Current Legislation

Current Legislation Introduced by Councilmember Allen:

Legislation is the chief way Councilmember Allen works to improve communities and solve problems. The legislative process can seem confusing (and it is!), but this page includes all non-public safety bills introduced by Councilmember Allen during the current Council period. Click on a link to see more about the progress for any bill and information. You can also sign up to receive alerts on any bill while you're there. 

As Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, Councilmember Allen takes the lead on the Council to ensure we are a safe and a just city. Click here to view Public Safety and Criminal Justice bills introduced to Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety by Councilmember Allen.

Education: 

At-Risk Funding Transparency Amendment Act - As introduced it requires District of Columbia Public Schools to include in its budget submission to the Council detailed information for each school's funding, a separate line-item for at-risk funding for each school, and a narrative description of programs and services funded by at-risk funds retained by the Chancellor. It also requires that Public Charter Schools make publicly available a report that delineates all programs or services supported by funds allocated during the previous fiscal year. The Public Charter School Board may withhold funds allocated pursuant to this section from a Public Charter School that fails to timely publish the report required.

Public School Transparency Amendment Act - As introduced it requires greater transparency in charter school administration regarding contracts greater than $25,000. It requires specific information in charter school annual reports. Among other things, it requires that the Public Charter School Board deliver a report to the Council describing the number and cost of requests for information made pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. The Office of Open Government must provide training regarding obligations of employees of public charter schools and members of the Board of Trustees.

Fair Access to Selective High Schools Amendment Act - Would ensure students in the top 15% of their class at any DC public school or public charter school could apply to any DC selective, citywide public high school.

Housing: 

Housing Conversion and Eviction Clarification Act - As introduced it authorizes fees collected pursuant to the Conversion of Rental Housing to Condominium or Cooperative Status Act of 1980 to be deposited in the Housing Production Trust Fund. It requires a fee be paid to the Mayor if an owner reduces the number of units in an accommodation with 10 or less units. Among other things it provides for damages when a housing provider repossesses a rental unit from a tenant in order to personally use and occupy or sell a housing unit for personal use and occupancy and subsequently receives rent within the following 12-month period.

Lead Hazard Prevention and Elimination Amendment Act - As introduced Bill 23-407 reduces the amount of acceptable levels of lead exposure and requires an owner to provide a clearance report before receiving any license, registration, or permit for the use of a rental unit. Among other things, it establishes the Indoor Lead Hazard Reduction Fund to provide assistance in bringing dwelling units constructed before 1978 and occupied by low-income tenants into compliance with the requirements of the act.

Small and Local Businesses:

Small and Local Business Assistance Amendment Act - As introduced Bill 23-438 provides qualified small local businesses with a tax credit for a portion of rent or property taxes paid and to reduce the taxable value of commercial property if it is rented or owned by a qualifying small local business.

Longtime Resident Business Preservation Amendment Act - As introduced Bill 23-439 creates a Longtime Resident Business Preservation Program to provide grants and low-interest loans for longtime resident businesses at risk of displacement. It establishes a Longtime Resident Business Protection Registry listing longtime resident businesses eligible to apply for benefits.

Transportation: 

Transportation Benefits Equity Amendment Act - As introduced it requires that employers who have employees who turn down parking benefits offer a Clean air Transportation Fringe Benefit in an amount equal to or more than the market value of the parking benefit minus the employee's contribution to the parking expense subject to the maximum tax-free benefit allowed by the IRS. If the employee declines both the parking benefit and the Clean-air Transportation Fringe Benefit the employer must increase its financial contribution to the health coverage, and/or the taxable wages, to where the employer contribution equals the market value of the benefit offered. The employer also has the option to pay a Clean Air Compliance fee of $100 per month for each employee who is offered parking benefits, cease to offer parking benefits, or develop a transportation demand management plan that the District of Columbia Department of Transportation has determined is likely to reduce the number of commuter trips employees made by car or taxi the previous year. Status: Passed on First Vote on March 3, 2020!

Vision Zero Enhancement Omnibus Amendment Act - As introduced the bill requires 10 days' notice regarding statements about regulating vehicular or pedestrian traffic, if the proposed installation, modification, or removal of the statement will increase safety at a location identified as a high-risk intersection in the Multimodal Long-Range Transportation Plan. It requires the Mayor to install sidewalks on both sides of a street, to connect new sidewalks to existing sidewalks and to mark unmarked crosswalks. It provides that the Department of Transportation (DDOT) not issue public space permits for certain projects unless the plans include installing new sidewalks, bicycle lanes or cycle tracks, or marked crosswalks and the applicant has met the requirements of previous permits and returned crosswalks and bicycle lanes to their pre-construction condition. It also requires that DDOT make certain information publicly available and easily searchable, and issue reports on how projects or recommendations increase transportation safety and provide equitable access to safety goals. Among other things, it requires Council approval of the Multimodal Long-Range Transportation Plan.

Metro For DC Amendment Act of 2020 - 

Public and Maternal Health: 

Maternal Health Care Improvement and Expansion Amendment Act - As introduced it requires individual or group health plans and health insurance coverage through Medicaid or the D.C. Healthcare Alliance program to cover at least two postpartum healthcare visits, home visits, fertility preservation services, and transportation stipends for travel to and from prenatal and postpartum visits. It also requires Medicaid to provide coverage for pregnant District residents that meet income eligibility requirements for one year postpartum. Among other things it establishes a Center on Maternal Health and Wellness.

Employment: 

Removing Barriers to Occupational Licensing for Returning Citizens Amendment Act - As introduced Bill 23-440 establishes a uniform standard for occupational licensing boards to consider only pending criminal accusations or prior convictions directly related to the occupation for which the license is sought. Adverse decisions must be subject to mitigating evidence submitted by the applicant. The Mayor and the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice are required to submit reports to the Council involving adverse decisions and their collateral consequences.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Issues:

Open Movie Captioning Requirement Act - As introduced it requires open movie captioning be provided at specified times by entities holding a basic business license with an "Entertainment: Moving Picture Theater" endorsement.

Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Establishment Act - As introduced it establishes the Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing and allows the Mayor to appoint the Director of the office.

Questions on how laws are made in the District? Helpful link on DC's lawmaking process. On any given piece of legislation, a councilmember may sign on during introduction as either a Co-Introducer or a Co-Sponsor. A Co-Introducer is a very strong supporter of the bill, and a Co-Sponsor is a supporter of the bill, but perhaps open to changes.

District Life: 

District Waterway Management Act -  As introduced it establishes the District Waterways Management Authority and the District Waterways Management Commission to plan, manage and advocate for the diverse uses of and access to the District's waterways and adjacent property, and to require the development of a District Waterways Management Action Plan.

Little Brown Bat Amendment Act - As introduced it designates the Little Brown Bat as the official state mammal of the District of Columbia.