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B26-0151 • 2025

Second Chance Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Second Chance Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2025-03-28
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the act remains in effect for no longer than 90 days as an emergency measure, but does not explicitly state a final expiration date like June 19, 2025; that date appears only in metadata.

Second Chance Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency law changes the deadline for automatically sealing nonconviction records in Washington, D.C., to September 30, 2027.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends section 16-805(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Official Code regarding automatic record sealing timelines.
  • Sets a new cutoff date of on or before September 30, 2027 for certain nonconviction records to be sealed by October 1, 2027.
  • Applies these changes starting March 1, 2025.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People in the District of Columbia with nonconviction criminal records
  • Agencies responsible for sealing court and police records

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act is an emergency measure that remains in effect for no longer than 90 days after taking effect.
  • The official text does not specify the exact date this law takes effect, only that it follows approval by the Mayor or a veto override.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0034 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 003339, Expires on Jun 19, 2025

  2. 2025-03-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2025-03-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0034, Expires on Jun 19, 2025

  4. 2025-03-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 25, 2025

  5. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

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

    B26-0151 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Second Chance Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT.
D.C. ACT 26-34

INTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
MARCH 21, 2025
‘Toamend,onanemergencybasis,section16-805(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodetoclarifythetimelinefortheautomaticsealingofnonconvictions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedasthe“Second Chance ClarificationEmergency Amendment Act of2025”.
Sec.2.Section16-805(c)(1)oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeisamendedasfollows:(a)Subparagraph(A)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“priortotheeffectivedateoftheSecondChanceAmendmentActof2022,passedon2ndreadingonDecember20,2022(EnrolledversionofBill24-63)”andinsertingthephrase“onorbeforeSeptember30,2027”initsplace.(b)Subparagraph(B)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“theeffectivedateoftheSecondChanceAmendmentActof2022,on2ndreadingonDecember20,2022(EnrolledversionofBill24-63),shallbesealed”andinsertingthephrase“October1,2027,shallbesealedbyOctober1,2027,or”initsplace.
Sec.3.Applicability.
ThisactshallapplyasofMarch1,2025.
Sec.4,Fiscalimpactstatement.‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.5.Effectivedate.‘ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan
90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection
I
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
sn a“‘hairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

MARCH 21, 2025

COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

DocketNo.826-015:

[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR,
DXTACTION FinalReading
[X]VOTEDATE ‘March4,2025
[X]VOICEVOTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Resutt

[CounciiMember|Aye|Nay[Nv|AB| Rec|CounciiMember[Aye[Nay|NV|AB[Rec|CounciiMember Nay[NV
ChairmanMendelson]X Henderson x Pinto
Allen, x LewisGeorge| x R White
Bonds x McDutfie x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X- IndicateVote AB Absent NV-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
C CY 4S aT‘SecretarytotheCou