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District of ColumbiaPR26-0001Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Rules of Organization and Procedure for the Council of the District of Columbia, Council Period 26, Resolution of 2025

Sponsored By: Phil Mendelson (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

26 provisions identified: 15 benefits, 2 costs, 9 mixed.

Tougher ethics and post-job limits for staff

Employees must keep nonpublic information confidential and file financial disclosures if covered by law. You can get confidential ethics advice from the General Counsel; if you fully disclose facts and follow the advice, you are protected by a safe harbor. Former employees face bans: a permanent bar on matters you worked on personally and substantially, a two‑year bar on matters under your past responsibility, and a one‑year limit on contacting former supervisors or subordinates. The Council reviews its ethics program and posts training materials. The General Counsel serves as Ethics Counselor, keeps Council advice confidential, and does not represent staff for acts outside official duties.

More scrutiny for tax abatements

A tax abatement or exemption bill must have a tax and fiscal analysis at committee markup unless it is generally applicable. If the Chief Financial Officer finds the relief is not necessary, the bill must pass first reading by a two‑thirds vote of Members present.

Stronger harassment protections at the Council

The Council adopts a strict sexual harassment policy that bans harassment and retaliation. You can report to a supervisor, a Sexual Harassment Officer, or an online portal; outside counsel investigates and issues a report, and an ad hoc committee meets within 3 business days for complaints against Members. Reports stay confidential as much as possible. Annual sexual harassment training is required, and ethics training is required within 2 months of starting and once each Council Period. You may also file with D.C. OHR within one year or the EEOC within 300 days. Accused persons have the right to respond, to bring their own counsel, and are presumed innocent.

Clear rules to file new bills

Only Councilmembers can formally introduce measures. New bills must be typewritten, signed, and include a clear title. A Word copy must be uploaded to the Council intranet; a filing is not complete until that upload happens. Measures must be filed in Word and PDF through LIMS, and the Secretary may return incomplete proposals. The Secretary gives each measure a two‑part number and reads short titles at meetings. Measures sent by the Mayor or agencies must be filed on time and may not be introduced on the dais. Contract approvals and summaries are due by close of business four business days before the meeting. Other transmitted measures are due by noon two business days before.

Clear steps to discipline Councilmembers

An ad hoc committee is formed to review alleged member violations after set triggers, often within 3 business days. It excludes the member under review, may meet in executive session, and can protect sexual‑harassment complainants. The committee files a report in 45 or 90 days depending on the trigger, with one 30‑day extension allowed. If censure or expulsion is recommended, a proceeding is held within 45 days, with at least 30 days’ notice to the accused. The accused may speak, call witnesses, and be represented; they cannot vote on their own censure or expulsion. Censure needs a two‑thirds vote; expulsion needs five‑sixths of members. A reprimand lets the member speak, and can be adopted if they had notice but did not attend.

Clearer rules for bill amendments

Members should file amendments by 6:00 p.m. the business day before a meeting. Late amendments must be shared with all members and formally filed within 24 hours after offering. Oral amendments must be put in writing before a vote. Amendments need a fiscal impact and legal check unless the Chair agrees to a waiver. Amendments must be germane to the bill. The mover may accept a friendly amendment without objection. Substitute amendments need notice by noon the business day before, with strikeouts/underlines and a short rationale.

Faster Council review of contracts

Proposed contracts that require Council approval must be filed by 4:00 p.m. The Secretary circulates them within 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays. Council review starts the next business day after receipt. No submissions are allowed between July 5 and July 15 in 2025 or 2026. Approval or disapproval resolutions need at least three sponsors. The Secretary posts a contract summary on LIMS within 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.

Faster FOIA and public records access

The Secretary keeps up‑to‑date Council records and makes them public. Committees must file records when a matter ends. The General Counsel is the FOIA Officer. Any FOIA request must be sent to that officer within one business day. The office that is the subject gets one business day notice and has two business days to review responsive records. The Budget Director also posts quarterly lists of adopted bills that need budget inclusion or an appropriation. Each committee files an end‑of‑period report on its work.

Independent Auditor with six-year term

The Chair nominates the District’s Auditor and the Council confirms by resolution. The Auditor serves a six‑year term, and the Council sets the pay. The Auditor may hire and set staff pay within the office budget.

