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B 25-0319

Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act of 2023

25th Council Period (2023-2024) Introduced by Brianne Nadeau

Amends District human-rights complaint procedures to increase fairness by adjusting intake, timelines, and remedies; impacts complainants, respondents, and OHR.

Final Reading, CC
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Bill Summary · B 25-0319

Summary — B 25-0319: Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act of 2023

Bill basics

  • Bill Number: B 25-0319
  • Title: Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act of 2023
  • Introduced: June 8, 2023 (by Councilmember Brooke Pinto? — introduced by Councilmember Nadeau per record)
  • Status: Final Reading, CC (Final Reading recorded 2024-12-17)
  • Committee: Referred to the Committee on Public Works and Operations

Note: The full bill text is not included in the materials you provided. This summary describes the available procedural history, the bill’s stated title/intent, likely areas of change, and recommended sources for the precise substantive provisions.

Stated purpose / intent

Based on the bill’s title, the Fairness in Human Rights Administration Amendment Act of 2023 is intended to amend District rules/statutes governing how human-rights complaints are administered — i.e., to adjust procedures, standards, timelines, or remedies to promote greater fairness in the District’s human-rights enforcement system. The title alone does not specify which code sections are amended or the exact changes.

What we know from legislative history

  • Introduced: 2023-06-08 by Councilmember Nadeau
  • Referred to Committee on Public Works and Operations: 2023-06-20
  • Multiple public hearing notices and hearings held in Nov–Dec 2023; public hearing record filed 2023-12-06
  • Committee mark-up: 2024-11-21; committee report filed 2024-11-27 (includes hearing record)
  • First Reading (Council): 2024-12-03
  • Final Reading (Council): 2024-12-17

The committee report (filed 2024-11-27) is the primary source for the bill’s detailed analysis, any amendments made during mark-up, testimony, and fiscal/operational impacts.

Likely key provisions (based on the bill title)

The title suggests amendments in one or more of the following areas; these are typical topics addressed by “fairness” amendments but should be verified against the bill text and committee report:
- Changes to complaint intake, investigation, or case-dismissal procedures
- Revised timelines for investigations, notice, or adjudication
- Modifications to mediation, informal resolution, or pre-hearing processes
- Adjusted standards for evidence, burden of proof, or remedies available
- Procedural protections for respondents and complainants (notice, representation, confidentiality)
- Administrative or staffing changes for the Office of Human Rights or related tribunal

Who would be affected

  • Individuals filing or defending against discrimination complaints in the District (employees, tenants, applicants)
  • Employers, housing providers, businesses, and service providers subject to the Human Rights Act
  • The D.C. Office of Human Rights and any hearing or adjudicative body that administers complaints
  • Legal service providers and advocates who represent parties in human-rights matters

Procedural/next-step notes

  • Because the committee report was filed (2024-11-27) and the Final Reading occurred 2024-12-17, consult the Council’s legislative information system or the committee report to confirm final text, vote counts, any amendments, and whether the Act was transmitted to the Mayor or enacted.
  • To assess concrete impacts, review: (1) the final bill text; (2) the Committee Report (analysis, findings, fiscal impact); and (3) the public hearing record for stakeholder views and testimony.

If you want, I can locate and summarize the final bill text and the committee report (which will show the exact amendments and their effects).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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