District of ColumbiaB26-0046Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Emergency Rental Assistance Reform Amendment Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Phil Mendelson (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Clearer ERAP emergencies and proof rules

The law clarifies what counts as an ERAP emergency: an unexpected event that risks eviction, homelessness, displacement, or re‑establishing a rental home, like job loss or high medical bills, that stops you from paying rent and needs financial help. You must document the emergency, but if the emergency makes getting papers impossible, you can submit an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury explaining why. The Mayor must issue rules to carry out these changes. The law also removes an older paragraph in this section so agencies follow the updated text.

Tenants get ERAP pause and rent waiver

If you show the court proof of a pending ERAP application, the court can pause your eviction once, and the judge may extend it. If ERAP is approved to pay all that you owe and you tell your landlord at least 48 hours before the eviction, the landlord must cancel it; any new date must be at least three weeks later. If the landlord withholds needed ERAP payment information for more than 45 days, the court can order them to provide it and can deem that rent waived and not collectible, unless a third party caused the delay, the landlord has good cause, or ERAP already paid. Payment information includes items like a W-9, ID, business license, rent ledger, owner or manager identity, and the rent balance; payment-plan details do not count. After a cancellation based on an approved ERAP payment, the landlord may seek a new writ without asking the court again, unless the judgment is permanently stayed because you redeemed the tenancy. The law also defines ERAP providers as vendors that process ERAP applications.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Phil Mendelson
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 43 • No: 2

House vote • 5/6/2025

Other

Yes: 11 • No: 1

House vote • 5/6/2025

Final Reading

Yes: 11 • No: 1

House vote • 4/1/2025

Other

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 4/1/2025

First Reading

Yes: 9 • No: 0 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

Law Number L26-0020 Effective from Jul 18, 2025
7/18/2025House
Act A26-0074 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 006447
6/6/2025House
Transmitted to Congress
6/4/2025House
Returned from Mayor
5/29/2025House
Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0074
5/28/2025House
Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on May 30, 2025
5/15/2025House
Legislative Meeting
5/6/2025House
Legislative Meeting
4/1/2025House
Re-Referral published.
3/28/2025House
Committee Report Filed by the Human Services Committee
3/25/2025House
Committee Mark-up of B26-0046 by the Human Services Committee
3/25/2025House
Notice of Mark-up filed in the Office of Secretary
3/17/2025House
Re-Referral published.
2/7/2025House
Re-Referred to Committee on Human Services with comments from the Committee on Housing
2/4/2025House
Re-Referred to Committee on Housing with comments from the Committee on Human Services
2/3/2025House
Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0046 Published in the District of Columbia Register
1/24/2025House
Referred to Committee on Human Services
1/21/2025House
B26-0046 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary
1/13/2025House

Bill Text

Amendment
5/6/2025
PDF
Enrollment
5/6/2025
PDF
Amendment
4/1/2025
PDF
Engrossment
4/1/2025
PDF
Introduced
1/13/2025
PDF

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