DC Council Advances Fair Initiatives

The DC Council this week approved the Fair Initiatives Act on first reading — a critical first step toward initiative reform that RAMW is championing.

• What It Does: Introduced by Councilmember Anita Bonds, the bill sets a single-subject rule for ballot measures and extends legal review. 
• What Changed: An amendment from Councilmember Charles Allen removed a provision that would have required the Board of Elections to stop all action whenever a lawsuit is filed.
• The Problem: DC's status as the nation's capital makes the District a trophy for outside groups pushing national agendas. One New York organization provided 90% of Initiative 82's funding; Initiative 83 was bankrolled by a Colorado group that contributed more than half a million dollars.
• The Vote: The bill passed by a 9-2-1 vote. Councilmembers Elissa Silverman and Zachary Parker voted no, and Councilmember Janeese Lewis George voted present.
• The Debate: Silverman favors a process in which the Council reviews a proposal before it reaches the ballot, a model used in states such as Massachusetts and Maine. She argued the bill misses that larger issue: “Since there are other issues that sort of cloud the initiative process, I am going to vote no on this bill.”
• No Impact on I-87: The Fair Initiatives Act won't apply retroactively, so Initiative 87, which would raise the minimum wage to $25, eliminate the tip credit, and restrict service charges, is still expected on the 2027 ballot.
• What's Next: The bill returns for a second vote Oct. 6.