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B26-0061 • 2025

Parity in Workers’ Compensation Recovery Act of 2025

Parity in Workers’ Compensation Recovery Act of 2025

Labor
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Mendelson
Last action
2025-10-01
Official status
Official Law
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text references a previous emergency act effective June 28, 2022, to define the scope for pending claims, but does not explicitly restate that date in the final enacted language provided.

Parity in Workers' Compensation Recovery Act of 2025

This law allows workers to file for District benefits even if they received money from another state, but the District payment will be reduced by that outside amount.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends the District of Columbia Workers' Compensation Act of 1979 regarding claims involving other states.
  • States that receiving compensation in another state does not stop a worker or their dependents from filing a claim in the District for the same injury or death.
  • Requires any award given by the District to be reduced by the amount already received or awarded under another state's workers' compensation law.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Employees who are injured on the job and receive workers' compensation from both the District and another state.
  • Dependents of employees who die due to work-related injuries covered by multiple states.
  • The agencies that process and pay out workers' compensation claims under the District's law.

Terms To Know

Bar a claim
To stop someone from being allowed to ask for money or benefits.
Compensation award
The amount of money given to an injured worker or their family as payment for the injury.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law does not specify a maximum total amount a person can receive from both states combined.
  • The text does not explain what happens if the other state's payment is larger than the District would normally pay, only that the District award must be reduced.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Law Number L26-0042 Effective from Oct 01, 2025

  2. 2025-08-19 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Congress

  3. 2025-08-15 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0129 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 008926

  4. 2025-08-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  5. 2025-08-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0129

  6. 2025-07-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Aug 14, 2025

  7. 2025-07-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  8. 2025-07-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  9. 2025-06-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Committee Mark-up of B26-0061 by the Executive Administration and Labor Committee

  10. 2025-01-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0061 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  11. 2025-01-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Referred to Committee on Executive Administration and Labor

  12. 2025-01-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0061 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Parity in Workers’ Compensation Recovery Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT

ACT 26-129
INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
AUGUST 11, 2025
‘ToamendtheDistrictofColumbiaWorkers’CompensationActof1979toprovidethatthepaymentorawardofcompensationundertheworkers’compensationlawofanyotherstateshallnotbaraclaimforcompensationundertheDistriet’sworkers’compensationlawforthesameinjuryordeath;provided,thatanysuchawardundertheDistrict'sworkers”compensationlawshallbereducedbytheamountofcompensationreceivedorawardedundertheworkers’compensationlawofanyotherstate.
BE ITENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA, Thatthis
actmay be citedas the“ParityinWorkers’CompensationRecoveryAmendment Actof 2025”.
Sec.2.Section4(a-1)oftheDistrictof Columbia Workers’CompensationAct of 1979,
effectiveJuly1,1980(D.C.Law3-77;D.C.OfficialCode§32-1503(a-1)),isamendedtoread
as follows:
“(@-1)(1)Notwithstandinganyotherlaw,thepaymentorawardofcompensationunder
theworkers’compensationlawofany otherstatetoanemployeeorhisdependentshallnotbara
claimforcompensationunderthisactforthesame injuryordeath;provided,thatanysuchaward
ofcompensationunderthisactshallbe reducedby theamount ofcompensationreceivedor
awardedundertheworkers’compensationlawofanyotherstate.
“(2)Thissubsectionshallapplytoailclaimsunderthisactthatarependingasof
theeffectivedateoftheParityinWorkers’CompensationRecoveryEmergencyAmendmentAct
of2022, effectiveJune 28,2022 (D.C.Act 24-453;69 DCR 7765)(“emergencyact”),and all
claimsunderthisactfiledaftertheeffectivedateoftheemergency act.”.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheChiefFinancialOfficerasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.4.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreviewasprovidedinsection602(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.813;D.C.OfficialCode§1-206.02(c)(1)).
‘hairman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

APPROVED
AUGUST11, 2025

COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[OX]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR

DgAcTION FirstReading,CC
[XIVOTEDATE aly14,2028
Dx1VOIcEvoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[JROLLCALLVOTE—Result

[CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec]CounciMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendetson|X Henderson x Pinto
‘Alen x LewisGeorge| x R.White
Bonds x MeDutie x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote ‘AB~Absont NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
‘CERTIFICATIONRECORD
SeorelarytotheCouncil te
DocketNo,826-0061
[X]ITEMON CONSENTCALENDAR
[x]ACTION FinalReading,CC
[x]VOTEDATE July28,2025
[X)VoIcEVOTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
{]ROLLCALLVOTE~Resut
CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|CounciiMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec|CouncilMember Nay[Nv[AB[Ree
ChairmanMendetson|X Henderson x Pinto
‘Allen x LewisGeorge_| x R.White
Bonds x McDuffie x
Folder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote ‘AB~Absent NV--Prosent,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD[Vee Sof e-
TothsCouncil ae