D.C. committee reviews bill to expand enforcement powers under consumer-protection law

Councilmember Brianna Do, chair of the Council’s Committee on Public Works and Operations, opened a May 22 roundtable on the District’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act by saying, “Today we will discuss consumer protection procedures in the District Of Columbia.”

Adam Teitelbaum, director of consumer protection at the District of Columbia Office of the Attorney General (OAG), testified in support of Bill 26‑174, the Enhancing Consumer Protection Procedures Amendment Act of 2025. Teitelbaum said the bill would “modernize, strengthen, and clarify the district's consumer protection laws” and give enforcement agencies tools to pursue deceptive or unfair business practices more effectively.

Why it matters: OAG and a parallel administrative agency, the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP), enforce the Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA). Teitelbaum told the committee that since 2023 OAG has secured judgments totaling nearly $80,000,000 under the CPPA, and that clarifying and expanding enforcement authority would both speed investigations and increase deterrence against bad actors.

Key provisions described by the witness include granting OAG authority to use pre-suit interrogatories and subpoenas in investigations, explicitly covering charitable solicitations under…