B 26-0587 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Juvenile Curfew Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This bill (B 26-0587) amends the District of Columbia's Juvenile Curfew Act to start curfew hours at 11:00 p.m. daily (previously later) and extend coverage to include 17-year-olds (previously limited to under 17). It allows the Mayor to temporarily extend curfew hours beyond 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. for up to 4 days (with possible 30-day extensions) to protect public safety, and authorizes the Chief of Police to create limited "curfew zones" with similar time restrictions. Both extensions require public posting of notices and cannot apply to groups of 8 or fewer people. The changes directly affect juveniles under 18 in D.C., particularly those aged 17, and modify enforcement procedures to require verbal warnings before potential arrest.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics: Juvenile Justice Policing

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Feb 2026

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed Feb 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 9 edits

MAJOR

This bill amends the Juvenile Curfew Act of 1995 to allow the Mayor to extend curfew hours for public safety and gives the Chief of Police authority to establish specific zones with extended curfew hours. The bill also updates the age threshold from 17 to 18 years old and adds new definitions for curfew hours and notice of violation. These changes expand enforcement capabilities while adding procedural requirements for issuing extended curfew orders.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of curfew enforcement by allowing the Mayor to extend hours beyond standard times and authorizing the Chief of Police to designate specific geographic zones for extended curfew hours. It also broadens the age range covered from 17 to 18 years old.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the age threshold for curfew applicability from under 17 years to under 18 years old.

REQUIREMENT

Added new section 3a allowing the Mayor to extend curfew hours beyond standard times when public safety is threatened, with requirements to state the basis, locations, and specific days/hours of extension.

Added new section 3b empowering the Chief of Police to designate specific geographic zones for extended curfew hours based on public safety needs.

Added requirement that notice of extended curfew orders must be posted on District government and Metropolitan Police Department websites.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'Curfew hours' to include both standard hours and extended hours established by Mayor or Chief of Police.

Added new definition for 'Notice of violation of curfew' specifying verbal warnings that inform juveniles of violation terms and steps to avoid arrest.

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirements for police to issue at least two notices of violation when no imminent danger exists, and one notice when imminent danger of injury or property damage exists.

Added requirement that police capture each component of the order to return home on body-worn camera.

TIMELINE

Added requirement that extended curfew hours generally cannot take effect until at least 24 hours after the administrative order is issued, except in emergency circumstances.

Floor votes · Council Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

9–4

Passed

Total votes 13

Feb 3, 2026

D Democratic11

7 Yea 4 Nay

63% 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

Feb 3, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (9-4)

council

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

B26-0587 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors