CRIAC Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2025
Summary
The bill amends District of Columbia law on an emergency basis to clarify how the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) may assess and collect an impervious area charge, also referred to in the bill title as CRIAC. It states that DC Water shall assess the charge on any property in the District based on the amount of impervious surface on the property, such as rooftops, driveways, patios, private streets, paved areas, athletic courts, swimming pools, and covered walkways. The bill also clarifies that the charge is the obligation of the property owner, and that failure to pay can result in a lien on the property.
Impact
The measure amends the District of Columbia Public Works Act of 1954 and the Water and Sewer Authority Establishment and Department of Public Works Reorganization Act of 1996. It expressly requires owners or occupants to pay any impervious area charge established by DC Water, authorizes DC Water to impose the charge on any property in the District, and provides that unpaid charges may be enforced through a lien. It also preserves a process for owners or occupants to contest the bill using the same procedures available for water and sewer service charges. The act is temporary emergency legislation and applies retroactively to March 25, 2009.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill, with final reading passing 13-0. No committee transcript is available, but the unanimous vote indicates little visible opposition in the recorded legislative action. The bill appears to have been treated as a technical clarification of existing charging authority rather than a major policy change.
Contention
The main substantive issue is the scope and enforceability of the impervious area charge: the bill clarifies that DC Water may assess the charge on any property and that property owners are responsible for payment, with liens available for nonpayment. Potential points of concern for affected property owners include the retroactive applicability date, the expansion or clarification of who must pay, and the lien enforcement mechanism. However, no recorded committee debate or dissent is available, and the final vote was unanimous, so no formal opposition is documented in the provided materials.