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B26-0774
Dram Shop Clarification and Liquor Liability Insurance Amendment Act of 2026
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 4:28 AM
In one sentence
This bill sets a $500,000 limit on money awarded for emotional harm in lawsuits against alcohol sellers who serve minors or drunk people, and it orders an official study on insurance costs.
What it does
- Caps non-economic damages at $500,000 in civil cases involving the sale of alcohol to minors or intoxicated persons.
- Increases this damage cap by $50,000 every ten years starting January 1, 2037.
- Requires the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking to study if minimum insurance rules would lower premiums for nightlife businesses in Washington, D.C.
- Directs the department to compare how other states handle liquor liability insurance coverage.
Who it affects
- Businesses that sell alcoholic beverages in Washington, D.C.
- People who file lawsuits against alcohol sellers
- The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking
Limits and unknowns
- The bill does not take effect until the Mayor approves it (or overrides a veto) and Congress completes a 30-day review period.
- The study on insurance premiums must be finished within 180 days of the law taking effect, but no results are included in this text.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Dram Shop Clarification and Liquor Liability Insurance Amendment Act of 2026
Official activity
Bill history
- Under Council Review