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Committee Print 1
Committee on Executive Administration and Labor 2
B26-0436 3
July 8, 2026 4
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A BILL 14
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 17
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To amend the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955 to require the Board of Elections to 20
reject initiatives which address more than one subject matter; to extend the amount of 21
time for the Office of the Attorney General and the General Counsel of the Council to 22
provide an advisory opinion on whether a proposed measure is proper subject for an 23
initiative from 15 days to 30 days after receipt from the Board of Elections; to require the 24
Office of the Chief Financial Officer to provide a fiscal impact statement for a proposed 25
initiative measure within 15 days after receipt from the Board of Elections and to require 26
the Board to post the fiscal impact statement on its website for a period of one year; to 27
require the Board to post on its website the full legislative text and the proposer’s verified 28
statement of contributions filed with the Director of Campaign Finance; to require the 29
Board to accept and post on its website public comments on the measure; to require the 30
Board of Elections to hold a public meeting to issue a determination accepting or refusing 31
a proposed initiative measure; to require the Board to suspend action on an initiative 32
pending review in the Superior Court; to require the Board prepare a fiscal impact 33
summary of an accepted initiative measure; to require the petition sheet to include the 34
include the text of the official summary, short title, and fiscal impact summary in at least 35
11-point font; to require the petition sheet to include the name of the proposer and 36
indicate where the verified statement of contributions can be found; to require the 37
circulator wear a badge indicating whether they are paid or volunteer and whether or not 38
they are a District of Columbia resident; to require the fiscal impact summary be included 39
on the ballot; and for other purposes. 40
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 42
act may be cited as the “Fair Initiatives Lend Transparency to Every Resident Amendment Act 43
of 2026”. 44
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Sec. 2. Section 16 of the District of Columbia Election Code of 1955, approved August 45
12, 1955 (69 Stat. 699, D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.16), is amended as follows: 46
(a) Subsection (b) is amended as follows: 47
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended as follows: 48
(A) Subparagraph (C) is amended by striking the phrase “; or” and 49
inserting a semicolon in its place. 50
(B) Subparagraph (D) is amended by striking the period and inserting the 51
phrase “; or” in its place. 52
(C) A new subparagraph (E) is added to read as follows: 53
“(E) If a proposed initiative measure, the measure addresses more than one 54
subject. For the purposes of this subsection, a measure addresses one subject if each of its 55
provisions refers to and is germane to the same subject matter.”. 56
(2) Paragraph (1A) is amended as follows: 57
(A) Subparagraph (A) is amended by striking the period and adding the 58
phrase “. The Board shall post an advisory opinion it receives pursuant to this paragraph on its 59
website for at least 3 years following receipt of the advisory opinion.” in its place. 60
(B) Subparagraph (B)(i) is amended by striking the number “15” and 61
inserting the number “30” in its place. 62
(C) A new subparagraph (C) is added to read as follows: 63
“(C) If the measure is a proposed initiative measure, within one business 64
day after the proposed measure is received by the Board, the Board shall request a fiscal impact 65
statement from the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, which shall issue a fiscal impact 66
statement that conforms to the requirements of section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures 67
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Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a), 68
within 15 business days after receipt of the request from the Board. The Board shall post the 69
fiscal impact statement on its website for a period of at least 3 years.”. 70
(3) A new paragraph (1B) is added to read as follows: 71
“(1B) Within 5 business days after the proposed measure is received by the 72
Board, the Board shall: 73
“(A) Post on its website the full text of the proposed measure; 74
“(B) Accept public comments on the measure, including comments 75
submitted electronically, and publish comments within one day after receipt on its website, 76
which the Board shall maintain on the website for a period of at least 3 years; and 77
“(C) Post on its website the verified statement of contributions that the 78
proposer filed with the Director of Campaign Finance.”. 79
(4) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase “accept a measure” and 80
inserting the phrase “accept a referendum measure” in its place. 81
(5) Paragraph (3) is amended to read as follows: 82
“(3)(A) If the Board refuses to accept a proposed referendum measure submitted 83
to it, the person or persons submitting such measure may apply, within 10 days after the Board’s 84
refusal to accept such measure, to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for a writ in the 85
nature of mandamus to compel the Board to accept such measure. 86
“(B) If the Superior Court of the District of Columbia determines that the 87
issue presented by the measure is a proper subject of a referendum under the terms of title IV of 88
the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, and that the measure is legal in form, does not 89
authorize discrimination as prescribed in paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, and would not 90
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negate or limit an act of the Council of the District of Columbia as prescribed in paragraph 91
(1)(D) of this subsection, it shall issue an order requiring the Board to accept the measure. 92
Should the Superior Court of the District of Columbia hold in favor of the proposer, it may 93
award court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees to the proposer. 94
“(C) The Superior Court shall expedite consideration of the matter.”. 95
(6) A new paragraph (3A) is added to read as follows: 96
“(3A)(A) If the measure is an initiative measure, the Board shall convene a public 97
