Bill Details
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill would change District of Columbia law so that certain nonprofit groups are not treated as “doing business” in D.C. just because they meet with federal officials there. If a tax-exempt nonprofit meets with a Member of Congress or another federal government official at a place in D.C. that is owned or leased by the federal government, that meeting would not count toward a D.C. registration requirement for the organization.
- It applies only to nonprofits that are recognized as tax-exempt under federal tax law.
- The protected meetings must be with a Member of Congress or another federal officer, employee, or representative.
- The meeting must take place at a location owned or leased by the federal government in the District of Columbia.
- The purpose is to make it easier for nonprofits to meet with federal leaders without triggering D.C. business registration rules.
Official Summaries
Freedom to Petition the Government Act
This bill allows outside nonprofit organizations to meet with federal officials in the District of Columbia (DC) on federal property without having to register as businesses in DC.
Currently, entities that are formed outside of DC, including nonprofit organizations, must generally register with DC before doing business in DC. Under the bill, outside nonprofit organizations may meet with federal government officials at federally leased or owned buildings in DC without having to register.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 69 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 69
To amend title 29, District of Columbia Official Code, to treat
meetings held by nonprofit organizations with officials of the Federal
Government which are held in the District of Columbia at locations
owned or leased by the Federal Government as activities not
constituting doing business in the District of Columbia for purposes of
determining whether such organizations are required to register with
the District of Columbia.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona (for himself, Mr. Ogles, and Mr. Crane) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight
and Government Reform
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 29, District of Columbia Official Code, to treat
meetings held by nonprofit organizations with officials of the Federal
Government which are held in the District of Columbia at locations
owned or leased by the Federal Government as activities not
constituting doing business in the District of Columbia for purposes of
determining whether such organizations are required to register with
the District of Columbia.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Freedom to Petition the Government
Act''.
SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF MEETINGS BETWEEN NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND
FEDERAL OFFICIALS AS ACTIVITIES NOT CONSTITUTING DOING
BUSINESS IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Section 29-105.05(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (9);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (10) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(11) In the case of an entity that is described in
section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt
from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code, holding a
meeting with a Member of Congress or another officer, employee,
or representative of the Federal Government at a location owned
or leased by the Federal Government.''.
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