District of Columbia Council Period 26 Status: Enacted

B 26-0059 — Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act of 2025

Last action — Law Number L26-0113 Effective from May 21, 2026

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2025. 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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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

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

The bill enhances regulations for tree preservation in Washington, D.C.

This law updates the Urban Forest Preservation Act by changing the definition of Special Trees and adjusting fines and fees for tree removal for inflation. It also modifies the purposes for which the Tree Fund can be used.

What this means for you
  • Environment: This bill aims to enhance tree preservation and improve urban green spaces.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

77 added · 78 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of the Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act has been updated to lower the size requirement for what qualifies as a Special Tree from 44 inches to 40 inches in circumference. Additionally, the Mayor is now mandated to increase fines and fees related to the removal of Special and Heritage Trees every three years starting in 2029, ensuring they keep pace with inflation. These changes aim to enhance tree protection and ensure that financial penalties remain effective over time, which is important for preserving the urban forest.

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ENGROSSED ORIGINAL 2 A BILL 4 26-59 6 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 9 __________________ To amend the Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002 to amend the definition of a Special Tree, to require that the Mayor increase the fines and fees associated with the removal of Special Trees or Heritage Trees for inflation, and to modify the permissible uses of the Tree Fund.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL AN ACT __________________ IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA __________________ To amend the Urban Forest Preservation Act of 2002 to modify the definition of a Special Tree, to require that the Mayor increase the fines and fees associated with the removal of Special Trees or Heritage Trees for inflation, and to modify the permissible uses of the Tree Fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the “Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act of 2025”.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the “Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act of 2026”.
Law 14- 309;
Law 14-309;
“(2) In addition to an increase under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Mayor may increase the fee described in subsection (b)(3) of this section or the fine described in subsection (d) of this section by regulation.”.
“(2) In addition to the increases under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Mayor may increase the fee described in subsection (b)(3) of this section or the fine described in subsection (d) of this section by regulation.”.
ENGROSSED ORIGINAL (c) Section 104a(d) (D.C.
(c) Section 104a(d) (D.C.
Official Code § 8–651.04a(d)) is amended to read as follows:
Official Code § 8-651.04a(d)) is amended to read as follows:
“(2) In addition to an increase under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Mayor may increase the fee described in subsection (c) of this section by regulation.”.
“(2) In addition to the increase under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Mayor may increase the fee described in subsection (c) of this section by regulation.”.
“(a) There is established as a special fund the Tree Fund (“Fund”), which shall be administered by the District Department of Transportation in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL “(a) There is established as a special fund the Tree Fund (“Fund”), which shall be administered by the District Department of Transportation in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.
and ENGROSSED ORIGINAL “(B)Providingincome-based subsidies toassist District residents withcosts related to the removal and replacement of hazardous trees;
and “(B) Providing income-based subsidies to assist District residents with costs related to the removal and replacement of hazardous trees;
ENGROSSED ORIGINAL The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat.
This act shall take effect following 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.
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the ENROLLED ORIGINAL 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.
___________________________________ Chairman Council of the District of Columbia _________________________________ Mayor District of Columbia 3
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Action History

  1. Law Number L26-0113 Effective from May 21, 2026

  2. Transmitted to Congress

  3. Act A26-0283 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 005086

  4. Returned from Mayor

  5. Enacted without Mayor's Signature with Act Number A26-0283

  6. Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 24, 2026

  7. Final Reading, CC

  8. First Reading, CC

  9. Committee Mark-up of B26-0059 by the Transportation and the Environment Committee

  10. Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0059 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  11. Referred to Committee on Transportation and the Environment

  12. B26-0059 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson 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 →

First Reading, CC

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12001
Total 12001
% of votes cast 92%0%0%8%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Anita Bonds — Yea
Brianne K. Nadeau — Yea
Brooke Pinto — Not Voting
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

environment
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors B 26-0059?
B 26-0059 is sponsored by Phil Mendelson.
What is the current status of B 26-0059?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 13, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track B 26-0059?
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