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B26-0520 • 2025

Sensible Pool Building Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Sensible Pool Building Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Energy
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
T. White
Last action
2025-12-02
Official status
Under Council Review
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill status shows it is under Council Review, meaning it has not yet become law or taken effect.

Sensible Pool Building Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill changes energy rules for new indoor swimming pools built by the District government in Ward 8.

What This Bill Does

  • Exempts natatoriums (indoor swimming pools) built by the District in Ward 8 from net zero energy requirements.
  • Requires that any natatorium constructed by the District meet at least LEED Silver standards as determined by the Department of Buildings.
  • Amends Section 11 of the Green Building Act of 2006 to add these new rules.
  • Sets a limit so this act remains in effect for no longer than 90 days after approval.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The District government when it builds natatoriums in Ward 8
  • Construction projects that include indoor swimming pools built by the District

Terms To Know

Natatorium
An enclosed building designed for swimming, often called an indoor pool.
Net zero energy compliance
A rule requiring a building to produce as much clean energy as it uses over the course of a year.
LEED Silver standards
A specific level of certification for green and environmentally friendly buildings determined by the Department of Buildings.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill only applies to natatoriums built by the District government, not private pools.
  • This act is an emergency measure that expires after 90 days unless extended or made permanent later.
  • The text does not state a specific date when this law will take effect beyond requiring Mayor approval.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  2. 2025-12-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  3. 2025-12-01 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0520 Introduced by Councilmember T. White at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Sensible Pool Building Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
1

______________________________
Councilmember Trayon White, Sr.

A BILL
_______________
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
_______________
To amend, on an emergency basis, the Green Building Act of 2006 to exempt natatoriums built 1
by the District in Ward 8 from being required to maintain net zero energy compliance 2
standards and to require that Ward 8 natatoriums be built to at least LEED Silver 3
standards 4
5
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 6
act may be cited as the “Sensible Pool Building Emergency Amendment Act of 2025”. 7
Sec. 2. Section 11 of the Green Building Act of 2006, effective March 8, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-8
234; D.C. Official Code § 6-1451.10) is amended by adding new subsections (a-1) and (a-2) as 9
follows: 10
“(a-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act, a District government project in 11
Ward 8 that includes the construction of a natatorium shall be exempted from the requirements to 12
maintain net zero energy compliance, as that term is defined in section 2(a)(3) of the Clean 13
Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022, effective September 21, 2022 (D.C. Law 14
24-177; D.C. Official Code § 6-1453.01(a)(3)). 15

2

“(a-2) Any natatorium constructed by the District shall be built to at least LEED Silver 16
standards as determined by the Department of Buildings.”. 17
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 18
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 19
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 20
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code §1-301.47a). 21
Sec. 4 Effective date. 22
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 23
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 24
90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 25
412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; 26
D.C. Official Code §1-204.12(a)). 27