# District of Columbia B26-0501: Porchfest Permitting Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

District of Columbia B26-0501, Porchfest Permitting Emergency Amendment Act of 2025, is a Council Period 26 (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Janeese Lewis George (Democratic); status became law, last action 2026-01-02 (Act A26-0236 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000066, Expires on Mar 30, 2026) (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0501-26
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: District of Columbia B26-0501
- State: District of Columbia
- Session: Council Period 26 (2025-2026)
- Title: Porchfest Permitting Emergency Amendment Act of 2025
- Status: became law
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-12-01
- Last action: 2026-01-02, Act A26-0236 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000066, Expires on Mar 30, 2026
- Sponsor: Janeese Lewis George (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (25 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Easier street closures for porchfests: benefit, low. The law defines a “porchfest” as a free neighborhood music festival on private property, like a porch or yard, or on abutting public property. District residents can apply for a block party permit to close the street where they live to hold a porchfest. The permitting agency cannot deny an applicat…
- Porchfest permit rules for 90 days: mixed, low. The act takes effect after the Mayor approves it, or after a Council veto override. It remains in effect for no more than 90 days as an emergency law. During this period, the porchfest permitting changes apply.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Janeese Lewis George (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-12-02 | House | Other | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-12-02 | House | Final Reading | pass | 12 | 1 |   |

## Actions (7)

- 2026-01-02: Act A26-0236 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000066, Expires on Mar 30, 2026 (House)
- 2025-12-30: Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0236, Expires on Mar 30, 2026 (House)
- 2025-12-22: Returned from Mayor (House)
- 2025-12-12: Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Dec 29, 2025 (House)
- 2025-12-02: Legislative Meeting (House)
- 2025-12-02: Retained by the Council (House)
- 2025-12-01: B26-0501 Introduced by Councilmember Lewis George at Office of the Secretary (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2025-12-02: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60808/Meeting1/Amendment/B26-0501-Amendment1.pdf?Id=228519)
- Enrollment, 2025-12-02: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60808/Meeting1/Enrollment/B26-0501-Enrollment2.pdf?Id=229085)
- Introduced, 2025-12-01: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60808/Introduction/B26-0501-Introduction.pdf?Id=227982)

## Related bills

- B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025 (signed)
- B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (signed)
- B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026 (signed)
- B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act of 2025 (signed)
- B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed)
- B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed)

## Sources
- [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60808/Meeting1/Amendment/B26-0501-Amendment1.pdf?Id=228519)
- [Enrollment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60808/Meeting1/Enrollment/B26-0501-Enrollment2.pdf?Id=229085)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60808/Introduction/B26-0501-Introduction.pdf?Id=227982)

## Related
- [B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0047-26)
- [B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amend…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0785-26)
- [B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0663-26)
- [B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0181-26)
- [B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Correcti…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0735-26)
- [B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarificati…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0760-26)
- [District of Columbia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia/bills)
- [District of Columbia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0501-26 (as of 2026-11-04).