On July 29, Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray signed Bill 20-0574, which permanently eliminates the D.C. residency requirement for petitioners. Last year the city had passed a temporary measure eliminating the residency requirement, but the new legislation is permanent. The temporary bill expires October 3, 2014. The reason the Council first passed a temporary measure, followed by a permanent measure, is that it was easier for the temporary measure to take effect immediately.