performances on private property (like porches or lawns) with no fees charged to attendees, and prevents denial simply because multiple Porchfest applications are submitted for the same day. The law directly affects District residents who volunteer their yards or porches for free neighborhood music festivals, such as those in Petworth. It removes current barriers where residents were denied permits due to their event being associated with Porchfest, even when held entirely on private property.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes licensing and certification requirements for glaziers and glazing contractors in Washington D.C. It directly affects professionals who install and maintain architectural glass and metal systems in buildings, such as windows, curtain walls, and skylights. The key provision requires contractors to employ at least three licensed glaziers and comply with bonding and insurance standards set by the Board of Industrial Trades. The bill also adds two new positions on the Board to represent licensed glaziers and glazing contractors. This creates consistent oversight for a trade previously unregulated in the District, aligning it with other construction professions.

Maddy summaryThe Net Zero Continuity Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 amends Washington, D.C.'s Green Building Act to temporarily exempt certain projects from strict net-zero energy requirements. This legislation specifically allows temporary buildings, small additions under 10,000 square feet, and critical facilities like police and fire stations to bypass energy standards until new regulations are finalized. It also clarifies definitions for specific structures, such as natatoriums and aquatic centers, and provides a grace period for projects with permits submitted before October 1, 2024. These changes aim to provide flexibility for ongoing construction while the city finalizes updated energy conservation rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill symbolically designates a segment of 13th Street NW (between Upshur Street NW and Allison Street NW in Ward 4) as "The Jewels Way" to honor the local all-female vocal group The Jewels. The group, formed by Roosevelt High School students in the 1960s, gained recognition including touring with James Brown and being featured in a PBS documentary. The designation includes placing a commemorative sign at 4264 13th St NW near Roosevelt High School. As a ceremonial street naming, it has no policy or fiscal impact beyond the symbolic tribute.

Maddy summaryThis bill closes a long-unused alley in Square 2319 (specifically at 5931 Utah Avenue, NW) that has never functioned as a public right-of-way since being deeded to the District in 1934. It transfers the alley land to private ownership (specifically to the Episcopal Center for Children) and extends a building restriction line to align with the property boundary. The change resolves zoning non-compliance for the adjacent property, clears title issues that complicated prior sales, and enables privacy landscaping between the property and Maret School’s facilities. The District will gain annual property tax revenue from the newly taxable land.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares an emergency to fix a legal gap that would cause inconsistent net-zero energy rules for District-funded building projects. It repeals two temporary laws that currently pause strict energy standards for affordable housing and updates the definition of net-zero energy for all projects. By clearing these temporary provisions, the bill ensures that future changes to energy standards can be applied uniformly to both residential and nonresidential developments without causing uncertainty for developers.

Maddy summaryThis bill temporarily modifies the District of Columbia's green building laws to provide exemptions from strict net-zero energy standards for specific projects. It directly affects new construction, additions, and alterations by allowing temporary buildings, small additions under 10,000 square feet, and facilities like police stations, fire stations, and swimming pools to bypass certain energy requirements. The legislation also clarifies legal definitions for terms such as "aquatic center" and "temporary building" to ensure consistent application of these rules. Additionally, it grants a grace period for projects that submitted permits before October 1, 2024, to comply with updated regulations once final rules are established.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits private short-term disability insurance providers from reducing benefits based on benefits received from the District of Columbia's Universal Paid Leave program. It directly affects District workers who qualify for both private short-term disability insurance and the District's paid leave benefits. The key provision amends existing laws to ban insurers from offsetting or reducing payments due to actual or estimated benefits from the Universal Paid Leave Act, regardless of where the insurance policy was issued. This ensures workers receive full short-term disability coverage without being penalized for also qualifying for District-paid leave.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires DC Health to create a public dashboard by January 2027 showing rodent population data, treatment locations, and trends filtered by neighborhood (Ward/ANC/SMD), and submit a progress report to the Council by March 2027. It increases fines for property owners liable for rodent issues, allowing the District to charge up to triple the cost of corrective actions. The bill also mandates that trash enforcement teams notify neighborhood commissions before removing residential litter cans and refer trash violations with visible rodent activity to DC Health for coordinated action. These provisions directly affect property owners, DC Health, and neighborhood commissions by improving accountability, data transparency, and inter-agency coordination for rodent control.