N環球 
New D.C. laws take effect: paid leave slashed, landlords banned from pet breed restrictions
Family leave cut from 12 to 6 weeks, medical leave 12 to 10, weekly benefit cap $1,190 to $1,100; landlords can no longer ban pets by breed, size or weight.
Why it matters
Two big changes hit Washington, D.C. on October 1: the District became the first U.S. jurisdiction to cut an established paid family and medical leave program, and landlords lost the right to ban tenants' pets by breed, size or weight.
Full report
Under the FY2027 Budget Support Act passed by the D.C. Council, guaranteed family caregiving leave is cut in half — from 12 weeks to six — and medical leave drops from 12 to 10 weeks, effective October 1, 2026. The maximum weekly benefit falls from $1,190 to $1,100 for all programs. Parental leave stays at 12 weeks and prenatal leave at two weeks. The employer payroll tax that funds the program remains at 0.75%; the cuts are expected to last until at least 2031.
The pet protections come from the Pets in Housing Amendment Act, known as "Roscoe's Law" after Councilmember Robert White's dog. Landlords may no longer refuse common household pets based on breed, size or weight, nor impose special charges tied to those factors. Limits on pet deposits and monthly pet rent took effect earlier, in 2025.
The law also requires at least one low-barrier shelter in the District to reserve space for homeless residents with a common household pet. Animal welfare groups welcomed the changes as a way to reduce barriers to pet ownership in the U.S. capital.
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