Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act
This bill updates legal terminology in District of Columbia court codes to replace outdated and potentially stigmatizing terms. It specifically replaces "substantially retarded persons" and similar phrases with "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities" in three sections covering U.S. District Court, Superior Court, and Family Court jurisdiction. The change directly affects how DC courts formally reference individuals in legal contexts, aligning terminology with current standards. It is a purely procedural update to court codes with no new policy or funding provisions. The bill does not alter eligibility, rights, or court procedures - only the language used in the legal text.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Nov 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Nov 1, 2023
Last action Nov 1, 2023
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Nov 1, 2023
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
lower
Nov 1, 2023
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 24 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Eleanor Holmes Norton
DDemocratic
Co
André Carson
DDemocratic
Co
Ann M. Kuster
DDemocratic
Co
Brian K. Fitzpatrick
RRepublican
Co
Cathy McMorris Rodgers
RRepublican
Co
James P. McGovern
DDemocratic
Co
Jasmine Crockett
DDemocratic
Co
Jeff Duncan
RRepublican
Co
Josh Gottheimer
DDemocratic
Co
Kevin Mullin
DDemocratic
Co
Lloyd Doggett
DDemocratic
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