Housing Authority Resident Empowerment Temporary Amendment Act of 2025

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A BILL 1
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26-334 4
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 7
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___________ 9
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To amend, on an emergency basis, the District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999 to 12
revise the structure of the board of the Authority, provide flexibility for board and 13
executive director training, and update the public housing resident bill of rights; to amend 14
the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978 to 15
adjust Housing Authority board stipends; to amend the Confirmation Act of 1978 to 16
conform terminology regarding the Housing Authority board; and to repeal superseded 17
emergency and temporary legislation. 18
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 20
act may be cited as the “Housing Authority Resident Empowerment Temporary Amendment Act 21
of 2025”. 22
Sec. 1. The District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999, effective May 9, 2000 23
(D.C. Law 13-105; D.C. Official Code § 6-201 et seq.), is amended as follows: 24
(a) Section 2 (D.C. Official Code § 6-201) is amended as follows: 25
(1) Paragraph (6) is amended to read as follows: 26
“(6) “Board” means the Board of Commissioners established by section 4a; 27
provided, that for the purposes of sections 10(h), 12(r), and 21(b), the term “Board” shall include 28
any prior form in which the Board existed, since the establishment of the Authority pursuant to 29
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this act.”. 30
(2) Paragraphs (8), (22), and (33) are repealed. 31
(3) Paragraph (10) is amended by striking the phrase “Resident Council Advisory 32
Board” and inserting the phrase “Resident Advisory Board” in its place. 33
(4) Paragraph (15) is amended by striking the phrase “District of Columbia 34
Housing Authority” and inserting the word “Authority” in its place. 35
(5) A new paragraph (17A) is added to read as follows: 36
“(17A) “Dwelling unit” means any room or group of rooms located within a 37
residential or mixed-use building and forming a single unit that is used or intended to be used for 38
living, sleeping, and the preparation and eating of meals.”. 39
(b) Section 3(b-1)(1)(A) (D.C. Official Code § 6-202(b-1)(1)(A)) is amended as follows: 40
(1) The lead-in language is amended by striking the phrase “Beginning on 41
December 1, 2022, and monthly thereafter, the Authority shall submit a report” and inserting the 42
phrase “The Authority shall submit a quarterly report” in its place. 43
(2) Sub-subparagraph (iii) is amended by striking the phrase “units have been 44
vacant in the prior year,” and inserting the phrase “units have been vacant,” in its place. 45
(c) A new section 4a is added to read as follows: 46
“Sec. 4a. Board of Commissioners. 47
“(a) The Authority shall be governed by a Board of Commissioners (“Board”), which 48
shall consist of 9 members and govern in accordance with this section and section 12. 49
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“(b) Residents of Housing Properties shall elect 2 Commissioners in accordance with 50
section 12(k). The Authority shall conduct elections for one such Commissioner to take office no 51
later than December 31, 2025, and every 3 years thereafter, and for the other elected 52
Commissioner to take office no later than December 31, 2026, and every 3 years thereafter. 53
“(c) The Mayor shall appoint 7 Commissioners with the advice and consent of the 54
Council, in accordance with section 2(e) of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 55
1979 (D.C. Law 2-142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01(e)), as follows: 56
“(1) No later than October 1, 2025, and every 3 years thereafter, the Mayor shall 57
nominate: 58
“(A) One member who has professional experience in federal housing 59
laws and regulations; and 60
“(B) One member who has professional experience in homeless services 61
system planning and coordinating. 62
“(2) No later than October 1, 2026, and every 3 years thereafter, the Mayor shall 63
nominate: 64
“(A) One member who has professional experience in affordable housing 65
development, operations, or finance; and 66
“(B) One member who has professional experience providing legal 67
assistance in housing matters to low-income District residents. 68
“(3) No later than October 1, 2027, and every 3 years thereafter, the Mayor shall 69
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nominate: 70
“(A) One member who has experience as the holder of a housing voucher; 71
“(B) One member who has professional experience in capital project 72
financing; and 73
“(C) One member who has professional experience in accounting and 74
enterprise financial management. 75
“(d) No person shall be elected, appointed or reappointed to the Board if the person has 76
served 9 years or longer, either in consecutive or non-consecutive terms, as a member of the 77
Board of the Authority, in any form in which the Board existed, since the establishment of the 78
Authority pursuant to this act.”. 79
(d) Section 8a(a)(1) (D.C. Official Code § 6-207.01(a)(1)) is amended by striking the 80
word “February” and inserting the word “June” in its place. 81
(e) New sections 11a and 11b are added to read as follows: 82
“Sec. 11a. Transition from temporary Stabilization and Reform Board. 83
“(a) Each individual who serves as a voting or non-voting member of the temporary 84
Stabilization and Reform Board of the Authority as of the effective date of the Rebalancing 85
Expectations for Neighbors, Tenants, and Landlords (RENTAL) Act of 2025, as approved by the 86
Committee on Housing July 9, 2025 (Committee print of Bill 26-164), shall serve as a voting 87
interim Commissioner of the Board established by section 4a without need for confirmation or 88
appointment, until he or she is replaced or reappointed in accordance with this section. Section 89
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12(d) shall not apply to individuals named in this section for purposes of the special initial terms 90
prescribed in this section. 91
“(b) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate an interim Commissioner 92
with the qualifications identified in section 4a(c)(3)(C) for a 2-year term; provided, that 93
notwithstanding section 12(c)(2), the Mayor may nominate the Chief Financial Officer or their 94
Designee, who shall be an employee of the Chief Financial Officer, for such initial 2-year term; 95
provided, further that Leroy Clay III shall serve as an interim Commissioner until reconfirmed 96
or replaced in this manner. The 2-year term of the Commissioner appointed pursuant to this 97
subsection shall expire when the first Commissioner identified in section 4a(c)(3)(C) is 98
appointed. 99
“(c) The President of the City-Wide Resident Advisory Board shall serve as an interim 100
Commissioner until the first Commissioner described under section 4a(b) is elected and takes 101
office. 102
“(d) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate 2 interim Commissioners 103
with the qualifications listed in section 4a(c)(2)(A) for one-year terms; provided, that Raymond 104
A. Skinner and James M. Dickerson shall serve as Commissioners until they are reappointed or 105
replaced in this manner; provided, further that Raymond A. Skinner shall be Chairperson of the 106
Board until the Board selects a Chairperson pursuant to section 12(m). The 2 Commissioners 107
appointed pursuant to this subsection shall serve as Commissioners until the second 108
Commissioner identified under section 4a(b) is elected and takes office and the first 109
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Commissioner appointed pursuant to section 4a(c)(2)(A) takes office. 110
“(e) Christopher Murphy shall serve as an interim Commissioner until he is reappointed 111
as or replaced by the first Commissioner appointed pursuant to section 4a(c)(1)(A). 112
“(f) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate one interim Commissioner 113
with the qualifications listed in section 4a(c)(3)(B) for a 2-year term. 114
“(g) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate one interim Commissioner 115
with the qualifications listed in section 4a(c)(3)[(]A) for a 2-year term; provided, that Denise 116
Blackson shall serve as a Commissioner until she is reappointed to such 2-year term or replaced 117
by the appointee to such 2-year term. 118
“(h) No later than October 1, 2025, the Mayor shall nominate one interim Commissioner 119
who has attained homeownership with the assistance of the Authority for a one-year term; 120
provided, that Ronnie Harris shall serve as an interim Commissioner until she is reappointed as 121
or replaced by such homeownership experience Commissioner pursuant to this subsection. . 122
“(i) Notwithstanding section 12(c)(2), the Mayor may nominate the Executive Director of 123
the Interagency Council on Homelessness for the initial 3-year term specified in section 124
4a(c)(1)(B). Theresa Silla shall serve as an interim Commissioner until reappointed or replaced 125
in this manner. 126
“(j) Jennifer Reed shall serve as a Commissioner until a quorum of Commissioners 127
confirmed, reconfirmed, or elected pursuant to this section and section 4a take office. 128
“(k) Notwithstanding section 1108(c-2)(1) of the District of Columbia Government 129
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Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. 130
Official Code § 1-611.08(c-2)(1)): 131
“(1) Commissioners who are District government employees shall not be entitled 132
to stipends for their service on the Board. 133
“(2) Prior to January 1, 2026, stipends for Board service shall be limited to $4,000 134
per year and an additional stipend of $2,000 per year for the Chairperson. 135
“(l) This section shall sunset upon all Commissioners of the Board established pursuant 136
to section 4a taking office. 137
“Sec. 11b. City-Wide Resident Advisory Board training and consultation. 138
“(a) The Authority shall establish and implement a comprehensive training program for 139
members of the City-Wide Resident Advisory Board with the goal of enabling tenant members to 140
participate fully in the oversight of the Authority’s operation and capital planning. The Authority 141
shall develop the training program in consultation with public housing residents and public 142
housing industry professional organizations. 143
“(b) The Authority shall provide to the City-Wide Resident Advisory Board training on 144
relevant federal and District laws, leadership development, communication, and negotiations. 145
“(c) The Authority shall provide a copy of resolutions on the agenda for consideration by 146
the Board to the City-Wide Resident Advisory Board at least 24 hours before the scheduled date 147
and time of the Board meeting at which the resolution will be considered. 148
“(d) The Authority shall seek and consider the input of the City-Wide Resident Advisory 149
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Board when a policy or program change affects residents. 150
“(e) At least once a quarter, the Board shall invite the City-Wide Resident Advisory 151
Board to report to the Board on any topics of interest or concerns, and respond to the concerns of 152
the City-Wide Resident Advisory Board in writing, no later than 45 days following the quarterly 153
meeting.”. 154
(f) Section 12 (D.C. Official Code § 6-211) is amended as follows: 155
(1) The section heading is amended to read as follows: 156
“Sec. 12. Additional Board provisions.”. 157
(2) Subsections (a), (e), (f), (g), (j), (o), and (p) are repealed. 158
(3) Subsections (b) and (c) are amended to read as follows: 159
“(b)(1) At least 60 days prior to submitting any nominating resolution to the Council after 160
December 31, 2025, the Mayor shall publish a notice in the Register that states which of the 161
Board positions in section 4a the Mayor is working to fill and that invites members of the public 162
to identify and submit to the Mayor potential nominees for the Mayor to consider; provided, that 163
the Mayor shall not be required to select a nominee from among the list of individuals identified 164
by the public. The notice shall provide instructions as to how members of the public can submit 165
to the Mayor the name, contact information, relevant experience, and such other relevant details 166
as the Mayor deems necessary of a potential nominee. 167
“(2) The Mayor shall submit a list of potential nominees submitted in response to 168
the Mayor’s solicitation described in paragraph (1) of this subsection as an attachment to each 169
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nomination resolution submitted to the Council. 170
“(c)(1) An individual seeking to serve as a Commissioner identified under section 171
4a(c)(1), (2), and (3)(B) and (C) shall have 5 or more years of professional experience in a 172
relevant leadership role out of the last 10 years. 173
“(2) No officer or employee of the federal or District government may serve as a 174
Commissioner.”. 175
(4) Subsection (h) is amended as follows: 176
(A) Paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows: 177
“(1) Within 90 days after each Commissioner’s appointment or election, the 178
Commissioner shall complete training covering the following topics: 179
“(A) The role of a public housing agency board; 180
“(B) Ethics for public housing agencies and board members or 181
commissioners; 182
“(C) Background on major housing authority programs, including but not 183
limited to public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher Program, and the rental assistance 184
demonstration; 185
“(D) Fair housing and reasonable accommodations; 186
“(E) Public housing authority budgets, financial oversight, and financial 187
reporting; and 188
“(F) Federal procurement requirements.”. 189
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(B) Paragraph (2) is repealed. 190
(C) Paragraph (3) is amended to read as follows: 191
“(3) In addition to the training required in paragraph (1) of this subsection, each 192
Commissioner shall spend at least 4 hours per quarter in training or educational seminars on 193
corporate governance, public housing and Housing Choice Voucher Program law and 194
regulations, the Moving to Work program, resident opportunity such as HUD’s Section 3 195
requirements for economic and employment opportunities, HUD reporting requirements, public 196
housing performance monitoring and risk management, federal or local language access 197
guidelines, labor and personnel, real estate and construction, or other subjects related to housing 198
authority operation, and management. The maximum reimbursable cost, if any, of this training 199
shall be established by the Board and paid by the Authority.”. 200
(D) Paragraph (6) is repealed. 201
(5) Subsection (i) is amended to read as follows: 202
“(i) The elected Commissioners shall be public housing residents at the time of election; 203
provided, that an elected Commissioner who ceases to reside in public housing may complete 204
their term unless removed pursuant to subsection (t) of this section.”. 205
(6) Subsection (k) is amended as follows: 206
(A) Paragraph (1) is amended to read as follows: 207
“(1) Elections of Commissioners by Housing Property residents shall be 208
conducted in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Board, and shall be held 209
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no sooner than 5 months and no later than 2 months prior to the expiration of the then current 3-210
year term. All elections shall be held under the supervision of an independent expert in election 211
monitoring, to be selected by the Board.”. 212
(B) Paragraph (2) is amended as follows: 213
(i) The lead-in language is amended to read as follows: 214
“(2) The results of each election shall be retained until the elected Commissioner 215
begins their term pursuant to the next scheduled election. If the elected Commissioner becomes 216
unable to serve or is removed from the Board as hereinafter provided, that Commissioner’s seat 217
for the remaining term shall be filled as follows:”. 218
(ii) Subparagraph (A) is amended by striking the phrase “City-219
Wide Resident Council Advisory Board;” and inserting the phrase “City-Wide Resident 220
Advisory Board;” in its place. 221
(7) Subsection (m) is amended by striking the sentences “The Mayor shall 222
designate one of his or her 4 nominees nominated pursuant to subsection (a)(1) of this section as 223
Chairperson. The ex officio Commissioner shall not be appointed as Chairperson.” and inserting 224
the sentence “The Board shall elect a Chairperson from among its members.” in its place. 225
(8) Subsection (q) is amended by striking the phrase “Other than the ex officio 226
Commissioner and the labor representative who is a Commissioner, no person” and inserting the 227
phrase “No person” in its place. 228
(9) Subsection (u) is amended to read as follows: 229
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“(u) The Board may, by majority vote, require that any Commissioner or Executive 230
Director resolve actual or potential conflicts of interest by reporting the actual or potential 231
conflict of interest to the general counsel and ethics officer of the Authority for consideration and 232
determination of required steps, which may include public disclosure of the conflict of interest 233
and recusal from the decision-making process involving the conflict, divestiture, or any other 234
manner which complies with federal and District law.”. 235
(10) Subsection (w) is amended to read as follows: 236
“(w) The Board shall meet regularly at least 10 times each calendar year. Each meeting 237
shall provide for a period for public comments, which shall not be limited in time, except that the 238
time allowed each individual speaker may be reasonably limited. To allow the Board to meet and 239
entertain any proposed action, there must be a quorum present, which shall consist of 5 240
Commissioners. Meetings of the Board shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act, effective 241
March 31, 2011 (D.C. Law 18-350; D.C. Official Code § 2-571 et seq.).”. 242
(g) Section 14 (D.C. Official Code § 6-213) is amended as follows: 243
(1) Subsection (c) is amended by striking the phrase “direction and supervision” 244
and inserting the word “oversight” in its place. 245
(2) The lead-in language of subsection (d)(1) is amended to read as follows: 246
“(d)(1) Within 90 days of the Executive Director’s appointment, to the extent 247
