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Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act

To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to revise references in such title to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Introduced Feb 5, 2025

Latest action (Feb 5, 2025) Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Referred to
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Policy area
Law
Legislative subjects (4)
Disability and health-based discriminationDistrict of ColumbiaFederal district courtsSpecialized courts

Summary

This bill amends District of Columbia law to update terminology used in three court jurisdictional provisions. It replaces outdated references such as "substantially retarded persons" and "the at least moderately mentally retarded" with the current term "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in statutes governing U.S. District Court, Superior Court, and Family Court in the District. The changes affect how individuals with moderate intellectual disabilities are referred to in DC court procedures.

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)
2 cosponsors

Actions (2)
  1. Feb 5, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. · senate
  2. Feb 5, 2025 Introduced in Senate

More bills on these subjects (8)

Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).

  • HR 1022 — Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act (shares 4 subjects)
  • HR 9770 — Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027 (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 7148 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 7006 — Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2026 (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 5166 — Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026 (shares 3 subjects)
  • HR 1654 — CUTS Act (shares 3 subjects)
  • S 2524 — An original bill making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes. (shares 3 subjects)
  • S 2882 — Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026 (shares 2 subjects)

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

  • HR 1022 — Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act · Introduced Feb 5, 2025 · Cong. 119 89%
  • HR 4061 — District of Columbia Local Juror Non-Discrimination Act of 2025 · Introduced Jun 20, 2025 · Cong. 119 68%
  • HR 4300 — Commission of Fine Arts District of Columbia Home Rule Act · Introduced Jul 7, 2025 · Cong. 119 67%
  • HR 565 — District of Columbia Federal Judicial Officials Residency Equality Act of 2025 · Introduced Jan 20, 2025 · Cong. 119 67%
  • HR 1173 — Equal Federal Funding for the District of Columbia Act · Introduced Feb 10, 2025 · Cong. 119 67%
  • HR 4574 — District of Columbia Courts Home Rule Act · Introduced Jul 21, 2025 · Cong. 119 67%

Full text

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 5, 2025

Mr. Moran (for himself and Mr. Peters) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to revise references in such title to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act”.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

(a) Jurisdiction of United States District Court.—Section 11- 501(2)(D), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking “substantially retarded persons” and inserting “persons with moderate intellectual disabilities”.

(b) Jurisdiction of Superior Court.—Section 11-921(a)(4)(D), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking “substantially retarded persons” and inserting “persons with moderate intellectual disabilities”.

(c) Jurisdiction of Family Court.—Section 11-1101(a)(15), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended by striking “the at least moderately mentally retarded” and inserting “persons with moderate intellectual disabilities”. <all>

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