District of ColumbiaB26-0400Council Period 26 (2025-2026)House

Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Zachary Parker (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Abandonment rules protect safe newborn surrenders

D.C. defines abandonment as at least 4 months without reasonable efforts by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian to maintain a parental relationship. A newborn also qualifies after at least 10 days in a D.C. hospital following birth. For that rule, the parent must have taken no action or made no effort to maintain a relationship or contact with the child or hospital. Children surrendered in accordance with D.C.’s Newborn Safe Haven law are not considered abandoned.

Child abuse rules and discipline limits

D.C.’s abuse definition includes physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, and withholding adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. It also includes interfering with a child’s breathing. Threatening a child with a firearm, knife, or legally prohibited weapon—or using one on a child—counts as abuse. Physical discipline by a parent, guardian, or custodian is excluded only when the child is at least 3 years old. The discipline must also be reasonable in manner and moderate in degree.

Neglect rules and safeguards for families

D.C. updates when a child is considered neglected. Homelessness or unstable housing alone cannot establish neglect. For inadequate care, officials must consider all circumstances, including basic supervision, support, and legally required education. The child must suffer serious physical, mental, or emotional harm, or face a substantial risk of it. The care failure cannot be due only to lack of money. Eligibility for or receipt of public benefits alone does not prove that poverty was not the only cause. Serious harm or substantial risk also applies when a caregiver cannot meet responsibilities because of mental incapacity. Other grounds include caregiver abuse, failure to take reasonable steps to protect against abuse, and abandonment. Neglect also includes a caregiver refusing care, being unavailable, or stating they cannot continue or assume care, control, or support. Imminent danger of abuse qualifies when another child in the same household or under the same caregiver has been abused. Drug-related grounds include dependence or a significant controlled-substance presence at birth, and regular exposure to illegal drug activity at home. They also include controlled substances in a child’s body as a direct, foreseeable result of a caregiver’s actions or failures. The law repeals two former neglect grounds and paragraph (24); the supplied text does not explain their former contents.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Zachary Parker
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 26 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2026

Final Reading, CC

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

First Reading, CC