FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2026
Contact: Press@MoreAffordableDC.org
Phone: 202-744-2671
More Affordable DC Campaign Withdraws Second Initiative Draft and Submits Third Legislative Text Reflecting OAG and OGC Advisory Guidance
Campaign Believes 3rd Time Will Be the Charm
WASHINGTON, DC — On Friday, January 16, 2026, More Affordable DC, the ballot initiative campaign committee advocating for systemic housing reform in the District, withdrew the second draft of its ballot initiative and simultaneously submitted a revised third draft of the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 to the District of Columbia Board of Elections (DCBOE).
The updated legislative text incorporates critical changes in response to advisory opinions issued by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) of the DC Council, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements for ballot initiatives.
The campaign’s initiative seeks transformative changes to DC’s affordable housing framework — including a two-year rent freeze upon enactment, automatic rent protections tied to inflation, and redefining what affordability actually means based on real DC incomes. It also seeks to ensure public land is used for truly affordable and family sized housing.
Responsive Legislative Revisions Following Advisory Guidance
Under DC law, before a ballot initiative can be circulated for signatures or placed on the ballot, the DCBOE must determine that the proposed measure is “proper subject matter,” a process informed by non-binding advisory opinions from both the OAG and the OGC. In November and December 2025, the OAG and OCG reviewed the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 and provided written legal advice addressing substantive and procedural concerns outlined in the proposed initiative texts.
A key issue addressed in the advisory opinions — and reflected in the third draft — include ensuring that the initiative conforms with subject matter limitations on special Council funds to avoid any misinterpretation that the initiative is directing Council appropriations & budgetary authority.
Statement from the Proposer:
“This campaign is committed to having voters decide meaningful housing reform in the District,” said Salim Adofo, Ward 8 Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and proposer of the ballot initiative. “These revisions reflect our responsiveness to legal guidance and our determination to give every resident of DC a fair shot at living in an affordable, stable home — not just in theory, but in practice. We believe this third draft embodies both the urgency of our housing challenges and the procedural rigor required to place it before voters.”
Next Steps
Following submission of the revised legislative text, the DCBOE will soon publish a notice for the next public hearing to evaluate whether the third iteration of the DC Housing Modernization and Accessibility Act of 2026 meets the criteria to be circulated for petition signatures. Prior to this hearing, the OAG and OGC will provide their advisory opinions. If deemed proper subject matter, the initiative will be assigned a number and there will be another hearing to finalize the Short Title, Summary Statement, and Legislative Text. After this is published in the DC Register and 10 day challenge period expires, the DCBOE will hold a final hearing where the campaign will officially adopt the ballot access petition, which will start the signature-gathering phase, aiming to secure the threshold required for placement on the November 2026 general election ballot. The due date for petitions is Monday, July 6, 2026.
About More Affordable DC
More Affordable DC is a citizen-led ballot initiative committee focused on ensuring that District housing policy delivers affordability, stability, and opportunity for all residents. The campaign emphasizes rent protections, updating affordability definitions, and statutory reforms tailored to the lived economic realities of DC families and renters. More information and to read the revised legislative text please visit www.MoreAffordableDC.org
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