Businesses would file D.C. records online unless officials approve alternatives

Organizations would file records through the Mayor’s designated online system. This rule would cover organization records submitted to the Mayor under Title 29, the District’s business organization law. The Mayor could approve another way to submit records. The act would take effect after mayoral approval or a veto override, a 30-day Congressional review period, and publication in the D.C. Register.

Organizations would report their purpose and identify covered owners and people who control them. Registration filings and reports filed every two years would list these people’s names and home, business, and email addresses. Most disclosures would also require phone numbers. People would qualify by controlling financial or operating decisions, directing daily operations, or holding more than 10% of ownership rights over decisions or payouts, counting direct and indirect holdings together.

D.C. officials could reject filings, change or revoke filed records, or end an organization’s legal existence or registration. Rejection could address false, fraudulent, or incorrect information. Action on filed records would require false or fraudulent information, bad faith, lack of authority, or an effort to defraud or injure someone. Before acting on filed records, the Mayor would email affected people notice explaining their right to respond or request a hearing. A final decision would remain in effect during an appeal unless the court ordered otherwise. People would have 10 business days after notice to respond and 30 business days after final decision notice to appeal to D.C. Superior Court.