Washington, D.C. Bill Book

The bill would let Avanti Real Estate avoid paying property tax on its building at 3421 14th Street, shifting that cost to other DC taxpayers.

Citizens could see higher taxes or fewer services because the city loses revenue from that property, while the real estate firm saves money. The bill is still early, so people can speak up now.

Real Estate

• Accountability (neutral) — neutral. No change to oversight of the company.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — tax fairness reduced. Taxpayers lose equal tax burden.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — cost shift to citizens. City loses revenue, others may pay more.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — neutral. Bill is a simple exemption.
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — reduces city funding. Less money for services.

Pushing for it: Avanti Real Estate, Inc.
Bearing the cost: DC taxpayers

• Official text (DC B26-0019)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0019
• LegiScan — B26-0019https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0019/2025

The bill would let businesses skip a certification check and raise the debt level before extra rules apply, making it easier for companies to operate.

Citizens could see fewer safeguards on who can start a business, possibly leading to more risky firms, while business owners gain fewer hurdles and can grow faster.

Businesses

• Accountability (hurts) — Removing certification reduces oversight of businesses.. Exemption cuts a check that helped ensure businesses meet standards.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Consumers lose a layer of protection.. Fewer requirements mean consumers may face less vetted firms.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Risk shifts to the public.. If businesses fail, ordinary people may bear the fallout.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No new transparency measures added.. Bill does not change how decisions are made publicly.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes mentioned.. Bill does not allocate or cut money.

• Official text (DC B26-0054)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0054
• LegiScan — B26-0054https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0054/2025

The bill would let certain small businesses choose to pay taxes as a company and give them a tax credit, which could lower their tax bill.

If passed, owners might pay less personal tax but the city could lose revenue, meaning other services might need higher taxes later. Small firms could like the flexibility, but taxpayers may pick up the cost.

Pass‑through entities

• Accountability (neutral) — no new oversight. Bill adds tax option but no new reporting requirements
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no impact on rights. Does not change any civil or consumer rights
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — tax credit shifts cost to taxpayers. City revenue may fall, raising taxes for everyone else
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard public hearing. Bill has been posted for public comment and hearings
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — reduces city tax intake. Tax credit lowers revenue without new funding source

• Official text (DC B26-0324)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0324
• LegiScan — B26-0324https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0324/2025

The bill would let government agencies share more health and benefit data, affecting how your personal info is used.

Citizens should watch this bill because it could expand state access to private health details without clear limits, making privacy harder to protect.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — potentially less oversight. Data sharing rules may be clarified without new safeguards
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — possible privacy erosion. Expands ability to share personal health info
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — cost unclear. No funding changes mentioned
• Process Transparency (neutral) — bill just introduced. No public comment requirements noted
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no funding provisions. Unknown

• Official text (DC B26-0751)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0751
• LegiScan — B26-0751https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0751/2025

The bill would let city agencies share your health and benefit information with each other, which could affect your privacy.

Citizens should watch because more data sharing could make it easier for the government to track personal health details, and there is little public oversight.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — More sharing may reduce oversight of data use.. Potentially lowers checks on who can access personal data.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Expands data sharing, weakening privacy.. Citizens' ability to keep health info private could be reduced.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No new costs mentioned for citizens.. Costs likely absorbed by government agencies.
• Process Transparency (hurts) — Limited detail on how sharing will be overseen.. Public may not see what data is shared or why.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding provisions in the text.. No money allocated or required.

• Official text (DC PR26-0777)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/PR26-0777
• LegiScan — PR26-0777https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/PR26-0777/2025

This bill would change rules for special insurance companies, which might help them but not regular people.

If this bill passes, it could make it easier for companies to operate their own insurance, but it may not help everyday people who need protection.

Big Business

• Accountability (neutral) — Updates rules without clear benefits for consumers.. The bill focuses on business requirements.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — May not protect everyday people.. Changes may favor companies over consumers.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Costs are unclear.. Unknown how this affects consumers.

• Official text (DC B26-0588)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0588
• LegiScan — B26-0588https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0588/2025

This bill would set rules for skill games to protect players, but it is still unclear how it will help them.

People should pay attention to this bill because it might change how skill games are played and what protections players have.

• Accountability (neutral) — The bill introduces regulations but lacks clear consumer benefits.. Unknown
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — It aims to protect players but specifics are unclear.. Unknown
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — It does not shift costs but lacks clarity on who benefits.. Unknown

• Official text (DC B26-0041)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0041
• LegiScan — B26-0041https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0041/2025

The bill would let a nonprofit skip recertification for four years and refund any property taxes paid on the building since May 2022.

