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B26-0173 • 2025

Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025

Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025

Taxes
Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official text cites this act as being enacted in April 2026, though the title includes '2025'.

Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025

This law protects licensed architects, engineers, and land surveyors in Washington, D.C., from civil lawsuits if they voluntarily help during a life-threatening emergency without pay.

What This Bill Does

  • Provides limited protection from civil damages for professionals who assist at the scene of or in connection with a life-threatening emergency in the built environment.
  • Defines 'built environment' as human-constructed surroundings that support human activities, including buildings, transport systems, and landscapes.
  • Requires helpers to complete a specific safety assessment training program based on the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services model before acting.
  • Limits protection to actions taken during an official public emergency declared by the Mayor or within 90 days after it ends.
  • Adds new sections to District of Columbia law covering architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Licensed architects in Washington, D.C.
  • Licensed professional engineers in Washington, D.C.
  • Licensed professional land surveyors in Washington, D.C.

Terms To Know

Built environment
Human-constructed surroundings that support human activities, including buildings, transport systems, and landscapes.
Gross negligence or willful misconduct
Serious carelessness or intentional bad behavior; the law does not protect professionals who act this way.
Public emergency
A crisis situation officially declared by the Mayor of Washington, D.C. pursuant to § 7-2304(a).

Limits and Unknowns

  • The protection only applies if the professional acts without receiving any compensation.
  • Professionals must act at the direction or request of, or with the approval of, a federal or District official they reasonably believe is acting in an official capacity.
  • The law does not protect professionals who are grossly negligent or engage in willful misconduct.
  • Protection applies only if the professional has completed the required training program.

Bill History

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

    Act A26-0306 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 006817

  2. 2026-04-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0306

  3. 2026-04-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  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

    Committee Mark-up of B26-0173 by the Committee of the Whole

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

    Legislative Meeting

  8. 2026-02-17 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Committee Mark-up of B26-0173 by the Committee of the Whole

  9. 2026-01-09 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Re-Referral published.

  10. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Re-Referred to Committee of the Whole

  11. 2025-12-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Public Hearing on B26-0173 View Public Hearing Record

  12. 2025-11-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

  13. 2025-11-12 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Business and Economic Development

  14. 2025-03-18 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Referred to Committee on Business and Economic Development

  15. 2025-03-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0173 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  16. 2025-03-10 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0173 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Architect and Engineer Good Samaritan Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-306
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
APRIL 24, 2026
To amend SubchapterI-Bof Chapter28of Title47of the Districtof Columbia OfficialCode to
providelimitedcivilliability,absentgrossnegligenceor willfulmisconduct,to licensed
architects,professionalengineers,andprofessionallandsurveyorswho,ingoodfaithand
withoutcompensation,renderassistanceatthesceneof,orinconnectionwith,a life-
threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment,atthedirectionorrequestof,orwiththe
approvalof,afederalorDistrictofficial,duringaperiodofa publicemergencydeclared
bytheMayororwithin90daysfollowingtheendofsuchperiodatthesceneofthelife-
threateningemergency inthebuiltenvironment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
actmay be citedas the“Architectand EngineerGood SamaritanAmendment Act of 2026”.
Sec.2.SubchapterI-BofChapter28ofTitle47oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficial
Codeisamendedasfollows:(a)Section47-2853.01isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph(1A)toreadasfollows:“(1A)“Builtenvironment”meansthehuman-constructedsurroundingsthatsupporthumanactivities,includingbuildings,transportsystems,andlandscapes.”.
(b)PartC isamendedasfollows:(1)Thetableofcontentsisamendedbyaddinganewsectiondesignationtoreadasfollows:“47-2853.69.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeofarchitectureatsceneoflife-
threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”.(2)A newsection47-2853.69isaddedtoreadasfollows:“§47-2853.69.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeofarchitectureatsceneoflife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.“Anypersonwithavalidlicenseasanarchitectshallnotbeliable,intheabsenceofgrossnegligenceorwillfullmisconduct,foranycivildamagesforactsoromissionsresultingfrom
renderingassistancethroughthepracticeofarchitectureatthesceneof,orinconnectionwith,alife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;provided,thatthepersonacted:
1
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(1)DuringapublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§7-2304(a),orwithin90daysfollowingtheendofthepublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§ i7-2304(a),atthesceneofthelife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment; |
“(2)Ingoodfaithandwithoutcompensation;“(3)Atthedirectionorrequestof,orwiththeapprovalof,afederalorDistrictofficialreasonablybelievedbythepersontobeactinginanofficialcapacity;and \“(4)Afterhavingcompleteda trainingprogramthatusestheCaliforniaGovernor’sOfficeOfEmergencyServicesSafetyAssessmentProgramtoprovidelicensed
architectstheabilitytoassistlocalgovernmentsinsafetyevaluationofthebuiltenvironmentintheaftermathofa life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment”.
(©)PartH isamendedasfollows:(1)Thetableofcontentsisamendedbyaddinganewsectiondesignationtoread
asfollows:“47-2853.115.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeoflandsurveyingatsceneof
life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”.(2)A newsection47-2853.115isaddedtoreadasfollows:“§47-2853.115.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeoflandsurveyingatscene
oflife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.“Anypersonwithavalidlicenseasaprofessionallandsurveyorshallnotbeliable,inthe
absenceofgrossnegligenceorwillfulmisconduct,foranycivildamagesforactsoromissionsresultingfromrenderingassistancethroughthepracticeoflandsurveyingatthesceneof,orinconnectionwith,alife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;provided,thattheperson
acted:

