Scored 9/10 on whether it helps or hurts everyday people.
The Past Convictions Bill
DC offers tax breaks for hiring people with past convictions
Helping Incentivize Returning Citizen Employment (HIRE) Amendment Act of 2025
Good for everyday people ·
This bill would give businesses money back on their taxes if they hire people who have been to jail, helping those people find jobs.
Our take
What we think, in plain words.
This bill would help people who have been to jail find jobs by giving businesses tax breaks for hiring them. Supporters say this helps people get back on their feet and makes communities safer. Others might worry about how much this program would cost taxpayers. It is important to watch this bill as it moves through the DC legislature to see if it becomes law and how it might affect people.
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The facts
What the bill actually says, no spin.
- It would create a program called the Re-entry Employment Incentive Program.
- The program would give tax credits to businesses.
- Businesses could get up to $5,000 each year for every person they hire who has been to jail.
Follow the money
Who's spending to push it through vs. fight it.
Per employee
In the news
Scanning the news for this bill…
Headlines gathered from across the news, starting points to explore, not endorsements. Always read the official text before acting.
Sources
Read it yourself: the official bill and records.
This bill is in the Washington, D.C. Bill Book 2026
The best and worst Washington, D.C. bills of 2026, one page each — our take on the left, the bill on the right, and room for your notes. No email needed.
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