Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2025
Summary
B260395 is a temporary District of Columbia bill that expands an existing cashless-payment exception for certain late-night entertainment and dining businesses. It amends D.C. Code section 28-5404 to allow retail establishments holding a valid on-premises Class C or Class D retailer license, as well as certain restaurants, to refuse cash payments if they provide conspicuous written notice on the door or menu that cash is not accepted.
The restaurant category covered by the bill is limited to locations that operate 24 hours a day or that are open at 3:00 a.m. at least two days per week. The measure is titled the “Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Extension Temporary Amendment Act of 2025,” applies retroactively beginning October 18, 2025, and expires 225 days after taking effect. It is a temporary amendment rather than a permanent change to District law.
Impact
The bill changes D.C. law by creating a narrow exception to the general rule governing cash acceptance for certain licensed retail establishments and qualifying restaurants. It affects businesses with on-premises Class C or Class D alcohol retailer licenses and late-night or 24-hour restaurant locations, while preserving a notice requirement intended to inform customers in advance. Because the act is temporary and time-limited, it does not permanently rewrite the underlying statute but instead suspends or modifies its application for a defined period.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows strong support for the bill, with unanimous 13-0 votes at both first reading and final reading. No committee transcript is available, but the title and structure suggest the measure was framed as an employee-safety and operational flexibility extension for late-night establishments. The lack of recorded opposition indicates broad agreement in the Council on the temporary policy change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials, and the bill passed unanimously. The main policy issue implicit in the text is the balance between consumer access to cash and business flexibility or employee safety for late-night venues. Any concern would likely center on whether allowing cashless operations could disadvantage customers who rely on cash, but no member objections or debate excerpts are provided.