“(1)DuringapublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuant§7-2304(a),or
within90daysfollowingtheendofthepublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§7-
2304(a),atthesceneof thelife-threateningemergency inthebuiltenvironment;
“(2)Ingoodfaithandwithoutcompensation;
“(3)At thedirectionor requestof,or withtheapprovalof,a federalor District
officialreasonablybelievedbythepersontobeactinginanofficialcapacity;and
“(4)AfterhavingcompletedatrainingprogramthatusestheCalifornia
Governor'sOfficeOfEmergencyServicesSafetyAssessmentProgramtoprovidelicensed
professionallandsurveyorstheabilitytoassistlocalgovernmentsinsafetyevaluationofthe
builtenvironmentintheaftermathofa life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”,
(@)PartJisamendedasfollows:
(1)Thetableofcontentsisamendedbyaddinganewsectiondesignationtoread
as follows:
“47-2853.134,Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeofengineeringatsceneoflife-
threateningemergency inthebuiltenvironment.”.
(2)A new section47-2853.134isadded toreadas follows:
Ҥ 47-2853.134.Limitedcivilliabilityforvoluntarypracticeof engineeringatsceneof
life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“Anypersonwithavalidlicenseasaprofessionalengineershallnotbeliable,inthe
absenceofgrossnegligenceorwillfulmisconduct,foranycivildamagesforactsoromissions
resultingfromrenderingassistancethroughthepracticeofengineeringatthesceneof,orin
connectionwith,alife-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;provided,thattheperson
acted:
“(1)DuringapublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuant§7-2304(a),or
within90daysfollowingtheendofthepublicemergencydeclaredbytheMayorpursuantto§7-
2304(a),atthesceneofthe life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment;
“(2)Ingoodfaithandwithoutcompensation;
“(3)Atthedirectionorrequestoforwiththeapprovalofa federalorDistrict
officialreasonablybelievedbythepersontobeactinginanofficialcapacity;and
«(4)Afterhavingcompleteda trainingprogramthatusestheCalifornia
Governor’sOfficeOfEmergencyServicesSafetyAssessmentProgramtoprovidelicensed
professionalengineerstheabilitytoassistlocalgovernmentsinsafetyevaluationofthebuilt
environmentintheaftermathofa life-threateningemergencyinthebuiltenvironment.”.
Sec,3.Fiscalimpact statement.
‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementinthecommitteereportasthefiscal
impactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,
approved October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobythe
Mayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto)anda30-dayperiodofcongressionalreview
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
as providedinsection602(c)(1)of theDistrictof Columbia Home Rule Act,approved December
24, 1973 (87 Stat.813;D.C. OfficialCode§ 1-206.02(c)(1)).
airman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

Mayor
Qe BO ED
APRIL 24, 2026

DocketNo.B26-0173
[ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[XTACTION FirstReading,CC
(x1VOTEDATE March3,2026
[x1VOIGEvoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[TROLLCALLVOTE—Resut
‘CouncilMember[Aya|Nay|NV [AB[Rec[Counc!Member[Aye|Nay[NV[AB[Ree]GouncdMember[Aye[NayNV [AS[Ree
CChaitmanMendelson]x Foun x Pinto x
Alen x Henderson| X R.White x
Bonds x LewisGoorge_| x T.White x
Crawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
XsIndicateVote AB Absent NV--Present,NotVoting ‘Rec«Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
_saeeciel aoeaeety WeCou Date
DocketNo.826-0173
{ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
1X]ACTION FinalReading
{x1VOTEpate March31,2026
[X1VOIcEVOTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
{JROLLCALLVOTE~Result
CourcilMember| Aye[NayNV.[AB| Rec|CouncitMember[Aye|Nay|NV_|AB_|Reo|CouncilMember|Aye|NayNV [AB|Rec
ChairmanMendelson]X Frumin x Pinto
Aen x Henderson| x .White
Bonds x LewisGeowe| x T.White
crawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
X-IndicateVote 2 AB—Absent NV+Present,NotVoting : Ree-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
Seyret A726iyoheCou Dale