If the bill passes, the nonprofit could keep more money for upkeep and maybe keep rents affordable, but the city will lose tax revenue that could fund services. Residents should watch to see if special tax breaks become common.

Nonprofit housing

• Accountability (hurts) — exempt from recertification reduces oversight. property not monitored for nonprofit status
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no change to citizen rights. none
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — city loses tax revenue. public funds
• Process Transparency (neutral) — standard process. public hearing held
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — tax relief reduces city funds. no new funding

Pushing for it: SOME, Inc.
Bearing the cost: City taxpayers

• Official text (DC B26-0237)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0237
• LegiScan — B26-0237https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0237/2025

This bill would change insurance rules for condo owners, making them pay more out of pocket if something happens.

Condo owners should pay attention. This bill could make it more expensive to fix issues in their homes. Now is the time to speak up.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — Clarifies insurance requirements.. The bill specifies what insurance condo owners need.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Increases costs for owners.. Higher deductibles mean owners pay more when claims happen.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Shifts costs to condo owners.. Owners will have to cover more expenses themselves.

• Official text (DC B26-0495)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0495
• LegiScan — B26-0495https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0495/2025

The bill would create a permanent commission to oversee the district’s tax and revenue policies, affecting how taxes are managed.

If passed, the commission could shape tax rules, possibly making tax collection more consistent, but it also adds another layer of government that could slow tax changes or shift priorities.

Government Power

• Accountability (neutral) — no clear change. Commission adds oversight but no specific accountability mechanisms are described.
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no direct impact. Bill does not affect individual legal rights.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — unknown. Funding source for the commission is not specified.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — unknown. Creation process is public but details are limited.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — unknown. No funding allocation is mentioned in the text.

• Official text (DC B26-0014)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0014
• LegiScan — B26-0014https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0014/2025

This bill would let older people keep their home tax break if they move, helping them afford new homes.

This bill would help senior citizens in DC afford to move to a new home without losing their tax break. Right now, if a senior homeowner sells their house and buys another, they might lose the special tax credit that helps lower their property taxes. This bill would let them transfer that tax break to their new home. It would also make it easier for seniors who own a home together, like with a family member, to get the tax credit by adding up their ownership parts. This could help more seniors stay in their homes or move to a home that better fits their needs as they get older. Some might say that tax breaks reduce money for other public services, but supporters believe helping seniors with housing costs is important.

Everyday People

• Accountability (neutral) — No direct impact on government or corporate accountability.. The bill focuses on tax credit portability for individuals, not on holding entities accountable.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects seniors' financial stability related to housing.. It would help senior homeowners keep a valuable tax credit when they move, supporting their right to affordable housing.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Benefits senior homeowners by reducing their tax burden.. The bill would allow existing tax credits to transfer, easing financial strain for seniors moving residences.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Bill is in early stages, no signs of rushed process.. The bill was introduced and referred to committees, following standard legislative steps.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Tilts funding towards senior homeowners.. By allowing tax credit transfer and aggregation, the bill would provide financial relief to senior citizens.

Pushing for it: Senior homeowners in DC
Bearing the cost: DC government (tax revenue)

• Official text (DC B26-0532)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0532
• LegiScan — B26-0532https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0532/2025

This bill would stop companies from tracking you at health places and give you more say over your private health information.

This bill is good because it would give people more power over their private health information. Right now, companies can sometimes collect and share your health data without you fully knowing or agreeing. This bill would make sure you have to say 'yes' first and can even ask for your data to be deleted. It would also stop sneaky ways of tracking you when you visit doctors or clinics. Some might say these rules could make it harder for companies to offer certain services or do research, but it's about making sure your health secrets stay yours. It's important to pay attention now because the bill is still being discussed and could change.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Companies would be more accountable for handling health data.. The bill would require entities that control health data to publish clear privacy policies and get consent before using or sharing data, increasing their accountability.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Individuals gain significant rights over their health data.. The bill would create new rights for individuals, including the right to consent, withdraw consent, and request deletion of their personal health data, and protection from geofencing.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Compliance costs for companies, not a direct shift to consumers.. The bill would place compliance requirements on 'controllers' of personal health data, meaning companies would bear the costs of implementing these new privacy protections.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Requires clear privacy policies.. The bill would mandate that companies publish clear and easy-to-understand privacy policies, making their data practices more transparent to the public.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding mentioned.. The official text does not mention any specific appropriations or funding mechanisms related to this bill.

