District of Columbia Council Period 26 Status: Enacted

B26-0680 — DC Water and Sewer Authority Billing and Disconnection Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Last action — Law L26-0165, Effective from Aug 14, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 012061, Expires on Mar 27, 2027

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Council
  4. ✓
    To Executive
  5. 5
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 04, 2026. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This act clarifies billing and disconnection procedures for the DC Water and Sewer Authority.

The act provides temporary amendments to clarify how the DC Water and Sewer Authority handles billing and disconnection. It aims to address any ambiguities in the current procedures for customers.

Summary

DC Water and Sewer Authority Billing and Disconnection Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

107 added · 106 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendments to Bill B26-0680 include adding the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority to the Language Access Act, ensuring it provides services to a wider range of residents, especially those with language barriers. Additionally, the bill now mandates that this agency reports monthly on water service disconnections to various government offices, enhancing accountability. Another change clarifies how late payment charges on water bills are imposed and ensures better notification processes for residents before their water service is disconnected. These updates are significant as they aim to protect residents' rights and improve communication regarding essential water services.

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ENGROSSED ORIGINAL A BILL 3 26-680 5 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 7 ________________ 9 To amend, on a temporary basis, the Language Access Act of 2004 to include the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority as a covered entity with major public contact;
ENROLLED ORIGINAL AN ACT ________________ IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ________________ To amend, on a temporary basis, the Language Access Act of 2004 to include the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority as a covered entity with major public contact;
Official Code § 2-1931(3)(B)), is amended by adding a new sub-subparagraph (vii-I) to read as follows:
Official Code § 2-1931(3)(B)), is amended by adding a new sub- subparagraph (vii-I) to read as follows:
ENGROSSED ORIGINAL “(d) The Authority may impose additional charges and penalties for late payment of bills not exceeding a charge of 10% for any charges or bills remaining unpaid for more than 30 days, and a penalty at the rate of 1% per month compounded monthly for any charges or bills that remain unpaid for more than 60 days”.” Sec.
“(d) The Authority may impose additional charges and penalties for late payment of bills not exceeding a charge of 10% for any charges or bills remaining unpaid for more than 30 days, and a penalty at the rate of 1% per month compounded monthly for any charges or bills that remain unpaid for more than 60 days”.” ENROLLED ORIGINAL Sec.
“(2) The Authority may shut off the water supply to any such building, property, or other location upon failure of the owner or occupant thereof to pay such water charges within 30 days from thedateof renditionofthebill therefor, regardless ofanychange inownership or occupancy of such building, property, or other location.
“(2) The Authority may shut off the water supply to any such building, property, or other location upon failure of the owner or occupant thereof to pay such water charges within 30 days from the date of rendition of the bill therefor, regardless of any change in ownership or occupancy of such building, property, or other location.
ENGROSSED ORIGINAL “(2) The Authority shall impose a fine in an amount not less than 20% of the delinquent charges or more than $100, whichever is greater, upon the owner or occupant of the property, unless the Authority determines that the owner or occupant did not restore or solicit a person to restore the water.
“(2) The Authority shall impose a fine in an amount not less than 20% of the delinquent charges or more than $100, whichever is greater, upon the owner or occupant of the property, unless the Authority determines that the owner or occupant did not restore or solicit a person to restore the water.
ENGROSSED ORIGINAL (b) Subsection 431.1 is amended to read as follows:
(b) Subsection 431.1 is amended to read as follows:
“431.1 At least thirty (30) working days prior to terminating water and sewer services to the premises, the General Manager shall post notice outside of the premises, and at each unit if publicly accessible and where practicable, in English, Spanish, or another language that the Authority reasonably determines may be spoken by occupants at the premises.”.
“431.1 At least thirty (30) working days prior to terminating water and sewer services to the premises, the General Manager shall post notice outside of the premises, and at each unit if ENROLLED ORIGINAL publicly accessible and where practicable, in English, Spanish, or another language that the Authority reasonably determines may be spoken by occupants at the premises.”.
ENGROSSED ORIGINAL Section 3 shall apply as of April 18, 1996.
Section 3 shall apply as of April 18, 1996.
(a) This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 stat.
(a) This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review ENROLLED ORIGINAL as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 stat.
___________________________________ Chairman Council of the District of Columbia _________________________________ Mayor District of Columbia 4
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How this bill changes current law

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Compared against the D.C. Code as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority as a covered entity under the Language Access Act and modifies the requirements for water service billing and disconnections.

