Health and Human Service Programs and Benefits Eligibility and Delivery Data-Sharing Clarifications Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

New record-sharing rules for benefit agencies

The law clarifies how District agencies share records to check eligibility for federal and District health and human services. Homeless-services records remain confidential under District and federal law, subject to allowed uses and required disclosures under the 2010 data-sharing law. That data-sharing law now covers subdivisions of agencies and other covered government bodies. The law also removes the reference to section 103 from the opening of its data-sharing permission. These emergency changes take effect after mayoral approval or a Council veto override and last no more than 90 days. The text does not establish a direct change in household payments or access to benefits.