Pushing for it: Individuals, by protecting their health data and privacy.
Bearing the cost: Companies that collect, process, or disclose personal health data without clear consent.

• Official text (DC B26-0525)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0525
• LegiScan — B26-0525https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0525/2025

This bill would give businesses money back on their taxes if they hire people who have been to jail, helping those people find jobs.

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.

Businesses

• Accountability (neutral) — Neutral. The bill focuses on incentives, not holding anyone accountable.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps people get jobs. It would help people who have been to jail get a chance to work and rebuild their lives.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Taxpayers fund credits. The tax credits would be paid for by DC taxpayers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard process. The bill is going through the normal legislative steps.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Funds re-entry support. It would use public money to encourage businesses to hire people with past convictions.

Pushing for it: Eligible businesses (Up to $5,000 annually)
Bearing the cost: DC taxpayers

• Official text (DC B26-0184)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0184
• LegiScan — B26-0184https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0184/2025

This bill would help people buy homes, especially first-time buyers, and make it easier to fix up empty buildings in DC.

This bill aims to make housing more available and affordable for people in DC. It would help first-time homebuyers get a mortgage and make it simpler to build new homes. It also tries to deal with empty, run-down buildings by turning them into affordable places to live. If you care about making it easier for people to find a home in DC, this bill is important to watch as it moves through the government.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Creates oversight. The bill would establish a Building Permit Advisory Council to make policy recommendations, which could improve how building permits are handled.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Supports housing access. It would create programs like a lease-purchase homeownership pilot and a first-time homebuyer tax credit, helping more people access stable housing.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Benefits individuals. The first-time homebuyer mortgage interest tax credit would shift some cost from homebuyers to the District government through lost tax revenue, benefiting individuals.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Advisory council. The establishment of a Building Permit Advisory Council could lead to more transparent and efficient building permit processes.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Aids residents. The bill's programs, like affordable housing disposition and homebuyer credits, would direct resources to help residents secure housing.

Pushing for it: First-time homebuyers, people seeking affordable housing, homeowners
Bearing the cost: District of Columbia government (due to tax credits and program costs)

• Official text (DC B26-0657)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0657
• LegiScan — B26-0657https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0657/2025

This bill would stop jails from putting people in solitary cells and make sure they get mental health help if they need it.

This bill would stop jails from putting people alone in cells for long periods, which is called solitary confinement. It would also make sure that people in jail who are having mental health problems get the care they need. Solitary confinement can be very harmful to a person's mind and body. This bill aims to treat people in jail more fairly and kindly. Some people might think that solitary confinement is needed to keep jails safe or to punish people who break rules. But this bill believes there are better ways. People should watch this bill because it could change how people are treated in jail for the better.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Jails would be more accountable for how they treat people. The Department of Corrections would have to create a plan to eliminate segregated confinement and report its impacts to the Council.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects people from harmful solitary confinement and ensures mental health care. The bill would prohibit segregated confinement and require incarcerated people with mental health emergencies to receive care.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No clear cost shift mentioned in the text. The bill requires operational changes for the Department of Corrections but does not specify funding or cost shifts.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process. The bill was introduced and referred to committee, following normal procedures.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding or tilt mentioned. The official summary does not mention any specific funding allocations or changes.

Pushing for it: Incarcerated people, mental health services
Bearing the cost: Department of Corrections (operational changes)

• Official text (DC B26-0028)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0028
• LegiScan — B26-0028https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0028/2025

The bill would stop doctors and hospitals from charging you for medical records you need to apply for Social Security or other aid.

If passed, everyday people could save money and get needed records faster, while clinics lose a small fee.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — adds free access to records. removes fees for personal medical records for benefit claims
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — shifts cost from patients to providers. providers can no longer charge fees
• Accountability (neutral) — no change in oversight. does not affect reporting
• Process Transparency (neutral) — simple rule. clear prohibition
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding. no budget changes

• Official text (DC B26-0167)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0167
• LegiScan — B26-0167https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0167/2025

This bill would help workers buy businesses from their bosses when they retire, giving employees more say and a share of the profits.