meeting to vote on a written determination accepting or refusing the measure. The meeting shall 98
be held at least 30 days but no more than 60 days after the proposed measure is received. Notice 99
of the meeting and full text of the proposed measure shall be published in the District of 100
Columbia Register at least 15 days in advance of the meeting. 101
“(B) The Board’s determination shall indicate the grounds for its 102
acceptance or refusal and shall take into consideration the advisory opinions of the Attorney 103
General and the General Counsel to the Council. 104
“(C) Within one day after the public meeting at which the Board voted on 105
its determination, the Board shall transmit its determination to the proposer and post the 106
determination on the Board’s website. The determination shall be published in the District of 107
Columbia Register within 30 days after the public meeting at which the Board voted on the 108
determination. 109
“(D)(i) If the Board accepts a proposed initiative measure, a registered 110
qualified elector of the District of Columbia who objects to the Board’s acceptance of the 111
measure may apply, any time following posting of the written determination on the Board’s 112
website but not more than 30 calendar days after the date the Board publishes its determination 113
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in the District of Columbia Register, to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for a writ 114
in the nature of mandamus to compel the Board to refuse to accept such measure. 115
“(ii) If the Board refuses to accept a proposed initiative measure, 116
the person or persons submitting such measure may apply, at any time following posting of the 117
written determination on the Board’s website but not more than 30 calendar days after the date 118
the Board publishes its determination in the District of Columbia Register, to the Superior Court 119
of the District of Columbia for a writ in the nature of mandamus to compel the Board to accept 120
such measure. 121
“(iii) The Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall 122
determine whether the issue presented by the proposed initiative is a proper subject of initiative 123
under the terms of title IV of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, the measure is legal in 124
form, authorizes discrimination as prescribed in paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection, would 125
negate or limit an act of the Council of the District of Columbia, as prescribed in paragraph 126
(1)(D) of this subsection, and addresses more than one subject as prescribed in paragraph (1)(E) 127
of this subsection, and issue an appropriate order affirming or reversing the Board’s 128
determination and directing the Board to accept or refuse the measure. Should the Superior Court 129
of the District of Columbia issue an order directing the Board to accept the measure, it may 130
award court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees to the proposer. 131
“(iv) If an action is timely filed under this subparagraph, the Board 132
shall suspend further action on the proposed initiative, and deadlines under this section shall 133
otherwise toll until the Superior Court has issued an order on the Board’s determination. The 134
Superior Court shall expedite consideration of the matter.”. 135
(b) Subsection (c) is amended as follows: 136
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(1) The lead-in language is amended to read as follows: 137
“(c) Within 20 calendar days after the date on which the Board accepts a referendum 138
measure, or within 30 calendar days after the date on which the Board accepts an initiative 139
measure, the Board shall:” 140
(2) Paragraph (4) is amended to read as follows: 141
“(4) If the measure is an initiative measure, prepare a fiscal impact summary of 142
not more than 50 words based on the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer 143
indicating the cost in the first year of implementation. If funds are not sufficient, the fiscal 144
impact summary shall read in substantially the following form: 145
“The District will need to appropriate funds in its annual budget to implement this 146
measure. The estimated amount of additional funding needed to implement this measure is 147
$(AMOUNT) in the first fiscal year and $(AMOUNT) over the four-year financial plan.”. 148
(c) Subsection (d) is amended to read as follows: 149
“(d)(1) After preparing an initiative or referendum measure, the Board shall call a public 150
meeting to adopt the summary statement, short title, legislative form, and, if the measure is a 151
proposed initiative measure, the fiscal impact summary of the measure prepared pursuant to 152
subsection (c) of this section. Notice of the meeting shall be published in the District of 153
Columbia Register in advance of the meeting, and for initiative measures, the meeting shall be 154
convened not more than 30 days after accepting the initiative. 155
“(2) Within 3 business days after adoption, the Board shall: 156
“(A) Provide the proposer of the measure by electronic mail with the 157
adopted summary statement, short title, legislative form, and, if the measure is an initiative 158
measure, the fiscal impact summary; 159
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“(B) Submit the summary statement, short title, legislative form, and, if 160
the measure is an initiative measure, the fiscal impact statement and fiscal impact summary, to: 161
“(i) The District of Columbia Register for publication; and 162
“(ii) At least one newspaper of general circulation in the District; 163
and 164
“(C) Publish the summary statement, short title, legislative form, and, if 165
the measure is an initiative measure, the fiscal impact statement and fiscal impact summary, on 166
the Board's website.”. 167
(d) Subsection (e) is amended to read as follows: 168
“(e)(1)(A) If any registered qualified elector of the District of Columbia objects to the 169
summary statement, short title, legislative form, or fiscal impact summary of the initiative 170
measure formulated by the Board pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section, that person 171
may seek review in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia within 30 calendar days from 172
the date the Board publishes the summary statement, short title, legislative form, and fiscal 173
impact summary in the District of Columbia Register stating objections and requesting 174
appropriate changes. The Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall expedite consideration 175
of the matter. 176