Limits on using titles in references

Council employees may use their official title for a recommendation only when asked for a job or character reference and they know the person’s work. Council letterhead may be used for current or former Council staff or people who worked with the Council when the letter covers duties the person actually did.

New Council rules, ethics, harassment policy

The Council adopts its official Rules of Organization and Procedure, a Code of Official Conduct, and a Sexual Harassment Policy. Members who start at the beginning of a Council Period take the oath on January 2 of odd‑numbered years; others take it as soon as practicable after certification. The Secretary supplies and records signed oaths. The Code requires high ethical conduct and bars official action when a personal, family, client, or business conflict exists.

Public, balanced Council budget review

The Mayor’s annual and revised budgets go to the Committee of the Whole. The Budget Director prepares and publishes a schedule of budget hearings and activities. Each standing committee holds hearings, reviews agency budgets, and recommends funding and staffing. Committees must send a balanced report by the day before the Committee of the Whole working session. Any net funding increase must show new revenue or offsets within that committee’s jurisdiction.

Racial equity office and bill reviews

The Council creates an Office of Racial Equity led by a Director. For bills with hearings, the Office issues a Racial Equity Impact Assessment within 30 days after the record closes, with some bill types excluded. Reports explain methods and findings and can suggest ways to reduce negative impacts.

Stricter fiscal and legal checks on bills

At committee markup, the Chief Financial Officer must provide a fiscal impact statement, and the General Counsel must provide a legal sufficiency decision when listed measures are considered. The Budget Director may issue a policy and economic analysis and, if prepared, must circulate it by noon the business day before the meeting. Any budget amendment must include fiscal and legal certifications and cannot put the budget out of balance.

Stronger committee reviews and referrals

Committees must issue written reports with background, witnesses, fiscal impact, racial equity impact, and a legal check before approving a bill. Chairs must file reported measures within 20 business days. The Chairman assigns bills to the right committee(s), and can set time limits for sequential referrals. If a committee misses its deadline, the bill is discharged. After final passage, a majority of the Council or a chair can ask the committee to file an addendum explaining Council amendments, and the committee must vote on it.

Stronger rules for Council hearings

The Council must hold a hearing before passing any permanent bill, unless a similar hearing was held this or last Council period. One member can hold a hearing or roundtable, and each member gets up to 10 minutes to question until all have asked once. The Secretary runs a Hearing Management System; committees add hearings within 48 hours, and the Secretary aims to approve in 24 hours. The record closes 10 business days after the hearing, and no markup happens before then. Committees must file the full record within 20 business days after the record closes. The Mayor and agency witnesses must testify under oath.

Transparent voting and debate rules

A motion to take a measure from the table is not debatable and needs a simple majority. Votes are recorded as YES, NO, or PRESENT. Voice votes are the default, but any member can ask for a roll‑call or a recorded vote. The roll is called in rotating alphabetical order, and a member can pass only once. Members may change their vote until the result is announced; after that it is final. For voice votes, members present are recorded on the winning side unless they asked to be recorded or recused.

Tighter rules on staff resources and mail

Council employees must use government email, phones, and tablets for public business or add outside messages to official records. Staff may not use government time, tools, or the prestige of office for personal or political purposes, and strict limits apply to gifts among employees. Only the Secretary or General Counsel can accept legal papers for the Council. Members cannot send mass mailings within 90 days before an election; newsletters in that window must go only to subscribers, include an opt‑out, and be reviewed.

Caps on Council earmark grants

Non‑capital earmark awards are capped at $250,000 per grantee per year. Capital project awards are capped at $1,000,000 per grantee per year.

Budget pauses and repeal of unfunded laws

During Council recess, agencies cannot submit reprogramming or grant budget modification requests, and review clocks pause. A law that depends on budget inclusion and gets no funding for two fiscal years is listed by the Budget Director and may be repealed in the third fiscal year’s Budget Support Act. The Secretary may disburse Council funds only for direct office operating expenses.