This bill is good because it would help regular people own the places they work. When a boss wants to stop working, this plan would make it easier for their employees to buy the business instead of it closing or being sold to a big company. This means workers could have more control over their jobs, get a share of the money the business makes, and keep their jobs safe. It would also help keep local businesses open in the community. This is a chance for people to have a bigger say in their work lives.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Creates a program to support worker ownership. The bill would require the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection to establish a program and create a city-wide strategy.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Empowers workers with ownership opportunities. The bill aims to help District business owners sell to their employees, fostering worker cooperative conversions.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Program costs would be borne by the District government, not shifted to consumers. The bill requires the establishment of a program, implying government resources, but does not shift costs to individuals or consumers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No specific transparency provisions, but process is public. The bill is currently introduced and referred to committee, following standard legislative procedures.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Supports a public program benefiting workers and local economy. The bill would establish a program and strategy to facilitate worker ownership, which is a public service.

Pushing for it: District workers and retiring business owners
Bearing the cost: District government for program setup and operation

• Official text (DC B26-0107)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0107
• LegiScan — B26-0107https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0107/2025

This bill would stop landlords from charging you for shared building power and give you more time to know about any money you owe after moving out.

This bill is good for regular people because it would stop landlords from adding extra charges for shared building utilities, like lights in hallways. It would also make sure you get clear notice about any money you still owe after moving out, before debt collectors get involved. This gives you time to understand the charges or pay what's due. Since this bill has passed both parts of the government and is now waiting for the Mayor's signature, it is a good time to tell the Mayor what you think.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Increases landlord accountability for transparent billing.. The bill would require housing providers to give clear notification of unpaid amounts and prove the tenant received it before involving debt collectors.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects tenants from hidden fees and surprise debt collection.. Tenants would be protected from charges for common area utilities and would receive timely, verifiable notice of any debts before collection.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Prevents cost shifting of common area utilities to tenants.. The bill would prohibit housing providers from separately charging tenants for common area utility costs, keeping those costs with the provider.
• Process Transparency (helps) — Improves transparency in debt notification.. The bill would require specific timelines and proof of notification for any unpaid amounts owed by tenants.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No direct funding impact mentioned.. The official text does not mention any specific funding changes or appropriations.

Pushing for it: Tenants, by preventing certain charges and providing notice
Bearing the cost: Housing providers, who would absorb common area utility costs and have new notification requirements

• Official text (DC B26-0126)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0126
• LegiScan — B26-0126https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0126/2025

This bill would let DC stop landlords with many building problems from getting new business licenses, helping renters get safer homes.

This bill would give the city a new way to make sure rental homes are safe. It would make it harder for landlords who do not fix serious problems to get new business licenses. This means renters could have better places to live. People should pay attention now because the city council is still talking about this bill.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Holds landlords accountable for housing code violations.. The bill would allow the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection to deny business licenses to owners with outstanding Class 1 and Class 2 housing code violations.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects renters by promoting safer housing.. By making it harder for landlords with violations to operate, the bill aims to improve the safety and quality of rental properties for tenants.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Shifts burden of neglect to landlords.. Landlords with outstanding violations would face the cost of repairs or the loss of their ability to get a business license.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No direct impact on transparency noted.. The official text does not provide information about changes to process transparency.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — Requires appropriations for enforcement.. The bill is 'Subject to Appropriations,' meaning public funds would be needed to support its enforcement, but this does not directly tilt funding for or against ordinary people.

Pushing for it: Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection for enforcement
Bearing the cost: Landlords with outstanding housing code violations

• Official text (DC B26-0287)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0287
• LegiScan — B26-0287https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0287/2025

This bill would create a program to help small businesses in DC get rent help and better credit, making it easier for them to stay open and hire people.

This bill would help small businesses in DC by giving them rent guarantees and other ways to get credit. This could mean more local shops and jobs for people. If you care about local businesses staying open and growing, this bill could be good for your community. It is still early, so people can share their thoughts with lawmakers.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Creates a program to support local businesses.. The bill would create a new program within the Department of Small and Local Business Development to provide support.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Helps local businesses stay open and grow.. The program would offer rent guarantees and other credit enhancement services to qualifying businesses.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — City funds would support the program.. The bill would create a program within a city department, implying city funding.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. The bill has been introduced and referred to committees for review.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Directly helps small businesses with financial support.. The program would provide rent guarantees and credit enhancement services.

Pushing for it: Small and Local Businesses
Bearing the cost: DC Government/Taxpayers

• Official text (DC B26-0464)https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0464
• LegiScan — B26-0464https://legiscan.com/DC/bill/B26-0464/2025