  • D.C. Official Code § 2-1931(3)(B)

    (vii-I) The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority;

    This change includes the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority as a covered entity with major public contact under the Language Access Act.

  • D.C. Official Code § 34-2407.01

    The Authority shall submit on the 7th day of each month, the following information to the Council, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the People's Counsel, and the Office of the Tenant Advocate for the preceding month: (1) The number of properties that received a notice of disconnection; (2) Of those properties that were issued a notice, the number of properties that experienced a disconnection; (3) Of those properties that experienced a disconnection, the number of properties that had service restored; (4) The number of properties that entered into a payment plan; (5) The number of properties that have had bill payment assumed by the tenants through a tenant association; and (6) The number of properties that have been placed in receivership. → The Authority shall submit on the 7th day of each month, the following information to the Council, the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the People's Counsel, and the Office of the Tenant Advocate for the preceding month: (1) The number of properties that received a notice of disconnection; (2) Of those properties that were issued a notice, the number of properties that experienced a disconnection; (3) Of those properties that experienced a disconnection, the number of properties that had service restored; (4) The number of properties that entered into a payment plan; (5) The number of properties that have had bill payment assumed by the tenants through a tenant association; and (6) The number of properties that have been placed in receivership.

    This amendment clarifies the reporting obligations of the Authority regarding disconnections and requires them to report this information monthly.

  • D.C. Official Code § 34-2202.16(d)

    The Authority may impose additional charges and penalties for late payment of bills not exceeding a charge of 10% for any charges or bills remaining unpaid for more than 30 days, and a penalty at the rate of 1% per month compounded monthly for any charges or bills that remain unpaid for more than 60 days. → The Authority may impose additional charges and penalties for late payment of bills not exceeding a charge of 10% for any charges or bills remaining unpaid for more than 30 days, and a penalty at the rate of 1% per month compounded monthly for any charges or bills that remain unpaid for more than 60 days.

    This maintains the existing penalties for late payment of water service charges while clarifying the authority to impose these penalties.

Action History

  1. Law L26-0165, Effective from Aug 14, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 012061, Expires on Mar 27, 2027

  2. Act A26-0352 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 009216

  3. Transmitted to Congress

  4. Returned from Mayor

  5. Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0352

  6. Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Jul 01, 2026

  7. Legislative Meeting

  8. Legislative Meeting

  9. Retained by the Council

  10. B26-0680 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 13 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (13)

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Final Reading, CC

Passed 13 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 13000
Total 13000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Anita Bonds — Yea
Brianne K. Nadeau — Yea
Brooke Pinto — Yea
Charles Allen — Yea
Christina Henderson — Yea
Doni Crawford — Yea
Janeese Lewis George — Yea
Matthew Frumin — Yea
Phil Mendelson — Yea
Robert C. White, Jr. — Yea
Trayon White, Sr. — Yea
Wendell Felder — Yea
Zachary Parker — Yea

Official roll call →

Final Reading, CC

Passed 13 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 13000
Total 13000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Anita Bonds — Yea
Brianne K. Nadeau — Yea
Brooke Pinto — Yea
Charles Allen — Yea
Christina Henderson — Yea
Doni Crawford — Yea
Janeese Lewis George — Yea
Matthew Frumin — Yea
Phil Mendelson — Yea
Robert C. White, Jr. — Yea
Trayon White, Sr. — Yea
Wendell Felder — Yea
Zachary Parker — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety housing
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does B26-0680 do?
DC Water and Sewer Authority Billing and Disconnection Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026
Who sponsors B26-0680?
B26-0680 is sponsored by Charles Allen.
What is the current status of B26-0680?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced May 04, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track B26-0680?
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