Control hub to manage this.

Candor Chairwoman, I don't know that we have been asked to or had the opportunity to really sort of dig in in those opportunities.

I know there are tensions between sort of skill capacity and enforcement.

So there's a lot that could be good about this model based on what I understand.

I think that the the that it still needs someone to own it in EOM to make sure that there's sort of hub and spoke to there.

And so that could work, and maybe indeed I know there's that DV model and some of those other models could be that because they have that experience and practice.

So I I see pros and and cons, certainly to both, and I know that there are others who have been thinking more deeply about that.

Happy trust to dig in if that is helpful to the council, but I also don't want to delay meaningful implementation.

This is a problem yesterday.

This is something worth our our um advancement.

So I think this can work as as designed with either someone is as a as an actual home in EOM that has accountability that comes back and reports on it.

Again, I noted there's no government witness to speak about this because there's no single government implementer.

And I do worry about simply the spread, the depth and breadth of where um judges might need to go to get this and the difference in attention quality and experience in dealing with it that these different agencies would have.

So somebody in EOM with clear skill and guidance to make sure that each agency knows how to do it, is doing it, sort of quality checking on this so that that onus doesn't stay on the judges individually.

I think could make this model work.

What are the metrics?

How is this council going to provide oversight on those things?

So I don't know that it has to be a totally different approach, although there are certainly models to your point that could live in the same spaces with with sort of victims protection that may already have the infrastructure built to do this better.

Um, but I I don't necessarily feel prepared today to impose my my wisdom or CCE has not done specific research on those two things.

Okay.

Got it.

Um thank you.

I want to thank all of our public witnesses today.

We have a kind of broad range of issues we're addressing in today's hearing, but um they're all very important and really appreciate everybody coming and sharing your expertise and your experience.

Um I also want to note that very excitingly, yesterday the council has appointed my at-large colleague Alyssa Silverman as a member of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, and we have been joined today by Councilmember Alyssa Silverman.

Um so welcome and thank you so much for coming today.

Thank you so much.

Um it's my pleasure to be here and thank you to our committee chair for welcoming me.

Um what I ask um of everyone is your patience uh with me as I get up to speed on the issues before the committee, including the bills before us today.

Uh and I um welcome you to reach out to uh my staff, my legislative staff to um help us uh get familiar with with the issues before us.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Okay, we're now gonna turn to our government witnesses.

Uh first for bill 26-757, the illegal occupancy enforcement amendment act.

So I'd like to invite Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, Nina Albert, to the table, the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protections Director, Tiffany Crow, and MPD Assistant Chief Nikki Lavenhaus, all up to testify.

Welcome to you all.

And I know it is not other than MPD, it is not always that we have Dempet and DLCP with um with the Judiciary Committee.

So thrilled to have you all, and it is our tradition to swear in all government witnesses who appear before it.

So if I could ask you all to turn your microphones on and raise your right hand, do swear or affirm under penalty of law that the testimony you're about to provide before the council of the District of Columbia and this committee is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

I did it.

Thank you very much.

Um I'd like to invite you to make any opening statement you may have.

Well, good morning, Chairperson uh Pinto, members and staff of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.

It is an honor uh to be speaking before this committee today, as it will be my first time.

Uh my name is Nina Albert, I'm the deputy mayor for planning and economic development.

I'm here to testify in support of Bill 26-0757, the illegal occupancy enforcement amendment act of 2026.

is more affordable to all who live here.

Some of the strategies that DC enacted included making uh giving opportunities to homeowners to gain additional income, and that is through authorizing accessory dwelling units and permitting short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, VRBO, and others.

The provision is that a homeowner must receive a license from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection.

These strategies add to the toolkit for homeowners to afford their homes again by offsetting household expenses through generating additional income.

Now that short-term rentals are more commonplace, we have learned where additional clarity is needed to ensure the short-term rental market benefits from all those who wish to participate in it.

The Illegal Occupancy Enforcement Amendment Act will provide the tools necessary for the Metropolitan Police Department or MPD to remove individuals who remain in short-term rentals or vacation rentals beyond the term of the guest's contracted agreement or stay.

Very specifically, what is being proposed in the Act is to amend the short-term rental law to clarify that a guest of a short-term rental is not a renter or a tenant, and they have no rightful, no lawful right to remain in the person's home after the conclusion of their contracted stay.

This is in fact a business arrangement between a visitor or a guest and a homeowner who is making their home available under the conditions that permit short-term rentals.

The law or the act also makes clear that guests staying unlawfully beyond their term in a short-term rental, vacation rental, or hotel are trespassing and if needed can be removed.

While guests in short-term rentals should know to follow the terms of their agreement, recent events have shown that there is a gray area in the law that can be exploited against short-term rental hosts.

The Illegal Occupancy Enforcement Amendment Act provides common sense clarification on short-term stays and target and targeted updates to create a better system for us all.

We urge the council to pass this bill.

I am fortunate today to be joined by Assistant Chief Nikki Lavenhaus from MPD and Director Tiffany Crow from DLCP, and the three of us are happy to answer any questions the committee may have.

Wonderful.