Certificate of Assurance Moratorium Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025
Summary
This emergency act amends the District of Columbia Rental Housing Act of 1985 to continue a moratorium on “certificates of assurance” tied to the District’s rent stabilization laws. Under the bill, beginning November 2, 2020, no housing accommodation owner may request a certificate of assurance, and the Mayor is prohibited from issuing one for any request received. The measure is framed as a congressional review emergency amendment, indicating it is intended to preserve the status quo while the District’s rent stabilization framework remains under review.
The bill is temporary and self-limited: it takes effect only after mayoral approval or Council override and expires after 90 days, consistent with emergency legislation in the District. It also adopts the Budget Director’s fiscal impact statement, signaling that the Council did not identify a separate fiscal note beyond that statement. In practical terms, the bill affects landlords, tenants, and the District government officials responsible for administering rent stabilization-related certifications.
Impact
The bill adds a new section 221a to the Rental Housing Act of 1985, creating an explicit statutory moratorium on requests for and issuance of certificates of assurance. This changes District law by suspending a process otherwise referenced in section 221, and it binds both property owners and the Mayor’s office. Because it is an emergency act, the change is temporary and does not permanently alter the underlying rent stabilization statute, but it does immediately restrict administrative action related to rent-controlled housing.
Sentiment
The available voting record suggests broad support for the measure: it passed final reading unanimously, 12-0. With no committee transcripts provided, there is no recorded debate to indicate organized opposition or significant concern in the available materials. The overall sentiment appears to be procedural and protective, aimed at maintaining continuity in the District’s rent stabilization regime while congressional review is pending.
Contention
The main point of contention, based on the text itself, is the suspension of certificate-of-assurance requests and issuance, which may affect housing owners seeking those certificates and any stakeholders who view them as necessary for compliance or administrative certainty. The bill does not include recorded committee debate, so no specific objections are documented in the provided materials. Any disagreement would likely center on whether an emergency moratorium is the appropriate tool and on the practical effects for landlords versus tenants under rent stabilization rules.