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B26-0093 • 2025

Smoke Detector Safety Amendment Act of 2025

Smoke Detector Safety Amendment Act of 2025

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2025-06-02
Official status
Under Council Review
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status shows 'Under Council Review' and a canceled hearing, meaning this law has not yet passed or taken effect.

Smoke Detector Safety Amendment Act of 2025

This bill would ban selling or installing for a fee non-tamper-resistant, battery-only smoke detectors in Washington, D.C., starting July 1, 2025.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits the sale or offer to sell solely battery-operated smoke detectors that are not tamper-resistant after July 1, 2025.
  • Bans installing these specific smoke detectors for a fee in Washington, D.C. if they allow easy battery removal.
  • Allows any person to file a written complaint with the Mayor against someone who breaks this rule.
  • Sets a maximum civil fine of $500, plus penalties and fees, for anyone found violating the ban.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Stores and companies that sell smoke detectors in Washington, D.C.
  • Contractors or individuals who install smoke detectors for payment.
  • Residents of Washington, D.C. who may file complaints about violations.
  • The Mayor's office.

Terms To Know

Tamper-resistant
A design where the consumer cannot manually remove, replace, or disable the battery powering the smoke detector.
Solely battery-operated
Smoke detectors that run only on batteries and are not connected to home wiring.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not take effect until the Mayor approves it, Congress reviews it for 30 days, and it is published in the District of Columbia Register.
  • The text only applies to smoke detectors that run solely on batteries; it does not mention hardwired or plug-in models.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Public Hearing Canceled

  2. 2025-05-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Cancellation Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary

  3. 2025-05-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Judiciary and Public Safety

  4. 2025-02-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0093 Published in the District of Columbia Register

  5. 2025-02-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

  6. 2025-01-29 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0093 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Smoke Detector Safety Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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________________________ 2
Councilmember Brooke Pinto 3
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A BILL 9
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__________ 11
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 14
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_________________ 16
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To amend the Security Alarms Systems Regulations Act of 1980 to prohibit, as of July 1, 2025, 19
the sale of smoke detectors that are not tamper-resistant in the District of Columbia, and 20
to establish a process by which a person may file a complaint alleging a violation of this 21
subsection. 22
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 24
act may be cited as the “Smoke Detector Safety Amendment Act of 2025”. 25
Sec. 2. Section 9 of the Security Alarms Systems Regulations Act of 1980, effective Sept. 26
26, 1980 (D.C. Law 3-107, D.C. Official Code § 7-2808), is amended as follows: 27
(a) A new subsection (d) is added to read as follows: 28
“(d)(1) Effective July 1, 2025, no person shall sell, offer for sale, install for a fee, or offer 29
to install for a fee a solely battery-operated smoke detector that is not tamper-resistant in the 30
District of Columbia. 31
“(2) A civil fine not to exceed $500, penalties, and fees may be imposed as a 32
sanction for any infraction of this subsection, pursuant to Titles I through III of the Department 33
of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Civil Infractions Act of 1985, effective October 5, 1985 34
(D.C. Law 6-42; D.C. Official Code § 2-1801.01 et seq.). 35

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“(3)(A) Any person may file with the Mayor a complaint alleging an individual or 36
company sold, offered for sale, installed for a fee, or offered to install for a fee a smoke detector 37
product in violation of this subsection. 38
“(B) A complaint filed pursuant to sub-subparagraph (i) of this 39
subparagraph shall be submitted in writing on a form prescribed by the Mayor and made 40
available on the District of Columbia website. The complaint shall include: 41
“(i) The name of the individual or company alleged to have 42
sold, offered for sale, installed for a fee, or offered to install for a fee a smoke detector product in 43
violation of this subsection. 44
“(ii) The location of the alleged violation; 45
“(iii) The date and time of the alleged violation; and 46
“(iv) Any additional identifying information regarding the 47
violation. 48
“(C) A District inspector need not witness a violation for a complaint to be 49
valid. 50
“(D) A complainant under paragraph this subparagraph may appear and 51
give testimony at any administrative hearing or administrative review of the complaint, or any 52
other judicial or quasi-judicial action that may result from the complaint. 53
“(E)(i) If the Mayor determines that the complaint has merit, the 54
Mayor shall file a Notice of Infraction and proceed pursuant to the Department of Consumer and 55
Regulatory Affairs Civil Infractions Act of 1985, effective October 5, 1985 (D.C. Law 6-42; 56
D.C. Official Code § 2-1801.01 et seq.). 57
“(ii) The Mayor shall provide a copy of the Notice of Infraction to 58
the Office of Administrative Hearings. 59

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“(4) For the purposes of this subsection, the term: 60
“(A) “Smoke detector” means a device of the ionization or photoelectric 61
type used to assess high levels of combustion nearby and shall include fire alarms and smart 62
home products that provide this functionality. 63
“(B) “Tamper-resistant” means a smoke detector designed such that the 64
battery powering the smoke detector cannot be manually removed, replaced, or disabled by the 65
consumer.”. 66
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 67
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 68
impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, 69
approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code §l-206.02(c)(3)). 70
Sec. 4. Effective date. 71
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 72
Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as 73
provided in section 602(c)(l) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 74
24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code§ l-206.02(c)(l)), and publication in the District of 75
Columbia Register. 76