Clear rules for Council investigations

The Council must pass a resolution to authorize an investigation and file it with the Secretary. Before a subpoena issues, a report describing the scope and needed information must be filed. Subpoenas are served at least 5 business days before the return date, or by registered or certified mail at least 8 business days if personal service by an adult after reasonable attempts fails. Committees can ask the Superior Court to enforce subpoenas. Witnesses can claim legal privileges; the presiding member may examine the claim and order answers if unwarranted. Subpoenaed witnesses can get a transcript of their testimony, with production costs applying. Investigation subjects may submit cross‑exam questions (with member consent) and anyone named may file a sworn statement for the record.

Faster emergency laws with limits

The Council can pass emergency acts with a two‑thirds vote. They take effect right away for up to 90 days. A similar temporary bill can be taken up at the same meeting and can last up to 225 days. Technical‑only correction bills may skip a hearing if certified by the General Counsel. The Council can reenact a Mayor‑disapproved act with a two‑thirds vote during the 30‑day review. Emergency sponsors must give notice by noon three business days before, or as soon as possible if timing prevents that. Waiving Rule 231(c) needs early notice, legal and fiscal certifications, a complete record, and a two‑thirds vote; it is out of order if the bill includes amendments outside a committee’s jurisdiction. The Chair may rule out of order measures that must be included in the approved budget and financial plan.

Faster review of budget changes

The Chair may send reprogramming or grant budget changes to the oversight committee for comments. The Secretary circulates each request within one business day and publishes a notice with the receipt date. A request is deemed approved 14 days after receipt unless a member files a notice of disapproval. If a notice is filed, the Council has 30 days from receipt to disapprove or it is deemed approved. A member must file the notice within 14 days. The Mayor can withdraw a request before action or automatic effect. The Chairman must notify the Mayor whether the Council disapproved or not.

Meeting conduct and virtual attendance rules

Proxy voting and proxy quorum counts are prohibited. Members may join virtually only with the camera on and visible to the Secretary, and unstable connections do not delay business. During meetings, Members must avoid profane or abusive language; after a warning, the Chairman may order removal for disorder.

More open Council meetings and records

Council and committee meetings are open to the public and the news media. The Council must give notice: 48 hours for Council meetings and 24 hours for committee meetings. In the last two months, if a committee agenda has more than three bills, notice is 48 hours. The Secretary records all meetings, posts draft minutes within 3 business days, and posts recordings and transcripts within 7 business days. You can request written transcripts and copies, but you may have to pay fees. Meetings may close only for specific reasons, like legal advice, contract talks, personnel issues, or active investigations. To close a meeting, members must vote in public and state the legal reason. Closed‑meeting records stay confidential unless released after 10 days’ notice to affected witnesses.

Tighter rules for earmarked grants

To receive an earmark, a grantee must submit required documents to the Budget Director within 7 days after funding appears at first reading (or second reading if used). Required items include Articles of Incorporation, proof of 501(c)(3) or a pending IRS application, a recent audit or financials, Form 990 if required, notarized tax and access certifications, and a program plan with a budget. If a group cannot meet the rules, it may name a nonprofit fiscal sponsor by notarized statement; the sponsor must also agree and submit documents. All earmarks must be listed in the Budget Support Act, and the Budget Director certifies compliance before second reading; noncompliant grantees are removed and get no funding. The D.C. Auditor may randomly audit grantees and must issue any report by March 1 of the next fiscal year. Councilmembers, staff, and grantee leaders must disclose any personal, family, or financial ties.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Phil Mendelson

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 21 • No: 18

House vote • 1/2/2025

Final Reading

Yes: 12 • No: 1

House vote • 1/2/2025

Other

Yes: 3 • No: 10

House vote • 1/2/2025

Other

Yes: 6 • No: 7

Actions Timeline

  1. Resolution R26-0001, Effective from Jan 02, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 001289

    2/14/2025House

  2. Notice of Intent to Act on PR26-0001 Published in the District of Columbia Register

    1/10/2025House

  3. Retained by the Council

    1/7/2025House

  4. Approved with Resolution Number R26-0001

    1/2/2025House

  5. Legislative Meeting

    1/2/2025House

  6. PR26-0001 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

    1/2/2025House

Bill Text

  • Amendment

    1/2/2025

    PDFPDF

  • Enrollment

    1/2/2025

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/2/2025

    PDF

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