Summary#
B26-0818, the For-Hire Passenger Service Reform Act of 2026, would add a new chapter to Title 47 of the D.C. Code. It would set rules for for-hire passenger services and strengthen enforcement; its stated goals include consumer protection, clearer regulation, and better access to service for people with disabilities. The bill is introduced and is not law.
- It would cover many passenger trips that start, end, or travel through D.C., including some unpaid or promotional trips and time when a vehicle is available or heading to a passenger. The text lists exceptions, including carpooling and charitable passenger service.
- It would require licenses for dispatch providers and operators, registration of vehicles, and minimum insurance coverage. Dispatch providers would have duties including keeping records, providing trip receipts, and meeting accessibility and service requirements.
- Dispatch providers would have to meet standards for wheelchair-accessible vehicle trips, including response times and the share of requests fulfilled. The Department of For-Hire Vehicles would set rules and penalties.
- The bill would replace existing for-hire taxes and surcharges with a vehicle-miles-travelled charge, and establish an industry fund, an accessible passenger service fund, and an accessible vehicle surcharge. The supplied text does not include the provisions setting their rates or detailed operation.
- The Department could make reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions and create temporary licensing for emerging service models. The Department could attach conditions and, in some cases, revoke a provisional license.
What it means for you#
- Dispatch providers and other service businesses: They would need a D.C. license and would have to meet requirements for insurance checks, trip records, data sharing, accessibility, and fare information. The bill would require service throughout D.C. unless the Department authorizes otherwise.
- Drivers and other operators: They would need a license and any required endorsements. A dispatch provider could not prevent an operator from also working with another licensed provider or providing street-hail service when available for dispatch. Operators would have to receive trip payments within five business days and keep all tips.
- Passengers, including wheelchair users: The bill would require dispatch providers to let customers request a wheelchair-accessible vehicle and set service standards for those trips. It would also require fare information and receipts. How to complain or seek a remedy is not fully shown in the supplied text.
- Vehicle owners and fleet providers: Vehicles used for covered service would need registration, inspection, and required insurance. The bill sets minimum liability coverage of $2 million per occurrence and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $1 million per occurrence.
- People who use food or parcel delivery: The sponsor’s letter says the bill does not create new policies or regulations for for-hire delivery carriers.
Money#
No publicly available cost estimate is included in the supplied material.
- The bill’s summary says it would replace existing for-hire taxes and surcharges with a vehicle-miles-travelled charge and create two funds and an accessible vehicle surcharge. The supplied text does not show the charge or surcharge amounts, who must pay them, or how the funds would be spent.
- The bill would require staffing and enforcement by the Department, but the supplied material gives no staffing plan or cost estimate.
- The bill requires insurance coverage, but the cost to operators, providers, or vehicle owners is not stated.
What is unclear#
- The supplied bill text stops partway through a section. It does not include many operative provisions listed in the bill’s summary, including the full fee, fund, fare, licensing, and enforcement rules.
- The parent laws and current regulations are not supplied. I could not verify how the proposed chapter would change or overlap with current D.C. law.
- The rate, collection method, and payer for the proposed vehicle-miles-travelled charge and accessible vehicle surcharge are not available in the supplied text.
- The bill leaves important implementation details to Department rules, including the data and penalties for wheelchair-accessible service standards. The supplied text does not show the full complaint process or all enforcement procedures.
- The bill’s summary describes an Accessible Passenger Service Fund, but the supplied text does not show who would control it or how money could be used.
Case for#
- The bill appears intended to bring a wide range of passenger services under one set of rules, including some trips without direct passenger payment.
- Requiring insurance, licensing, vehicle checks, and trip records could give the Department clearer tools to protect passengers and investigate unlicensed service.
- The wheelchair-accessible service standards could make providers answerable for response times and unfulfilled requests, rather than only requiring them to offer a way to request an accessible vehicle.
- The bill would set payment deadlines and require operators to receive all tips, giving operators clearer payment protections.
Case against#
- The bill would give the Department significant rulemaking and licensing powers, while many practical requirements and penalties are left to rules not included in the supplied text.
- The new mileage charge and surcharge could change costs for service providers, operators, or passengers, but their rates and payers are not clear from the available material.
- The service standards may be difficult to apply consistently without clear definitions, measurement rules, and complaint procedures. Some of those details are left for later rules.
- The bill’s broad scope could bring new services and activities under regulation, but the supplied text does not show how the Department would decide borderline cases or coordinate with existing regulators.