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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

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 exact expiration date is calculated as 90 days from approval, but the specific calendar end date depends on when the Mayor approves or vetoes.

Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Extension Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency law allows certain retail stores and restaurants in Washington, D.C., to refuse cash payments if they display a clear written notice.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends section 28-5404 of the District of Columbia Official Code on an emergency basis.
  • Allows specific businesses to stop accepting cash as payment only if they post a required notice.
  • Requires these businesses to display written, conspicuous notices on their door or menu stating that cash is not accepted.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Retail establishments with a valid on-premises Class C or Class D retailer license.
  • Restaurant locations that operate twenty-four hours a day.
  • Restaurant locations that are open at least two days a week starting at 3:00 am.

Terms To Know

Class C or Class D retailer license
A specific type of permit for retail stores to sell alcohol on the premises in Washington, D.C., as referenced by this law.
Conspicuous notice
A clear written sign displayed on the door or menu informing customers that cash payments are not accepted.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act is an emergency measure and remains in effect for no longer than 90 days.
  • The law applies only to businesses that meet the specific license type or operating hour requirements listed.
  • Businesses must display a notice on their door or menu; without this, they cannot refuse cash under this rule.

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
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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