B 26-0189 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Residential Tranquility Amendment Act of 2025

The Residential Tranquility Amendment Act of 2025 prohibits using amplified sound devices to target residences between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and bans throwing projectiles at homes with intent to intimidate. It directly affects District of Columbia residents in residential zones who face harassment through noise demonstrations or projectile-throwing. Key provisions include banning unattended sound amplifying devices near homes and exempting legitimate uses like emergency systems, permitted events, and religious activities. The bill amends the 2010 Residential Tranquility Act to address gaps in protecting home peace from targeted disruptions. It aims to reduce health impacts like sleep disruption and anxiety caused by persistent noise harassment.

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Council Passage

Jul 2025

Signed into Law

Nov 2025

Introduced Mar 24, 2025 Signed Nov 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as the 'Residential Tranquility Amendment Act of 2025' with minor text corrections to ensure legal consistency. The core policy changes remain intact, prohibiting the use of sound amplifying devices and throwing projectiles at residences during specific hours to prevent intimidation and harassment.

Scope change

The scope of applicability for zoning terms was slightly clarified by removing redundant phrasing ('the of the') in the definitions of residential zones, ensuring the law applies strictly to zones defined at the time of the violation.

TECHNICAL

Corrected a grammatical error in the zoning definition by removing the repeated phrase 'the of the conduct' to improve legal clarity.

Standardized the title of the act from 'Residential Tranquility Amendment Act of 2025' to ensure consistency with the enrolled version.

DEFINITION

Refined the definition of 'Sound amplifying device' to explicitly exclude automobile audio systems used only by vehicle occupants.

ENFORCEMENT

Added authority for the Mayor and Metropolitan Police Department to seize and impound unattended sound amplifying devices used in violation of the law.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new prohibition against continuing or resuming the targeting of a residence after being instructed by law enforcement to stop.

Created a specific criminal penalty for knowingly launching or throwing objects onto residential property with intent to cause fear, intimidate, or harass.

Floor votes · Council Jul 1, 2025

How they voted

10–2

Passed

Total votes 12

Jul 1, 2025

D Democratic10

8 Yea 2 Nay

80% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 1, 2025

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (10-2)

council

Jul 1, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (Nadeau)

legislature

Jun 11, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0189 by the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

legislature

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

legislature

Mar 24, 2025

Introduced

B26-0189 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors