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B26-0193 • 2025

Foreclosure Moratorium and Homeowner Assistance Fund Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Foreclosure Moratorium and Homeowner Assistance Fund Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Taxes
Enacted

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

Sponsor
R. White
Last action
2025-04-25
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states this act takes effect following Mayor approval and lasts no longer than 90 days. The specific start date of the extension beyond September 30, 2022, depends on when the emergency period begins.

Foreclosure Moratorium and Homeowner Assistance Fund Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency law extends a pause on foreclosures for District of Columbia homeowners who applied for financial aid before September 30, 2022, if their applications are still being reviewed or waiting for payment.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops residential foreclosure actions against homeowners with pending DC Homeowner Assistance Fund (DC HAF) applications from July 1, 2022, through September 30, 2022.
  • Requires lenders and associations to send warning notices that inform homeowners about the DC HAF program before starting or continuing a foreclosure.
  • Extends the pause on foreclosures for applicants who submitted requests by September 30, 2022, until their applications are approved, denied after appeal, or payments can be made.
  • Requires the Mayor to provide homeowners with proof of their application status so they can share it with lenders.
  • Mandates that sample foreclosure warning notices including information about debt relief be published on the DC HAF website.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Homeowners in the District of Columbia who applied for financial assistance before September 30, 2022, and whose applications remain under review or pending payment.
  • Mortgage lenders, condominium associations, homeowners associations, and tax sale purchasers.

Terms To Know

DC Homeowner Assistance Fund (DC HAF)
A government program that provides money to help homeowners pay debts caused by the public health emergency.
Foreclosure
The legal process where a lender takes ownership of a home because the owner did not make required payments.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act is an emergency measure and remains in effect for no longer than 90 days after it becomes law.
  • Protection only applies if the homeowner presents proof that their application status is under review, pending approval, pending payment, or under appeal.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-25 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0052 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 004905, Expires on Jul 21, 2025

  2. 2025-04-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0052, Expires on Jul 21, 2025

  3. 2025-04-22 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  4. 2025-04-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 22, 2025

  5. 2025-04-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-04-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-03-27 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0193 Introduced by Councilmember R. White at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Foreclosure Moratorium and Homeowner Assistance Fund Coordination Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-52

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
APRIL 22, 2025
Topreserve,onanemergencybasis,foreclosureprotectionsforhomeownerswhoappliedforfunding from theDC Homeowner AssistanceFund program beforeSeptember 30,2022,
andwhoseapplicationsremainunderreview,pendingapproval,pendingpayment,orunderappeal,andtorequirethatnoticescontinuetobesenttohomeownersinformingthemoftheDC HomeownerAssistanceFundprogrambeforeaforeclosureaction.
BEIT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Thatthis
actmaybecitedasthe“ForeclosureMoratoriumandHomeownerAssistanceFundCoordination
Emergency Act of2025”.
Sec.2. Foreclosuremoratorium.
(a)(1)FromJuly1,2022,throughSeptember30,2022,noresidentialforeclosuremaybe
initiatedorconductedundersection539orsection95ofAnActToestablishacodeoflawfortheDistrictofColumbia,approvedMarch3,1901(31Stat.1274/1204;D.C.OfficialCode§§42-815and42-816)(“section539orsection95”),nosalemaybe initiatedorconductedundersection313(c)of the Condominium Act of 1976,effectiveMarch 29, 1977 (D.C. Law 1-89;D.C.
OfficialCode§42-1903.13(c)),andnojudgmentforeclosingtherightofredemptionshallbeenteredunderD.C.OfficialCode§47-1378if:(A)A homeownerortheirrepresentativeappliesforfinancialassistancetocureadebtordefaultwithfundsfromtheDepartmentofHousingandCommunityDevelopment’s DC Homeowner AssistanceFund (“DC HAF”), or a similargovernment fund
establishedtoassisthomeownersimpactedbytheCOVID-19publicemergencyorpublichealthemergencydeclaredpursuanttotheDistrictofColumbiaPublicEmergencyActof1980,effectiveMarch5,1981(D.C.Law3-149;D.C,OfficialCode§7-230]etseg.)(“financialassistanceapplication”);(B)Thefinancialassistanceapplicationisunderreview,pendingapproval,
pendingpayment,orunderappeal;and(©)Proofofthefinancialassistanceapplicationstatusdescribedinsubparagraph(B)ofthisparagraphispresented,asapapercopyorthroughanelectronic

1

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
medium,includingthroughcommunicationsfacilitatedbytheonlineDC HAF applicationportal,
tothemortgagelender,condominiumassociation,homeownersassociation,ortaxsale
purchaser,ortoanagentactingasarepresentativeforanyhousingorfinancingentitytowhich
thehomeowner isindebted.
(2)(A)BeginningonJuly25,2022,amortgagelender,condominiumassociation,
homeownersassociation,ortaxsalepurchaser,oranagentactingasarepresentativeforany
housingorfinancingentitytowhichahomeownerisindebted,maybegintosendnoticestowarm.
ofintentiontoinitiateorcontinueforeclosureactions,butno foreclosureactiondescribedin
paragraph(1)ofthissubsectionmayproceedpriorto30daysafterahomeownerisfirstsenta
‘warningnotice.
(B) BeforeSeptember 30,2022, allforeclosurenoticesand foreclosure
‘warningnoticessentpursuanttosubparagraph(A)ofthisparagraphshall:
(i)Be sentby postaland electronicmail toa homeowner's last
known home andemailaddress;
(ii)InformthehomeownerofDC HAF andtheprogram’spotential
abilitytocureeligiblehousingdebts,includingthespecifictypeof debtordebtsowedtothe
entitysendingthenotice;and
(iii)ExplaintheSeptember 30,2022,deadlinetoapplyto DC HAF
todelayorpreventfurtherforeclosureaction.
(C) AfterOctober 1,2022,allforeclosurenoticesand foreclosurewarning
noticessentpursuanttosubparagraph(A)ofthisparagraphshall:
(i)Be sentby postaland electronicmailtoa homeowner’s last
known home and emailaddress;and
(ii)InformthehomeownerofDC HAF andtheprogram’spotential
abilitytocureeligiblehousingdebts,includingthespecifictypeofdebtordebtsowedtothe
entitysendingthenotice.
(D)If,priortotheeffectivedateoftheForeclosureMoratoriumand
Homeowner AssistanceFund CoordinationEmergency Amendment Act of 2022,effective
November22,2022(D.C.Act24-674;D.C.OfficialCode§42-851.01),amortgagelender,
condominiumassociation,homeownersassociation,ortaxsalepurchaser,oranagentactingasa
representativeforanyhousingorfinancingentitytowhichahomeownerisindebtedsenta
noticeof an intentiontoinitiate,noticetoinitiate,ornoticetocontinueforeclosureactions
withoutinformationaboutDC HAF, a new noticemust be sentpriortothecontinuationof any
foreclosureactioninformingthehomeownerofthe availabilityof DC HAF and theprogram’s
potentialabilitytocureeligiblehousingdebts,includingthespecifictypeofdebtordebisowed
totheentitysendingthenotice;
(3)TheMayor,ortheMayor’sdesignee,shallensure:
(A)A homeownerapplyingforDC HAF relief,orforsimilargovernment
fundsestablishedtoassisthomeownersimpactedbytheCOVID-19publicemergencyorpublic

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
healthemergencydeclaredpursuanttotheDistrictofColumbiaPublicEmergencyActof1980,
effectiveMarch5,1981(D.C.Law3-149;D.C.OfficialCode§7-2301erseq.),isprovidedwith
documentationinatimelyandongoingmannerthatwillenabletheapplicanttopresentproofof
financialassistanceapplicationstatusasdescribedinparagraph(1)(C)ofthissubsection;and
(B)Editablesampleforeclosurewarningnoticesthatincludeinformation
aboutdebtreliefavailablethroughDC HAF arepublishedon theDC HAF websiteforuse by
housingorfinancingentitiestowhichahomeownermaybeindebted.
(b)(1)IfahomeownersubmittedaDC HAF financialassistanceapplicationpriorto
‘September30,2022andprovidedproofoftheapplicationstatuspursuanttosubsection(a)(1)(C)
ofthissection,andtheapplicationremainsunderreview,pendingapproval,pendingpayment,or
underappealasofSeptember30,2022,untilsuchtimeasDC HAF paymentscanbemadeorthe
homeowner’sapplicationisdeniedfollowingappeal,ifany,thehomeownershallnotbesubject
toa:
(A) Residentialforeclosureinitiatedorconductedundersection539 or
section95;
(B)Saleinitiatedorconductedundersection313(c)oftheCondominium
Actof1976,effectiveMarch 29,1977(D.C.Law 1-89;D.C.OfficialCode § 42-1903.13(c));or
(©)JudgmentforeclosingtherightofredemptionunderD.C.Official
Code § 47-1378.
(2)TheMayorshallmakeeveryefforttomakeDC HAF paymentsasquicklyas
practicabletoqualifiedhomeowners,theirrepresentatives,orhousingorfinancingentitiesto
which a homeowner isindebtedtocureany debtsor defaultseligibleforassistance.
Sec.3.Applicability.ThisactshallapplyasofOctober16,2024.
Sec.4.Fiscalimpactstatement,‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
October16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a)..
Sec.5.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofavetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiain
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
section412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
\irman
Councilof the Districtof Columbia

APPROVEDAPRIL 22, 2025

[ ]ITEM ON CONSENT CALENDAR
[XTACTION
[X] VOTE DATE
[x1VvoicevoTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
{]ROLLCALLVOTE—Resutt
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
April1,2025
‘Approved

oe 7a
[CouncMemberAye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec[CouncMember[Aye[Nay[NV[AB[Rec|Counc!Member[Aye[Nay|NV[AB[Rec
ChairmanMendetson|X Henderson| X Pinto
‘Allen x LewisGeorge_| x R.White
Bonds x MeDuffe x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB~Absent NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD