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B 26-0728

Private Vehicle-for-Hire Operator Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Brianne Nadeau

Defines a private vehicle-for-hire operator as someone using a private-hire company’s digital dispatch to transport passengers, for up to 90 days.

Retained by the Council
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · B 26-0728

Overview

Private Vehicle-for-Hire Operator Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (B26-0728) amends the District of Columbia’s Department of For-Hire Vehicles Establishment Act of 1985 on an emergency basis. The primary aim is to clarify who qualifies as a “private vehicle-for-hire operator” and to establish the act’s temporary effective period.

Main purpose and intent

  • Clarify the definition of a “private vehicle-for-hire operator” to ensure consistent regulatory application.
  • Implement the clarifying definition on an emergency basis, with a limited temporary duration.

Key provisions

  • Amends Section 4(16C) of the Department of For-Hire Vehicles Establishment Act of 1985 to define “private vehicle-for-hire operator” as:
    • “An individual who utilizes the digital dispatch of a private vehicle-for-hire company to operate a motor vehicle to provide transportation to passengers.”
  • Applicability date:
    • Applies as of March 1, 2024.
  • Effective period:
    • Upon mayoral approval (or Council action to override a mayoral veto), the act takes effect and remains in force for no longer than 90 days, consistent with emergency acts under the DC Home Rule Act.

Who/what is affected

  • Individuals who operate motor vehicles for hire via the digital dispatch platforms of private vehicle-for-hire companies.
  • The definition potentially affects licensing, regulation, and enforcement determinations by the District related to private for-hire operators who rely on digital dispatch systems.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Emergency designation:
    • The act is designed as an emergency measure with a strict 90-day duration post-effectuation.
  • Effective date mechanics:
    • Takes effect after mayoral approval (or, if vetoed, after Council overrides).
  • Retroactive applicability:
    • The bill states applicability as of March 1, 2024, which could encompass actions or determinations related to the clarified definition occurring since that date.

Fiscal impact

  • The Council adopts the Budget Director’s fiscal impact statement as the official fiscal analysis required by the General Legislative Procedures Act.

Summary of potential implications

  • Provides a precise, modern definition aligned with the use of digital dispatch platforms.
  • May affect who is regulated as a private vehicle-for-hire operator during the emergency window.
  • If the emergency period ends without renewal, the clarified definition could lapse unless renewed or codified in a longer-term measure.
  • Stakeholders likely include private for-hire drivers, private for-hire companies (ride-hailing platforms), regulatory agencies, and enforcers within DC’s transportation oversight framework.

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

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