DC Chamber Government Affairs Update – February 2023

B25-0114 “Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act of 2021”.
The “Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act of 2021”, seeks to prohibit the use of algorithmic decision-making in an unlawfully discriminatory manner and would require corresponding notices to individuals whose personal information is used in certain algorithms to determine employment, housing, healthcare and financial lending. The measure was recently refiled in the new Council session by Councilmember Robert White, Jr., who championed last year’s bill, along with co-introducers Lewis George, Allen, Parker, and Bonds. The bill has now been sequentially referred to the Committee on Business and Economic Development chaired by Councilmember McDuffie, and the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety chaired by Councilmember Pinto.  Last year, the Chamber led a successful effort to delay formal action on the bill. This year, we intend to focus our efforts on defeating or, if necessary, fixing this legislation.    

Bill 25-0026  “Pay Range Act of 2023”.
Sponsored by councilmembers T. White, Nadeau, Lewis George, Parker, and Pinto, this bill would establish requirements prohibiting employers from posting a job advertisement without including the minimum and maximum salary or hourly pay information. Under this bill, employers are defined as any individual, firm, association, corporation, the District of Columbia government, any receiver or trustee of any individual firm, association, or corporation, or the legal representative of a deceased employer, who uses the services of an individual for pay in the District. According to the bill, in stating the minimum and maximum salary or hourly pay for the position, the range may extend from the lowest to the highest salary the employer, in good faith, believes at the time of the posting it would pay for the advertised job. The measure has been referred to the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor (Chaired by Councilmember Bonds). A public hearing on predecessor Bill 24-708 was held on December 12, 2022, so any additional public hearings in the current Council period are optional.  

 B25-0068 “Street Vendor Advancement Amendment Act of 2023”.
Introduced by Chairman Mendelson and Councilmember Nadeau and referred to the Committee of the Whole, the bill would remove criminal penalties for a violation of the act or a vending regulation, and would allow the Mayor to establish sidewalk vending zones for sidewalk vendors to legally operate.

B24-0301 “Business and Entrepreneurship Support to Thrive (BEST) Amendment Act of 2021”
This measure, unanimously passed by the Council in December 2022, would streamline basic business licensing processes for new and existing businesses.  Among other things, it reduces the number of basic business license categories from over one hundred to ten.  It lowers initial license fees and removes outdated or duplicative requirements.  The bill is subject to appropriation and the Chamber and other proponents are urging the Administration to include appropriate funding in the Mayor’s FY 2024 budget proposal. 

FY 2024 Budget
The Mayor plans to submit her FY 2024 budget proposal for Council review on March 22, 2023.  The Chamber is now identifying priority items it intends to engage on at the DC Council.  Early ideas include no income, residential or commercial property tax increases, and carrying out the scheduled sunset of the FY 2020 increase in the commercial property and deed and recordation tax on September 30, 2023.