Council of the District of Columbia Regular Legislative Meeting - March 31, 2026

The Council of the District of Columbia held its regular monthly legislative meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 2:17 PM in Room 500 of the Council Chambers of the Johnny Wilson Building. Chair Phil Mendelson presided. The meeting was broadcast on cable channel 13 and the council's website. A quorum was present (13 members). The meeting included a moment of silence, roll call, and consideration of consent agenda, non-consent agenda, emergency and temporary legislation, and a veto override.

Consent Calendar

• The reading of the Secretary's Report of Committee Filings and Secretary's Report of Introductions and Referrals were waived unanimously.
• Several items were removed from the consent agenda: Bill 26-173 (Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act) for amendment, Bill 26-308 (Promoting Parental Engagement at DYRS Amendment Act) and Bill 26-365 (Jules Way Designation Act) and Lenora Baker Way Designation Act (prints not engrossed), Bill 26-221 (Mu Lambda Foundation Real Property Tax Exemption Act) for recusal, and PR 26-549 (Barbara Jones nomination) for comments.
• The consent agenda as amended passed unanimously.
• Bill 26-173 was amended to include land surveyors and passed unanimously.
• Bills 26-308 and 26-365 were postponed to the next legislative meeting.
• Bill 26-221 (Mu Lambda Foundation) passed unanimously with Councilmember Parker recused.
• PR 26-549 (confirmation of Barbara Jones to the DC State Athletics Commission) passed unanimously after supportive remarks from Councilmembers Trayon White, Robert White, and Anita Bonds.

Discussion Items

• Bill 26-125 (Connecticut Ave and Kansas Ave Tax Forgiveness): Passed unanimously. Extends recertification deadlines and forgives taxes for two nonprofit workforce housing properties owned by SOMOS.
• Bill 26-371 (Alley Closing in Square 2319): Initially passed, but Councilmember Lewis George moved to reconsider and offered an amendment requiring fair market value payment for the alley. Chairman Mendelson opposed, arguing the alley is only 4 feet wide and the $40,000 payment would be impractical. The bill was postponed to the next meeting after the chairman's motion.
• Bill 26-408 (Promoting Parental Engagement at DYRS): Passed unanimously with an amendment (co-sponsored by Councilmembers Bonds and Pinto) requiring DYRS to notify parents of placement changes and medical emergencies, and make logs available to parents and council.

Emergency Legislation

• PR 26-585 & Bill 26-634 (Arena Safety Conformity): Passed unanimously. Extends prohibition on unauthorized entry onto playing surfaces to Capital One Arena and Care First Arena, with a $300 fine.
• PR 26-583 & Bill 26-630 (Rate Plan Vacatur Interim Protections): High-profile debate on PEPCO rate increases. The court vacated the PSC's multi-year rate plan. The emergency declaration passed 9-4 (yes: Allen, Trayon White, Freuman, Henderson, Lewis George, Nadeau, Parker, Pinto, Robert White; no: Bonds, Crawford, Felder, Mendelson). The underlying bill was amended by Councilmember Allen to limit disconnection protections to households with arrears over $1,000. The bill as amended passed 8-5 (yes: Allen, Bonds, Lewis George, Nadeau, Parker, Pinto, Robert White, Trayon White; no: Crawford, Felder, Freuman, Henderson, Mendelson). The temporary bill (26-631) failed 7-7 (7 noes: Pinto, Crawford, Felder, Bonds, Henderson, Freuman, Mendelson), leaving the emergency in effect for 90 days.
• PR 26-589 (DC Water Nomination): Withdrawn after nominee Vince McConey withdrew.
• PR 26-564 & Bill 26-620 (Nationals Ballpark Lease): Passed unanimously. Approves an amended lease extending the Nationals' stay through at least the 2058 season, with dedicated funding for stadium maintenance. An amendment in the nature of a substitute was accepted.
• Juvenile Curfew Sunset Emergency: Councilmember Pinto proposed extending the juvenile curfew through September 25, 2026. A motion to postpone to the next legislative meeting passed 9-4 (yes: Allen, Crawford, Felder, Freuman, Henderson, Mendelson, Nadeau, Parker, Robert White; no: Bonds, Lewis George, Pinto, Trayon White). The measure was postponed.
• PR 26-587 (HME Inc. Fire Engines Contract Disapproval): Passed unanimously. Councilmember Pinto raised concerns about the contract's cooperative agreement process, first-time vendor, and poor quality reported by Detroit. The disapproval resolution passed.
• PR 26-584 & Bill 26-632 (Open Meetings Clarification): Passed with Councilmember Lewis George voting no on the declaration. The underlying bill extends the status quo on open meetings exemptions and disclosure requirements for boards and commissions through October 17, 2026. Councilmember Henderson voted present, and Councilmembers Allen, Lewis George, and Trayon White voted no. Chairman Mendelson committed to moving permanent bills before the recess.

Temporary Legislation

• Arena Safety Conformity Temporary: Passed unanimously.
• Rate Plan Vacatur Temporary: Failed 7-7 (as detailed above).
• Open Meetings Clarification Temporary: Passed with Councilmembers Allen, Lewis George, and Trayon White voting no, and Councilmembers Henderson and Parker voting present.
• Supporting Local Business Enterprises Emergency: Postponed to the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• Veto Override: Bill 26-614 (Full Accountability and Arrest Reporting Emergency Amendment Act) was passed unanimously after a motion to override the mayor's veto. The bill requires MPD to document federal officers present during arrests involving force, to the extent known at the time. Councilmember Robert White noted the bill originated from an incident where federal officers shot at three Black men (Philip Brown, Julian Bailey, Justin Nelson).
• Next Meeting: The next legislative meeting is scheduled for April 21, 2026. The meeting adjourned at 4:11 PM.