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District of ColumbiaB26-0367Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Public Benefits Security Amendment Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Matthew Frumin (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Stolen benefits restored for eligible households

Beginning October 1, 2027, District of Columbia households gain a right to recover benefits stolen through fraud. You must report theft within 6 months, and the Department of Human Services must confirm it through an investigation. Covered fraud includes phishing, skimming, card cloning, and similar scams. Repayment covers the stolen amount or 2 months of correctly issued benefits, whichever is less. Correctly issued means your eligibility and benefit amount were calculated accurately under the law. For theft spanning multiple months, DHS uses the 2 highest monthly amounts, excluding special payments, extra payments, and past underpayments. Benefits run by other agencies and the District's minimum annual food benefit are excluded. Reporting on time does not require completing all supporting paperwork within a rigid deadline. Within 20 days after your report, DHS must provide a new benefit card if it confirms theft. DHS must give written notice of its restoration decision and amount; adverse decisions must explain hearing rights and access to free legal counsel. You have 90 days after the determination to request a fair hearing over a denial or repayment amount. These rules also require their costs to be included in an approved budget and financial plan; DHS can still restore earlier theft losses.

Rent subsidy pilot gets another year

The District's Flexible Rent Subsidy Pilot Program continues for one more year, covering Fiscal Year 2027. Its end date moves from September 30, 2026, to September 30, 2027. The extension keeps the program available to participants but does not change eligibility rules or set individual subsidy amounts.

Safer benefit cards for assistance recipients

DHS must give all District public assistance recipients who use benefit cards updated cards with EMV security technology. The deadline is October 1, 2027, and the upgrade helps protect benefits against card-based theft. DHS must seek federal repayment of transition costs from USDA's Food and Nutrition Service wherever federal law allows. Federal repayment is not guaranteed, and the law sets no amount. These requirements apply once their costs are included in an approved budget and financial plan. The District's chief financial officer must certify that funding condition and publish notice; the publication date does not control applicability.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Matthew Frumin

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 1/6/2026

Final Reading

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 1/6/2026

Other

Yes: 12 • No: 0

House vote • 12/16/2025

First Reading, CC

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Law L26-0104, Effective from Mar 24, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 005738

    4/3/2026House

  2. Transmitted to Congress

    2/9/2026House

  3. Act A26-0250 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 001069

    2/6/2026House

  4. Returned from Mayor

    2/2/2026House

  5. Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0250

    1/22/2026House

  6. Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Feb 02, 2026

    1/20/2026House

  7. Legislative Meeting

    1/6/2026House

  8. Legislative Meeting

    12/16/2025House

  9. Committee Mark-up of B26-0367 by the Human Services Committee

    12/10/2025House

  10. Public Hearing on B26-0367 View Public Hearing Record

    10/30/2025House

  11. Referred to Committee on Human Services

    10/7/2025House

  12. Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

    10/3/2025House

  13. Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0367 Published in the District of Columbia Register

    10/3/2025House

  14. Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Human Services

    9/29/2025House

  15. B26-0367 Introduced by Councilmember Frumin at Office of the Secretary

    9/24/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment

    1/6/2026

    PDF

  • Enrollment

    1/6/2026

    PDF

  • Engrossment

    12/16/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    9/24/2025

    PDF

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