This week in DC Council: source of income discrimination, a commission on poverty, and a cashless retailer ban

DC Council’s meeting on Tuesday, December 1 was an important deadline: as the second-to-last session before the end of the year, this was the last chance to get bills an initial vote or have them peter out as the year’s session ends.

Most bills in DC Council need two votes, spaced at least two weeks apart, to move through DC Council (special and temporary legislation, as well as resolutions, each have a slightly different process). The bills that got a first vote Tuesday will move on to a final vote on December 15. Those that got a final vote will be sent to the Mayor for signing.

Here is a snapshot of the legislation moving forward in the Council of interest to urbanists.

First vote

Rental Housing Source of Income Amendment Act: This bill boosts protections against source of income housing discrimination, which is already illegal under DC’s Human Rights Act. The bill being advanced would require landlords to include housing vouchers in their calculations of potential renters’ income. It also expands protections to people who receive housing assistance from DC, not just those getting federal assistance. And it would require landlords to say in advertising that they won’t discriminate based on source of income.

Commission on Poverty in the District of Columbia Establishment Act: This bill would create a Commission on Poverty to evaluate the District’s anti-poverty programs and suggest improvements. The 19-member committee would be appointed by the Mayor and made up of people who are or have recently been at or near the poverty line, as well as people who have worked in the interests of that population.

Cashless Retailers Prohibition Act: Council advanced a bill that would require retailers to accept cash as a form of payment. Advocates argue that cashless retailers discriminate against the unbanked, who are more likely to be people of color, as well as undocumented immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, people with privacy concerns, and even children.

Final vote

Vulnerable User Collision Recovery Amendment Act: This bill makes it easier for people who are injured in crashes while riding electric scooters, e-bikes, and other devices to win damages. GGWash recently wrote about this bill.

Advisory Neighborhood Commissions Participation in Planning Amendment Act of 2019: This bill bolsters the power of ANC commissioners by boosting notification requirements when important planning processes, such as amendments to the Comprehensive Plan, are happening, and by providing more advisory resources for those commissioners on zoning, planning, design and related topics.

Electric Vehicle Readiness Amendment Act: This bill requires developers to include the infrastructure for electric vehicles in 20% of parking spaces for new or substantially renovated commercial or multi-unit buildings. The idea behind this is that it’s much cheaper to install the infrastructure when a parking space is newly constructed than it is to retrofit it later.

The second reading and vote on a bill that would move toward forming an independent civilian oversight body for Metro Transit Police was postponed until December 15.