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B26-0005 • 2025

Residential Tranquility Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Residential Tranquility Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Land
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2025-02-07
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide detailed information about penalties or specific residential zones, so these details were removed or narrowed in the summary.

Residential Tranquility Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This act amends the Residential Tranquility Act to add restrictions on using sound amplifying devices and throwing projectiles near residential areas, with specific times when these rules apply.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new rule that it is illegal to use sound amplifying devices to target homes for demonstrations between 7:00 PM and 9:00 AM in certain zones.
  • Defines 'sound amplifying device' as any machine or loudspeaker that increases the volume of sounds, but excludes car audio systems used only by occupants, hearing aids, and headphones.
  • Makes it illegal to throw objects at residential property with the intent to scare, intimidate, or retaliate against people living there.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who use sound amplifying devices near homes during certain times.
  • Individuals who throw objects at residential property with harmful intent.

Terms To Know

Sound Amplifying Device
A machine or loudspeaker that increases the volume of sounds, but does not include car audio systems used only by occupants, personal hearing aids, or headphones.
Residential Zones
Specific areas defined in zoning regulations where residential buildings are located and protected under this act.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act is effective for no longer than 90 days, after which it will expire.
  • It does not specify the exact penalties for violating the new rules beyond referencing existing laws.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0002 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 001130, Expires on May 01, 2025

  2. 2025-02-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2025-01-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0002, Expires on May 01, 2025

  4. 2025-01-23 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Feb 06, 2025

  5. 2025-01-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-01-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2025-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0005 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Residential Tranquility Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT.
D.C. ACT 26-2
UNTHE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
JANUARY 31, 2025
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,duetocongressionalreview,theResidentialTranquilityActof2010toprohibitpersonstargetingaresidenceforpurposesofademonstrationfromusingsoundamplifyingdevicesinaresidentialzonebetween7:00p.m.and9:00am.,andtoprohibitapersonfromlaunchingorthrowingaprojectileontotheresidentialpropertyofanotherwiththeintenttocausefear,intimidate,orretaliateagainstanypersonlivingorworkingatthatresidence;andtoamendtheNationalCapitalRevitalizationandSelf-GovernmentImprovementActof1997toprovidethattheterm
expirationdateforaCouncilappointmenttotheCorrectionsInformationCouncilshallbeDecember7thoftheyearinwhichthetermexpires.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“ResidentialTranquilityCongressionalReviewEmergencyAmendment
Actof2025”.

Sec.2.TheResidentialTranquilityActof2010,effectiveMay26,2011(D.C.Law18-374;D.C.OfficialCode§22-2751efseq.),isamendedasfollows:(a)Section2(D.C.OfficialCode§22-2751)isamendedbyaddinganewparagraph(4)toreadasfollows:“(4)“Soundamplifyingdevice”meansanymachine,device,orloudspeakerthatamplifiessoundofthehumanvoice,music,oranyothersound.Theterm“soundamplifyingdevice”shallnotincludeautomobileaudiosystemswhenusedandheardonlybytheoccupantsofthevehicleinwhichtheautomobileaudiosystemisinstalled,personalhearingaids,orheadphones.”(b)Section3(D.C.OfficialCode§22-2752)isamendedbyaddingnewsubsections(a-1)and(a-2)toreadasfollows:“(a-1)Itisunlawfulforapersontouseasoundamplifyingdevicetotargetaresidenceforpurposesofademonstrationbetween7:00p.m.and9:00a.m.inResidentialZones,ResidentialFlatZones,orResidentialApartmentZones,asthosetermsaredefinedintheDistrictofColumbiaZoningRegulations.

{

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

»)Itisunlawfultocontinueor resume targetinga residenceinviolationof thislaw
afterbeinginstructedbyalawenforcementofficertoceasetargetingaresidenceinviolationof
thislaw.”.
(c)Anew section3a isadded toreadas follows:
“Sec.3a.Throwingprojectilesatresidentialproperty.
“(a)Itisunlawfulforany personto launchor throw aprojectileontotheresidential
Propertyof another with theintenttocausefear,intimidate,or retaliateagainstany personliving
orworkingatthatresidence.
“(b)A personwho violatesthissection,upon conviction,shallbe finedno more thanthe
amount setforthinsection101 of theCriminalFineProportionalityAmendment Act of 2012,
effectiveJune 11,2013 (D.C.Law 19-317;D.C. OfficialCode § 22-3571.01),or incarceratedfor
no more than90 days,or both.”.
Sec.3.Section11201a(b)(2)oftheNationalCapitalRevitalizationandSelf-GovernmentImprovementActof1997,effectiveOctober2,2010(D.C.Law18-233;D.C.OfficialCode§24-101.01(b)(2)),isamendedbyaddinganewsubparagraph(B-i)toreadasfollows:
“(B-i)Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflaw,thetermexpirationdateforaCouncilappointmenttotheCorrectionsInformationCouncilshallbeDecember7thoftheyearinwhichthetermexpires.”.
Sec.4.Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpact
statementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.5.Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHome RuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;
D.C. OfficialCode § 1-204.12(a)).
Vd Wmjairman
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

Districtof Columbia
APPROVED
JANUARY31, 2025

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January7,2025
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