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B26-0394 • 2025

Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Budget Labor
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Henderson
Last action
2025-11-07
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text does not provide details on whether businesses must display specific signage or what happens if they violate the rules.

Employee Safety Extension Act

This act allows certain entertainment establishments to not accept cash payments under specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends a section of the District of Columbia's laws to allow retail establishments with valid on-premises Class C or D retailer licenses and restaurants operating at least two days a week starting at 3:00 am to refuse cash as payment.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Retail establishments with valid on-premises Class C or D retailer licenses.
  • Restaurants that operate at least two days a week starting at 3:00 am.

Terms To Know

Class C or Class D retailer license
A type of business permit for certain retail stores in the District of Columbia.
Fiscal impact statement
An official report that explains how a new law might affect the city's budget.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act only lasts until January 22, 2026.
  • It does not specify what happens if businesses do not follow these rules.

Bill History

  1. 2025-11-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0176 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 012391, Expires on Jan 22, 2026

  2. 2025-10-27 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2025-10-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0176, Expires on Jan 22, 2026

  4. 2025-10-15 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Oct 29, 2025

  5. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-10-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0394 Introduced by Councilmember Henderson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-176
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
OCTOBER 24, 2025
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,section28-5404oftheDistrictofColumbiaOfficialCodeto
allowretailestablishmentswithavalidon-premisesClassC orClassD retailerlicense
andcertainrestaurantstorefusecashasaformofpayment,
BEITENACTEDBY THECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“EntertainmentEstablishmentEmployeeSafetyExtensionEmergencyAmendmentActof2025”,
Sec.2.Section28-5404of the Districtof Columbia OfficialCode isamended as follows:
(a)Paragraph(3)(C)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;or”andinsertingasemicolonin
itsplace.
(b)Paragraph(4)isamendedbystrikingtheperiodandinsertingthephrase“ or”inits
place.
(c)A newparagraph(5)isaddedtoreadasfollows:
(5)Providedthatwritten,conspicuousnoticetothepublicisdisplayedonthe
doorofthe establishmentor menu thatcashpayments arenotaccepted,to:
“(A)Aretail establishmentwith a validon-premisesClassC or ClassD
retailerlicense;or
“(B)A restaurantlocation,asthatterm isdefinedin § 25-101(43),that
operates:
“()Twenty-fourhoursaday;or
“Gi)At3:00am atleast2daysaweek.”.
Sec.3.Applicability.
ThisactshallapplyasofOctober18,2025.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.4.Fiscalimpactstatement.
‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038:D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a)..
Sec.5.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectnolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)
oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OffficialCode§1-204.12(a)).

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CounciloftheDistrictof Columbia
Mayo
Rispeboboo™OCTOBER 24, 2025
ia
COUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

DocketNo.826-0384
[]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR,
[XJACTION FinalReading
[X]VOTEDATE October7,2025
[X1VOICEvoTE ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST Mendelson
ABSENT

[]ROLLCALLVOTE Result

CouncitMember__|Aye[Nay|NV[AB [Rec|CouncitMember[Aye|Nay|NV[AB|Rec|CounciiMemberAye[Nay[NV
ChairmanMendelson]| X Henderson x Pinto x
Allen x LewisGeorge_| x White x
Bonds x McDuffie x T.White x
Felder x Nadeau x
Frumin x Parker x
X- IndicateVote AB -Absent NV-Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
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5jecretarytotheCouncil