Bill > B26-0059

This bill, the Tree Preservation Enhancement Amendment Act of 2025, aims to strengthen protections for trees in the District of Columbia by modifying the definition of a "Special Tree" to include those with a trunk diameter of 40 inches or more, down from the previous 44-inch threshold, and mandates that the Mayor periodically adjust fines and fees for removing Special Trees or Heritage Trees to account for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, starting in July 2029 and every three years thereafter, while also allowing for additional increases. Furthermore, the bill clarifies the permissible uses of the Tree Fund, which is a dedicated fund for tree-related initiatives, specifying that money can be used for planting trees on public land, providing subsidies for residents to remove and replace hazardous trees, and potentially for planting on private land, conducting survival checks, and covering administrative costs, with private donations to the fund being tax-deductible.