FY27 Budget Testimony: Office of Administrative Hearings

Policy Attorney Patrick Cothern testified before the Committee on Public Works and Operations at the FY2027 Office of Administrative Hearings budget discussion. Our testimony explains why sustained and targeted investment in OAH is essential to protecting residents’ health and safety, restoring the deterrent effect of housing code enforcement, and ensuring that the District’s enforcement dollars are used effectively. Strategic investments in OAH would address the backlog of cases and ensure future cases are processed more efficiently. As such, we urge the Committee to invest an additional $1.5 million for OAH to expand their adjudication capacity and modernize their case and docket management systems. Doing so will strengthen housing code enforcement, protect tenants, and ensure timely resolution of cases. These investments are essential to uphold housing standards and advance equity for residents living in unsafe conditions.