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B26-0049 • 2025

Seasonal Pricing and Price Gouging Amendment Act of 2025

Seasonal Pricing and Price Gouging Amendment Act of 2025

Housing
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Mendelson
Last action
2026-05-01
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date depends on a 30-day congressional review period after Mayor approval, which is not yet complete as of the provided text.

Seasonal Pricing and Price Gouging Amendment Act of 2025

This law updates rules for price increases during emergencies in Washington, D.C., allows seasonal pricing calculations for hotels and rental cars starting in 2027, bans buying large quantities of specific goods when officials declare them necessary, and sets fines and legal actions for violations.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the definition of 'normal retail price' to allow higher charges for hotel rooms (at least 95% occupied) and rental vehicles based on prices from the same week in prior years starting in calendar year 2027.
  • Makes it illegal to charge more than a set limit during emergencies unless the seller can prove their costs went up due to suppliers, labor, or materials.
  • Prohibits people from buying large quantities of specific goods if the Mayor or federal government declares those items necessary for first responders, supply chains, or rationing during an emergency.
  • Allows the Attorney General to sue in court to stop price gouging and stockpiling without needing a bond or proving damages.
  • Sets civil fines up to $1,000 per violation that can be imposed by the Mayor.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Businesses selling goods or services like hotels and rental car companies in Washington, D.C.
  • Individuals who buy essential items during a declared public emergency or natural disaster.
  • The Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia when enforcing these rules.

Terms To Know

Normal retail price
Usually no more than 10% above prices from the 90 days before an emergency, or for hotels and rental cars starting in 2027, no more than 10% above prices from the same week last year.
Stockpiling
Buying goods in amounts larger than what is allowed by officials when those items are declared necessary for first responders or supply chains during an emergency.
Public emergency
A situation declared by the Mayor that threatens health, safety, or welfare and triggers special rules for pricing and buying goods.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not state a specific calendar date when it will officially take effect.
  • It is unclear which specific items are considered 'essential' until the Mayor or federal government declares them during an emergency.
  • The text does not explain how businesses must prove their costs increased to justify higher prices.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0298 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 006785

  2. 2026-04-23 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2026-04-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0298

  4. 2026-04-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 28, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  6. 2026-03-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2026-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Committee Mark-up of B26-0049 by the Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  9. 2025-11-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Public Hearing on B26-0049 View Public Hearing Record

  10. 2025-10-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

  11. 2025-10-15 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Committee of the Whole

  12. 2025-01-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0049 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  13. 2025-01-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Referred to Committee of the Whole

  14. 2025-01-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0049 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Seasonal Pricing and Price Gouging Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-298
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
APRIL 22, 2026
ToamendChapter41ofTitle28oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodetoamenddefinitionsofexistingterms,toallowforalternativecalculationofnormalretailpricesforrentalvehiclesandhotelroomsbasedonaseasonalpricingmodel,toprohibitstockpilingofcertaingoodsfollowinganaturaldisasterordeclarationofa publicemergency,tomakethedeclarationofapublicemergencyatriggeringeventfortheprohibitionagainstpricegouging,andtoprovideforremediesiftheSuperiorCourtoftheDistrictofColumbia
findsapersonhasengagedinpricegougingorstockpilinginacivilactionbroughtbytheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneralfortheDistrictofColumbia,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“SeasonalPricingand PriceGouging Amendment Act of 2026”.
Sec.2.Chapter41ofTitle28oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeisamendedas
follows:(a)Thetableofcontentsisamendedbyaddinganewsectiondesignationtoreadas
follows:“28-4102.01.Stockpiling,”.(b)Section28-4101isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“§28-4101.Definitions.“Forthepurposesofthischapter,theterm:(1)“Goodsandservices”shallinclude:“(A)Consumergoodsandservicesused,bought,orrenderedprimarilyfor
personal,family,orhouseholdpurposes;“(B)Essentialmedicalsuppliesandservicesusedforthecare,cure,
mitigation,treatment,orpreventionofanyillnessesordiseases;and“(C)Anyotheressentialgoodsandservicesusedtopromotethehealthor
welfareofthepublic.“(2)“Naturaldisaster”meanstheactualorimminentconsequenceofanydisaster,
catastrophe,oremergency,includingfire(otherthanafirecausedbyhumanerrororarson),
1

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
flood,earthquake,storm,orotherseriousactofnature,whichthreatensthehealth,safety,orwelfareofpersonsorcauseswidespreaddamagetopropertyintheDistrictofColumbia.“()(A)“Normalretailprice”meansnotmorethan10%morethanthepriceatwhichthesameorsimilargoodsandservicesweresoldintheDistrictofColumbiaduringthe
90-dayperiodthatimmediatelyprecededanaturaldisaster,ifanemergencyisdeclaredpursuantto§28-4102(b),orthecircumstancesgivingrisetoapublicemergency,ifapublicemergencyis
declaredpursuantto§7-2304.“(B)Notwithstandingsubparagraph(A)ofthisparagraph,forcalendar
year2027andthereafter,“normalretailprice”means:“@)Forarentalvehicle,notmorethan10%morethanthepriceat
whichapersonchargedforthesameorasimilarrentalvehicleduringthesameweekofthesame
monthsoftheprioryear.Forpurposesofthissub-subparagraph,theterm“rentalvehicle”shallhavethesamemeaningassetforthin§50-1505.01(8);and“(ii)Forahotelroominahotelthatisatleast95%occupied,not
morethan10%morethanthepriceatwhichapersonchargedforthesameorasimilarroomduringthesameweekofthesamemonthofthemostrecentyearforwhichtherewasanaverage
hotelroomoccupancyof95%.Forpurposesofthissub-subparagraph,theterm“hotelroom”meansanyroomorsuiteofroomsatafacilityaffordingsleepingaccommodationstotransient
guests.
“(C)Notwithstandingsubparagraphs(A)and(B)ofthisparagraph,ifa
persondidnotsellgoodsandservicesintheDistrietofColumbiaduringthe90-dayperiodthatprecededanaturaldisaster,ifanemergencyisdeclaredpursuantto§28-4102(b),orthecircumstancesgivingrisetoapublicemergency,ifapublicemergencyisdeclaredpursuantto§7-2304,thatpersonmaynotchargeapricethatismorethan50percentgreaterthantheactual
pricethepersonpaidtothemanufacturerordistributorforthegoodorservice.“(4)“Person”meansacorporation,firm,agency,company,association,
organization,partnership,society,jointstockcompany,oranindividual.“(5)“Publicemergency”shallhavethesamemeaningassetforthin§7-
23013).”.(©)Section28-4102isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“§28-4102.Overcharging.“(a)Exceptasprovidedinsubsection(a-1)ofthissection,itshallbeunlawfulforany
persontochargemorethanthatperson’snormalretailpriceforanygoodsorservicessoldduringanemergencyresultingfromanaturaldisasterdeclaredpursuanttosubsection(b)ofthissection,
orduringapublicemergencydeclaredpursuantto§7-2304.“(a-1)A personmaychargemorethanthenormalretailpriceforanygoodsorservices
soldduringanemergencyresultingfromanaturaldisasterdeclaredpursuanttosubsection(b)ofthissection,orduringapublicemergencydeclaredpursuantto§7-2304,if:“(1)Thepriceincreaseisdirectlyattributabletoadditionalcostsimposedonthe
personbythesupplierofgoods;or
2
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(2)Thepriceincreaseisdirectlyattributabletoadditionalcostsforlaborormaterialsusedtoprovidetheserviceorproducethegoods.“(b)(1)Within48hoursofa naturaldisaster,theMayormaydeclare,fornotmorethan30calendardays,astateofemergencyforthepurposesofthischapter.TheMayorshallprepare
anemergencydeclarationthatshallincludeadescriptionoftheexistence,nature,extent,anddurationoftheemergency.“(2)Upontheissuanceofadeclarationofanemergencyorassoonaspracticablegiventhenatureoftheemergency,theMayorshallpublishacopyoftheemergencydeclaration
intheDistrictofColumbiaRegisterandin2dailynewspapersofgeneralcirculation.”(d)A newsection28-4102.01isaddedtoreadasfollows:“§28-4102.01.Stockpiling.“TtshallbeunlawfulforanypersontopurchasegoodsinquantitiesgreaterthanthosespecifiedbytheMayororthefederalgovernmentduringapublicemergencydeclaredpursuant
to§7-2304,orduringanemergencyresultingfromanaturaldisasterdeclaredpursuantto§28-4102(b),iftheMayororthefederalgovernmenthavedeclaredsaidgoodstobe:“(1)Necessaryforfirstrespondersorothersduringanaturaldisasterorpublic
emergency;“(2)Necessarytomaintainsupplychainsofcommerceduringanaturaldisasteror
apublicemergency;or“(3)Subjecttogovernment-orderedrationing,”.
(@)Section28-4103isamendedtoreadasfollows:“§28-4103,Penalties.“(a)(1)A violationof§ 28-4102(a)or§28-4102.01shallbeacivilinfractionfor
purposesofChapter18ofTitle2.(2)Foreachviolationof§ 28-4102(a)or§28-4102.01,civilfines,penalties,and
feesinanamountnotmorethan$1,000maybeimposedbytheMayor,pursuanttoChapter18
ofTitle2. (3)Adjudicationofanyinfractionunderthissubsectionshallbepursuantto
Chapter18ofTitle2.“(b)Inadditiontoanymonetarypenaltyimposedundersubsection(a)thissection:“(1)TheMayormayrevoke,suspend,orlimitthelicense,permit,orcertificateof
occupancyofa personwhoviolates§28-4102(a)or§28-4102.01;and“(2)(A)TheAttorneyGeneralfortheDistrictofColumbiamaybringanactionintheSuperiorCourtoftheDistrictofColumbiatoenjoinviolationsof§ 28-4102(a)or§28-4102.01andtorequiretheviolatortotakeaffirmativeaction,includingtherestitutionofmoney
orproperty.Inanyactionunderthissection,theAttorneyGeneralshallnotberequiredtoprovedamagesandtheinjunctionshallbeissuedwithoutbond.“(B)Inactionbroughtpursuanttosubparagraph(A)ofthisparagraph,the
AttorneyGeneralfortheDistrictofColumbiamayrecover:“@ A civilpenaltyof$1,000to$10,000foreachviolation;
3
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(ii)Economicdamages;and(iii)Thecostsoftheactionandreasonableattorneys”fees.”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,
approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a)..
Sec.4.Effectivedate,ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobythe
Mayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(e)(1)).
. ase
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia
Mayor
Districtof Columbia
APPROVEDAPRIL 22, 2026
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[XX]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR,

[XTACTION FirstReading,CC
[VOTE DATE February3,2026
[X]VOICEVOTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT Pinto
{]ROLLCALLVOTE~Result

aoe a paar
Satie |tee
DocketNo.26-0049
[X]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR,

[X]ACTION FinalReading,CC
[X]VOTEDATE March31,2026
[x1VoIcevoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
{]ROLLCALLVOTE~Result

‘CouncilMember [Aye[Nay[NV[AB.|Ree|CounciiMember.Aye|Nay|NV[AB| Rec|CounciiMember|Aye|Nay|NV.|AB_|Rec
ChairmanMendlson|X Feumin x Pinto
Allon x Hendersonx R.White
Bonds x LewisGeorge_| x T.White
Grawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
X-IndicateVote “AB-Absont NV:Prosent,NotVoting og

CERTIFICATIONRECORD
4-72-26
‘SeeretiyfothaCouncl