By Tashi McQueen
AFRO Staff Writer
tmcqueen@afro.com
As the new year begins, Washington, D.C., residents should be aware of several new laws taking effect in 2026.
Here are some of the legislation that will take effect as soon as Jan. 1:
D.C. Budget Cuts
The Fiscal Year 2026 D.C. Budget, which largely went into effect on Oct. 1, 2025, includes health‑care eligibility changes that take effect on Jan. 1.
Those changes lower income eligibility limits for Medicaid, meaning many adults above 138 percent of the federal poverty level will no longer qualify and will instead transition into a new Basic Health Plan administered by the D.C. Health Benefit Exchange.
About 25,000 residents are expected to be affected by this transition.
Renewed youth curfew
The D.C. Council recently approved the extension of the youth curfew into April, with most areas within the city between the hours of 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. All youth under age 17 will not be allowed to be on D.C. streets during those hours.
The curfew is part of a continued effort to keep D.C. youth off the streets during the late hours, keeping them safe and out of crime.
Increased minimum wage
Workers in D.C. can expect to see an increase in their minimum wage pay in 2026. On July 1, 2025, the minimum wage went up from $17.50 per hour to $17.95 per hour.
This is part of continued inflation‑linked adjustments to the minimum wage in D.C. via the Fair Shot Minimum Wage Amendment Act of 2016. The number for the new minimum wage, which is set to be released on July 1, 2026, has yet to be revealed.
Automatic expungements
New rules to make way for automatic expungements in certain circumstances will take effect in 2026 under the Second Chance Amendment Act. The law was passed in 2022, but implementation of certain provisions was delayed at the time due to funding.
As of Jan. 1, any qualifying cases will be automatically permitted expungement within 90 days. Eligible cases include those where the charge has been determined constitutional or has become legal.
Certain misdemeanor cases that do not end in a conviction will have their records automatically sealed. If convicted, records will be expunged automatically after 10 years.
Exceptions to these new rules include misdemeanor charges that are violent, involve driving under the influence or sexual abuse.