B 26-0364 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Gardner Bishop Elementary School Redesignation Act of 2025

This bill (B 26-0364) formally renames Brent Elementary School in Ward 6 as "Gardner Bishop Elementary School." It directly affects the school community, students, staff, and families by changing the official name to honor Gardner Bishop, a civil rights activist who fought for school desegregation in the 1940s-50s. The key mechanism is a Council designation under the Street and Alley Closing and Acquisition Procedures Act, specifying the school’s location (Lot 33 in Square 792, bounded by North Carolina Ave SE, 4th St SE, D St SE, and 3rd St SE). The change follows community input, including a survey and vote, to replace the previous namesake linked to discriminatory "Black Codes."

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Sep 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Council Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Sep 23, 2025 Signed May 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill was finalized and prepared for the Mayor's signature, changing the header from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled'. The substantive policy content remains unchanged: it officially designates a specific school as 'Gardner Bishop Elementary School' and includes standard fiscal and effective date clauses.

TECHNICAL

Updated the document title from 'ENGROSSED ORIGINAL' to 'ENROLLED ORIGINAL' to reflect the final stage of the legislative process before the Mayor's signature.

Floor votes · Council Mar 3, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Mar 3, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% 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

Mar 3, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Feb 3, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0364 by the Committee of the Whole

legislature

Oct 7, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee of the Whole

legislature

Sep 23, 2025

Introduced

B26-0364 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors