# District of Columbia B26-0400: Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2025 District of Columbia B26-0400, Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2025, is a Council Period 26 (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Zachary Parker (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-26 (Law L26-0129, Effective from Jun 11, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 008883) (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0400-26 - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: District of Columbia B26-0400 - State: District of Columbia - Session: Council Period 26 (2025-2026) - Title: Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2025 - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-10-06 - Last action: 2026-06-26, Law L26-0129, Effective from Jun 11, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 008883 - Sponsor: Zachary Parker (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 0 - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 2 (26 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Abandonment rules protect safe newborn surrenders: mixed, medium. 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… - Child abuse rules and discipline limits: mixed, medium. 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… - Neglect rules and safeguards for families: mixed, medium. 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, o… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Zachary Parker (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-03-31 | House | Final Reading, CC | pass | 13 | 0 | | | 2026-03-03 | House | First Reading, CC | pass | 13 | 0 | | ## Actions (16) - 2026-06-26: Law L26-0129, Effective from Jun 11, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 008883 (House) - 2026-05-01: Act A26-0309 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 006825 (House) - 2026-04-29: Transmitted to Congress (House) - 2026-04-24: Returned from Mayor (House) - 2026-04-24: Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0309 (House) - 2026-04-13: Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 28, 2026 (House) - 2026-03-31: Legislative Meeting (House) - 2026-03-03: Legislative Meeting (House) - 2026-02-23: Committee Mark-up of B26-0400 by the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee (House) - 2026-01-27: Committee Mark-up of B26-0400 by the Youth Affairs Committee (House) - 2025-11-13: Public Hearing on B26-0400 View Public Hearing Record (House) - 2025-10-24: Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register (House) - 2025-10-21: Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Judiciary and Public Safety, Youth Affairs (House) - 2025-10-10: Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0400 Published in the District of Columbia Register (House) - 2025-10-07: Referred to Committee on Youth Affairs, and Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety (House) - 2025-10-06: B26-0400 Introduced by Councilmember Parker at Office of the Secretary (House) ## Bill text - Enrollment, 2026-03-31: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60460/Meeting2/Enrollment/B26-0400-Enrollment1.pdf?Id=236164) - Engrossment, 2026-03-03: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60460/Meeting1/Engrossment/B26-0400-Engrossment1.pdf?Id=233777) - Introduced, 2025-10-06: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60460/Introduction/B26-0400-Introduction.pdf?Id=224385) ## Related bills - B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025 (signed) - B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (signed) - B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026 (signed) - B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act of 2025 (signed) - B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed) - B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed) ## Sources - [Enrollment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60460/Meeting2/Enrollment/B26-0400-Enrollment1.pdf?Id=236164) - [Engrossment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60460/Meeting1/Engrossment/B26-0400-Engrossment1.pdf?Id=233777) - [Introduced (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/60460/Introduction/B26-0400-Introduction.pdf?Id=224385) ## Related - [B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0047-26) - [B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amend…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0785-26) - [B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0663-26) - [B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0181-26) - [B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Correcti…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0735-26) - [B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarificati…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0760-26) - [District of Columbia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia/bills) - [District of Columbia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0400-26 (as of 2026-11-04).