Housing Investment Efficiency and Accountability Act of 2026

COMMITTEE ON HOUSING
ROBERT C. WHITE, JR., CHAIR
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Statement of Introduction
Housing Investment Efficiency and Accountability Act of 2026
February 18, 2026

Today, alongside Councilmembers Anita Bonds, Trayon White, and Janeese Lewis George, I am
introducing the Housing Investment Efficiency and Accountability Act of 2026. The Low-
Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is one of DC’s most important affordable housing
tools, leveraging millions in private investment each year. Last year, the District returned
approximately $3.1 million in 9% LIHTC credits to the national pool, representing over $30
million in lost housing investment.1 Given the scale of our housing crisis and the growing
demand for deeply affordable housing, we must ensure that every available federal housing
dollar is deployed efficiently, strategically, and with financial precision.

The Housing Investment Efficiency and Accountability Act of 2026 assigns the District of
Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) as the District’s housing credit agency for
purposes of administering the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. DCHFA already
administers the District’s tax-exempt bond financing and the 4 percent LIHTC program and has
deep expertise in underwriting, investor relations, and housing finance structuring. Aligning the
administration of the 9 percent LIHTC program under DCHFA ensures greater coordination
across financing tools, streamlined execution, and stronger accountability in how credits are
allocated.

Affordable housing production in the District depends on the effective layering of federal tax
credits, local subsidies, bond financing, and private capital. By assigning responsibility for
LIHTC administration to DCHFA, this legislation strengthens our financing infrastructure and
positions the District to maximize the impact of limited federal resources. In a moment when
every housing dollar must work harder, this bill ensures that our affordable housing financing
system is structured for efficiency, accountability, and long-term success.

1 Washington City Paper, How DHCD Forfeited $35 Million in Federal Assistance for Affordable Housing and
Bailed Out a Well-Connected Developer. Suzie Amanuel. Last accessed: Feb. 18, 2026
https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/774255/dhcd-forfeited-35-million-federal-affordable-housing/
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Councilmember Anita Bonds Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr. 2
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Councilmember Trayon White, Sr. Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 7
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A BILL 11
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 15
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To amend the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency Act of 1979 to clarify that 19
the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency shall administer the Low -20
Income Housing Tax Credit program . To amend Title 47 of the District of 21
Columbia Official Code to make conforming changes. 22
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 24
act may be cited as the “Housing Investment Efficiency and Accountability Act of 2026.” 25
Sec. 2. Section 302 of the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency Act, effective 26
March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-135; D.C. Official Code § 42-2703.02), is amended as follows: 27
(a) A new subsection (c) is added as follows: 28
“(c) The Agency shall serve as the District’s housing credit agency for purposes of 29
administering the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, as defined in in section 30
206(f)(2)(A), or any rental unit for which the housing provider receives tax credits pursuant to 31
the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, as defined in section 2(5) of the Low -Income 32
Housing Tax Credit Fund Act of 2004, effective April 8, 2005, (D.C. Law 15- 299; D.C. Official 33
Code § 42-2853.01(5));”. 34
Sec. 3. Chapter 48 of Title 47 of the District of Columbia Official Code is amended as 35

follows: 36
(a) Section 47-4801 is amended as follows: 37
(1) Paragraph (1) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 38
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 39
(2) Paragraph (2) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” means the 40
Department of Housing and Community Development, or its successor agency” and inserting the 41
phrase “Agency” means the District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency, or its successor 42
agency. 43
(3) Paragraph (4) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 44
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 45
(4) Paragraph (8) is amended by striking the phrase “the Department is executed 46
on or after October 1, 2021, and with respect to which the Department issues an eligibility 47
statement” and inserting the phrase “the Agency is executed on or after October 1, 2021, and 48
with respect to which the Agency issues an eligibility statement” in its place. 49
(5) Paragraph (9) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 50
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 51
(b) Section 4802 is amended as follows: 52
(1) Subsection (d) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 53
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 54
(2) Subsection (e) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 55
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 56
(c) Section 47-4803 (b) is amended as follows: 57
(1) Subsection (b)(1) is amended by s triking the phrase “ Department, in a form 58
determined by the Department ” and inserting the phrase “ Agency, in a form determined by the 59
Agency” in its place. 60
(2) Subsection (b)(2) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and 61
inserting the phrase “Agency” in its place. 62
(d) Section 47-4804 is amended by: 63
(1) Subsection (a) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 64
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 65
(2) Subsection (c)(1) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and 66
inserting the phrase “Agency” in its place. 67
(e) Section 47- 4805 of the DC Official Code is amended by striking the word 68
"Department" and inserting the phrase "District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency" in its 69
place. 70
(f) Section 47-4807 is amended by: 71
(1) Subsection (a) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 72
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 73
(2) Subsection (b) is amended by striking the phrase “Department” and inserting 74
the phrase “Agency” in its place. 75
(g) Section 47 -4808 of the DC Official Code is amended by striking the word 76
"Department" and inserting the phrase "District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency" in its 77
place. 78
(h) Section 47 -4809 of the DC Official Code is amended by striking the word 79
"Department" and inserting the phrase "District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency" in its 80
place. 81
(i) Section 47- 4810 of the DC Official Code is amended by striking the word 82
"Department" and inserting the phrase "District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency" in its 83
place. 84
Sec. 4. Fiscal Impact statement. 85
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 86
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 87
approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 88
Sec. 5. Effective date. 89
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 90
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30- day period of congressional review as 91
provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 92
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1- 206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of 93
Columbia Register. 94