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B26-0079 • 2025

Department of Energy and Environment Rulemaking Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Department of Energy and Environment Rulemaking Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Energy
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Allen
Last action
2025-02-28
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms the change from 'shall' to 'may', but does not explicitly state whether this grants new authority or merely clarifies existing discretion.

Department of Energy and Environment Rulemaking Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This law changes how the District Department of the Environment creates rules by allowing, but not requiring, the Mayor to issue them without a mandatory review period from the Council.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the rule so that the Mayor may create regulations for the department instead of being required to do so.
  • Removes the requirement that all new rules and regulations be sent to the Council for a 45-day active review period.
  • Applies these changes retroactively as if they started on July 29, 2021.
  • Sets an expiration date of May 21, 2025, because it is written as an emergency act.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Mayor of the District of Columbia
  • The Council of the District of Columbia
  • The Department of Energy and Environment

Terms To Know

Promulgate
To officially create, publish, or put into effect a rule or regulation.
Emergency Act
A law that takes effect quickly and expires after 90 days unless extended by the Council.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The text does not explain why this change was needed or what specific rules will be created.
  • The act automatically ends on May 21, 2025, and stops working if it is not renewed before that date.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0012 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 002012, Expires on May 21, 2025

  2. 2025-02-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0012, Expires on May 21, 2025

  3. 2025-02-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  4. 2025-02-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Feb 26, 2025

  5. 2025-02-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-02-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0079 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Department of Energy and Environment Rulemaking Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT.
TN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FEBRUARY 20, 2025
‘Toamend,onanemergencybasis,duetocongressionalreview,theDistrictDepartmentoftheEnvironmentEstablishmentActof2005toclarifythattheMayormaypromulgaterulesandregulationstoimplementtheprovisionsoftheDistrictDepartmentoftheEnvironmentEstablishmentActof2005,andtoeliminatetherequirementthatallrulesandregulationsbesubmittedtotheCouncilfora45-dayactivereviewperiod.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmaybecitedasthe“DepartmentofEnergyandEnvironmentRulemakingClarificationCongressionalReviewEmergencyAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.Section110oftheDistrictDepartmentoftheEnvironmentEstablishmentActof2005,effectiveFebruary15,2006(D.C.Law16-51;D.C,OfficialCode§8-151.10),isamended
asfollows:(a)Subsection(a)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“Mayorshallpromulgate”and
insertingthephrase“Mayormaypromulgate”initsplace.(b)Subsection(b)isrepealed.
Sec.3.Applicability.
ThisactshallapplyasofJuly29,2021.
Sec.4,Fiscalimpactstatement.‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.5,Effectivedate.
‘ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)andshallremainineffectfornofongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection
1
ENROLLED ORIGINAL,
412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§ 1-204.12(a)).
airman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

FEBRUARY 20, 2025
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[XJITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR:

DACTION FinalReading,CC
VOTEDATE February4,2025
[x]VoIcevoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
‘ABSENT

[]ROLLCALLVOTE-Resut

CounciiMember[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec|CounciMember|Aye[Nay|NV|AB[Rec]CouncilMember[Aye[N
ChairmanMendelson|X Henderson|X Pinto x
Allen x LewisGeorge| x Rwnte |
Bonds x MeDutfie x
Felaer x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X--IndicateVote ‘AB~Absent NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused

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