directed by the Board, the Executive Director shall complete training covering the following 248
topics:”. 249
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(3) A new subsection (e) is added to read as follows: 250
“(e) As part of the process of selecting an Executive Director, the Board shall seek and 251
consider the input of public housing residents, voucher holders, and the City-Wide Resident 252
Advisory Board.”. 253
(h) Section 26g(b)(2) (D.C. Official Code § 6-232(b)(2)) is amended as follows: 254
(1) Subparagraph (E) is amended to read as follows: 255
“(E) To file a complaint that requests an administrative determination of 256
the resident’s rights when the resident believes that the resident has been aggrieved or adversely 257
affected by an act or a failure to act by an Authority official, as provided in Authority policy and 258
regulations;”. 259
(2) Subparagraphs (G), (H), and (I) are amended to read as follows: 260
“(G) To have a lease terminated only for serious or repeated violations of 261
the material terms of the lease, as provided in the relevant provisions of the Authority’s public 262
housing regulations, which shall be identified in the Bill of Rights; 263
“(H) To 30 days’ notice of any action to correct, cure, or vacate for 264
violation of a lease, except where the Authority has determined that the head of household 265
responsible for the dwelling unit under the lease is deceased and there are no remaining 266
household members, as provided in the relevant provisions of the Authority’s public housing 267
regulations, which shall be identified in the Bill of Rights; 268
“(I) To be relocated away from living conditions that represent an 269
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emergency or a threat to life, health, or safety as determined by the Authority, another 270
governmental entity, or as a result of a judicial proceeding; to alleviate threat of attack by 271
criminal elements as verified and documented by the Authority Police Department or any other 272
police department or law enforcement agency authorized to operate in the District; and in certain 273
other circumstances, as provided in the relevant provisions of the Authority’s public housing 274
regulations, which shall be identified in the Bill of Rights;”. 275
Sec. 3. Section 1108(c-2)(1) of the District of Columbia Government Comprehensive 276
Merit Personnel Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-139; D.C. Official Code § 1-277
611.08(c-2)(1)), is amended to read as follows: 278
“(1) Each Commissioner of the Board of the District of Columbia Housing 279
Authority (“Board”) shall be entitled to a stipend of $8,000 per year for their service, and the 280
chairperson shall be entitled to an additional stipend of $4,000 per year; provided, that subsection 281
(c-3) of this section shall not apply to the chairperson of such Board. Each such Commissioner 282
also shall be entitled to reimbursement of actual travel and other expenses reasonably related to 283
attendance at Board meetings and fulfillment of official duties. Stipends and reimbursements 284
shall be made at least quarterly and prorated, if necessary, to reflect the dates of actual 285
membership on the Board or dates of service as chairperson of the Board;”. 286
Sec. 4. Section 2(e)(27) of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. 287
Law 2-142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01(e)(27)), is amended to read as follows: 288
“(27) The Board of the District of Columbia Housing Authority, as established by 289
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section 4a of the District of Columbia Housing Authority Act of 1999, passed on emergency 290
basis on July 28, 2025 (Enrolled version of Bill 26-333);”. 291
Sec. 5. Repealers. 292
(a) The District of Columbia Housing Authority Stabilization and Reform Emergency 293
Amendment Act of 2025, effective June 25, 2025 (D.C. Act 26-89; 72 DCR 7544), is repealed. 294
(b) The District of Columbia Housing Authority Stabilization and Reform Temporary 295
Amendment Act of 2025, enacted on July 7, 2025 (D.C. Act 26-100; 72 DCR 7676), is repealed. 296
Sec. 6. Fiscal impact statement. 297
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact 298
statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved 299
October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 300
Sec. 7. Effective date. 301
(a) This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by 302
the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review 303
as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 304
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 305
Columbia Register. 306
(b) This act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect. 307