# 119-s-402: Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act

119-s-402, Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS); status introduced (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-402
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-402
- Congress: 119
- Title: Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-02-05
- Sponsor: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS] (R-KS)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Law
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**Modernize DC court language to use respectful terms for people with intellectual disabilities.** This bill would replace outdated phrases such as "substantially retarded persons" and "the at least moderately mentally retarded" with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in three sections of the District of Columbia Code that guide the U.S. District Court, the Superior Court, and the Family Court. The change standardizes contemporary, non-stigmatizing terminology across those court jurisdictions.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (D-MI), 2025-02-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA] (D-GA), 2025-07-09T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-258: TORNADO Act
- 119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-402 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/402)

## Related
- [119-s-5066: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5066)
- [119-s-4744: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4744)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-258: TORNADO Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-258)
- [119-s-3940: Access to Fair Financing for Opportunity and Resilient Development Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3940)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-402 (as of 2025-12-21).