DC residents with low incomes facing debt problems continue to face obstacles to fairness posed by various laws and court rules in the District of Columbia.

To make the rules and system fairer, Tzedek DC identifies and promotes desirable changes to existing laws and practices. This work encompasses legal and policy research, data gathering and analysis, and advocacy to the DC and federal governments.

Driver’s License Reform

In 2021, Tzedek DC published Driving DC to Opportunity: Wealth Should Not Determine Who Gets to Keep Their Driver’s License, a report that detailed how the “Clean Hands” law disqualifies tens of thousands of residents from renewing their driver’s licenses as punishment for more than $100 in outstanding fines, penalties, or interest to the DC Government. As a result of advocacy by Tzedek DC and a 30+ organization coalition, the DC Council passed the Clean Hands Certification Equity Amendment Act of 2022, which, effective October 1, 2023, ends the Clean Hands Law's disqualification of residents with more than $100 in fines or fees from obtaining or renewing a driver's license. In December 2022, responding to a lawsuit filed by Tzedek DC and Venable on behalf of clients affected by the Clean Hands Law, a Federal judge issued a preliminary injunction requiring the DC government to immediately end its practice of preventing driver's license renewals for residents who owe debt to the District.

Credit Report Reform

The following resources provide helpful information on credit report protections, including how to file a personal statement with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, and how to dispute errors on your report:

Debt Collection Reform

See the below links for: