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District of ColumbiaB26-0461Council Period 26 (2025-2026)House

Juvenile Curfew Amendment Act of 2025 (now known as "Youth Curfew Amendment Act of 2026")

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

More safeguards before youth curfew arrests

Before an extended-zone curfew arrest, police must give at least 2 clearly audible, understandable notices and reasonable time to leave. At least 1 notice is required when bodily injury or major property damage is an immediate danger. Officers must record each notice on their body-worn cameras. Police may also give advance verbal warnings starting no more than 30 minutes before curfew begins. Police cannot stop, question, disperse, or transport youth solely for being in a zone before curfew starts. They also cannot act solely because a group is below the required size or another fact alone is not a violation. These extended-zone safeguards are subject to the law's budget-certification requirement. The act expires on December 31, 2028.

Safer release options for detained youth

Youth detained for curfew violations must be held at a designated police location, not a district station or juvenile detention center. Police must release them within a reasonable time to a parent, guardian, or adult acting as a parent. If that adult is unavailable, youth may be transported home, to a youth event, or to a 24-hour youth drop-in center. Another safe location named by the youth is also allowed. Child and Family Services may take custody only when none of those options is workable. Police district stations and juvenile detention centers cannot be designated transport destinations. These rules apply after their costs are included in an approved District budget and financial plan. The act expires on December 31, 2028.

Youth events alongside extended curfew zones

The parks department or a community group chosen by the Mayor must host at least 1 evening youth event per active-zone period. The Mayor or police chief must announce event locations, days, and times when establishing the zone. They must coordinate with the transit authority and District agencies to support safe access. Hosts must make good-faith efforts to include youth input in planning and running events. Youth can travel directly to or from these events without violating curfew, but unrelated stops or detours are not covered. The District may give grant money to community hosts. The programming rules apply only after their costs enter an approved budget and financial plan and receive the required certification. The act expires on December 31, 2028.

Curfew rules now cover 17-year-olds

The District's curfew law now covers youth under 18, including 17-year-olds. It excludes married minors and minors legally emancipated by a court. The law replaces the term “juvenile” with “youth.” The act expires on December 31, 2028.

Temporary youth curfews with firm limits

The Mayor or police chief can create temporary extended youth curfew zones to protect safety or public or private property. The chief must consider the past 30 days' curfew violations, disturbances, violent crimes involving minors, and property damage. Other grounds include verifiable reports of risky gatherings of 9 or more minors or other signs of likely danger. Extended rules cannot apply to groups of 8 or fewer minors. Hours cannot start before 8 p.m. or run past 6 a.m. the next day. Zones last no more than 4 consecutive days without an extension; each extension is limited to 30 days. Orders must state the factual basis, boundaries, days, and hours, with notices on District and police websites and signs in the zone. Zones generally start at least 24 hours after posting, unless an emergency justifies an earlier start. A neighborhood commission can petition after a formal vote, proposing boundaries, hours, duration, and reasons for a nearby zone. For these petitions, the police chief alone decides whether to create a zone within or next to the commission's area. The extended-zone provisions apply only after their costs enter an approved budget and financial plan and the chief financial officer certifies this. The act expires on December 31, 2028.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

  • Phil Mendelson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 34 • No: 18

House vote • 5/5/2026

Other

Yes: 11 • No: 2

House vote • 5/5/2026

Final Reading

Yes: 8 • No: 5

House vote • 5/5/2026

Other

Yes: 7 • No: 6

House vote • 4/21/2026

First Reading

Yes: 8 • No: 5

Actions Timeline

  1. Law L26-0140, Effective from Jul 02, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 009380

    7/10/2026House

  2. Act A26-0317 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 007783

    5/22/2026House

  3. Transmitted to Congress

    5/19/2026House

  4. Returned from Mayor

    5/15/2026House

  5. Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0317

    5/14/2026House

  6. Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on May 25, 2026

    5/11/2026House

  7. Legislative Meeting

    5/5/2026House

  8. Legislative Meeting

    4/21/2026House

  9. Committee Mark-up of B26-0461 by the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

    4/9/2026House

  10. Public Hearing on B26-0461 View Public Hearing Record

    12/4/2025House

  11. Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

    11/7/2025House

  12. Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0461 Published in the District of Columbia Register

    11/7/2025House

  13. Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Judiciary and Public Safety

    11/4/2025House

  14. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

    11/4/2025House

  15. B26-0461 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

    10/31/2025House

Bill Text

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