Councilmember Charles Allen

Maddy summaryThis bill symbolically designates a 0.4-mile stretch of 3rd Street, SW (between I Street and M Street) as "Lenora Baker Way" to honor Lenora Baker, a Southwest DC community leader who volunteered at local schools, preserved African American culinary traditions at her church, and organized community events despite facing systemic challenges. It directly affects the local community by commemorating her legacy through a street name change, with no financial impact or new regulations. The designation follows a unanimous endorsement by Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6D and adheres to existing District street-naming procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025" (B 26-0173), would protect licensed architects and engineers in the District of Columbia from civil liability when volunteering during emergencies. It limits liability (except for gross negligence or willful misconduct) for professionals providing free, voluntary assistance at life-threatening emergencies in the built environment - like building safety assessments after disasters - when acting at an official's direction during a declared emergency or within 90 days after. To qualify, volunteers must complete a specific training program (referencing California's Safety Assessment Program) and work without compensation in good faith. The law aligns DC with 41 states that offer similar protections to these professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the weight limit for sidewalk delivery robots (called "Personal Delivery Devices" or PDDs) from 90 pounds to 275 pounds (excluding cargo), aligning with practices in other states. It directly affects companies like Coco and Serve Robotics, which developed PDD models exceeding the current limit, and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), which manages PDD permits. The key change modifies the existing 2018 law to allow newer, heavier PDD technology to operate in Washington, D.C., with DDOT retaining authority to set a higher limit if needed. This aims to support sustainable delivery options that reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions by moving deliveries from roads to sidewalks.

Maddy summaryThe Micromobility Fire Safety Standards Act of 2025 requires all electric bicycles, scooters, and similar devices sold or rented in the District of Columbia to meet specific safety standards for their batteries and electronics. It mandates certification by approved testing labs (like UL 2849, UL 2272, or UL 2271) to ensure devices are evaluated for fire safety risks. This directly affects vendors, rental companies, and manufacturers operating within DC, ensuring their products display a certified mark. The law aims to prevent lithium-ion battery fires by making safety compliance a requirement for all micromobility devices available in the District.

Maddy summaryThe Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026 creates a new program within the District Department of Transportation to regulate and monitor commercial autonomous vehicles in Washington, D.C. It establishes a phased rollout that begins with driverless testing permits and allows commercial ride-sharing services to launch with a fleet limit of 200 vehicles, expanding only after operators submit plans to manage parking and traffic. The legislation sets specific rules for when different levels of autonomous driving features can be used, requires manufacturers to register high-level automated vehicles, and imposes a tax of $0.15 per mile on commercial autonomous vehicle operations. Revenue from this tax is split to fund improvements to public transit infrastructure and workforce training programs for existing taxi and rideshare drivers. Additionally, the bill clarifies liability rules to determine responsibility in accidents and mandates safety plans for emergency interactions and system failures.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares an emergency to temporarily extend two previous policing reforms until permanent laws take effect or are finalized. The measures expand the Police Complaints Board membership and allow the office's executive director to file new complaints based on discovered misconduct, such as excessive force or failure to intervene. Additionally, the bill clarifies that certain victim reporting requirements apply only to minors under 18. These actions prevent a legal gap in oversight while awaiting the finalization of related legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill declares an emergency to extend the time current Public Service Commission commissioners can continue serving after their terms expire. It allows Chairman Emile Thompson and Commissioner Ted Trabue to hold their positions for an additional 90 days, extending their service from December 27, 2026, to March 27, 2027. The extension is intended to give the incoming Mayor time to appoint new commissioners before they take office in January 2027. The measure also seeks to fast-track the approval process by allowing it to pass with a single reading.

Maddy summaryThis resolution declares an emergency to allow the District of Columbia Council to immediately amend the Personal Delivery Device Act of 2018, which currently restricts delivery devices to 90 pounds. The bill aims to close a legal gap that would occur between the expiration of a temporary emergency measure and the final passage of a permanent weight limit increase. By invoking a congressional review emergency, the Council seeks to bypass standard legislative delays to ensure continuous legal coverage for newer, heavier delivery models. This action directly affects companies operating personal delivery devices and addresses the fact that many other states permit significantly heavier equipment.

Maddy summaryThis ceremonial resolution honors DC Central Kitchen for reaching a milestone of 2,500 graduates from its Culinary Job Training Program. The bill formally recognizes the organization's work since 1990 in providing free culinary and life skills training to District residents facing challenges such as homelessness, incarceration, and addiction. By celebrating this achievement, the Council acknowledges the program's partnerships with local businesses and its role in creating career pathways for returning citizens. The resolution does not alter laws or funding but serves to publicly acknowledge the program's impact and history.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies and improves regulations for medical cannabis retailers in D.C. It updates the definition of restricted locations to explicitly include "child development facilities" (previously undefined), preventing stores from opening near schools serving young children. The bill also expands protest rights for Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) and community members, allowing them to object based on potential impacts on children's safety or neighborhood peace, and extends these protest rights to internet cannabis retailers. These changes aim to strengthen community input and safety protections in the licensing process.