“(B) If any registered qualified elector of the District of Columbia objects 177
to the summary statement, short title, or legislative form of the referendum measure formulated 178
by the Board pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, that person may seek review in the 179
Superior Court of the District of Columbia within 10 calendar days from the date the Board 180
publishes the summary statement, short title, and legislative form on the Board’s website 181
pursuant to subsection (d)(2)(C) of this section stating objections and requesting appropriate 182
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changes. The Superior Court of the District of Columbia shall expedite consideration of this 183
matter. 184
“(2) Should no review in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia be sought 185
as provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the proposed summary statement, short title, 186
legislative form, and fiscal impact summary shall be deemed to be accepted. 187
“(3) Should the Superior Court of the District of Columbia hold in favor of the 188
proposer, it may award court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to the proposer.”. 189
(e) Subsection (f) is amended as follows: 190
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended by striking the phrase “and legislative form” and 191
inserting the phrase “legislative form, and fiscal impact summary” in its place. 192
(2) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the phrase “and full legislative text” and 193
inserting the phrase “full legislative text, and fiscal impact summary” in its place. 194
(f) Subsection (g) is amended as follows: 195
(1) The lead-in language is amended by striking the phrase “and legislative form” 196
and inserting the phrase “legislative form, and fiscal impact summary” in its place. 197
(2) Paragraph (2) is amended to read as follows: 198
“(2) A statement that indicates the signatory has read the summary of the 199
measure, requests that the Board hold an election on the initiative or referendum measure, and 200
states the measure’s serial number and short title;” 201
(3) Paragraph (3) is amended to read as follows: 202
“(3) The text of the official summary and short title, and, if the measure is a 203
proposed initiative, the fiscal impact summary of the measure printed in at least 11-point font on 204
the front of the petition sheet;”. 205
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(4) New paragraphs (4) and (5) are added to read as follows: 206
“(4) A notice that the official summary may not capture the full effect of a 207
measure and an indication of where the full legislative text can be accessed; and 208
“(5) The name of the proposer and an indication of where the proposer’s verified 209
statement of contributions can be accessed.”. 210
(g) Subsection (h) is amended by adding a new paragraph (2A) to read as follows: 211
“(2A) Whether the circulator was paid or volunteer;”. 212
(h) A new subsection (h-2) is added to read as follows: 213
“(h-2) Each circulator of an initiative or referendum measure must be registered with the 214
Board as either a volunteer or paid petition circulator. At all times that a circulator is collecting 215
signatures for a petition, the circulator must wear a clearly visible badge with the words “Paid 216
Circulator” or “Volunteer Circulator” and “DC Resident” or “Non-DC Resident”, consistent with 217
the individual’s registration with the Board, in at least 34-point font.”. 218
(i) Subsection (k)(1)(D) is amended by striking the phrase “of this section; or” 219
and inserting the phrase “of this section, or the statements are incomplete; or” in its place. 220
(j) Subsection (l) is amended by striking the phrase “proper statements” and inserting the 221
phrase “proper and complete statements” in its place. 222
(k) Subsection (o)(1) is amended as follows: 223
(1) Strike the phrase “in the office of the Board, for 10 days” and insert the 224
phrase “in the office of the Board and on the Board’s website, for 30 days” in its place. 225
(2) Strike the phrase “within such 10-day period, challenge the validity of any 226
petition,” and insert the phrase “within such 30-day period, challenge the validity of any petition, 227
including the circulator affidavit” in its place. 228
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(l) Subsection (q)(1) is amended to read as follows: 229
“(q)(1) Upon qualification of an initiative measure, the Board shall place on the ballot the 230
serial number of the initiative and its short title, official summary statement, and fiscal impact 231
summary in substantially the following form: 232
“INITIATIVE MEASURE No. 233
“(SHORT TITLE) 234
“(SUMMARY STATEMENT) 235
“(FISCAL IMPACT SUMMARY) 236
“FOR Initiative Measure No. 237
“AGAINST Initiative Measure No.”. 238
(m) A new subsection (t) is added to read as follows: 239
“(t) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Board shall post all notices required 240
to be published in the District of Columbia Register pursuant to this section on its website 241
contemporaneously with their publication in the District of Columbia Register.”. 242
Sec. 3. Section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 243
16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a), is amended as follows: 244
(a) A new subsection (a-1) is added to read as follows: 245
“(a-1) Initiatives. —. Consistent with section 16 of the District of Columbia Election 246
Code of 1955, approved August 12, 1955 (69 Stat. 699, D.C. Official Code § 1-1001.16), a 247
proposed initiative measure shall be accompanied by a fiscal impact statement, which shall 248
reflect the contents described in subsection (a)(2) of this section for each of the first four fiscal 249
years in which the initiative is in effect.”. 250
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(b) Subsection (b) is amended by striking the phrase “Permanent and emergency acts” 251
and inserting the phrase “Permanent acts, including initiatives, and emergency acts” in its place. 252
Sec. 4. Fiscal impact statement. 253
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 254
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 255
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 256
Sec. 5. Effective date. 257
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by 258
the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of Congressional 259
review as provided in section 602(c)(l) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved 260
December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code §1-206.02(c)(l)). 261