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B26-0616 • 2025

Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Children Firearms
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2026-03-27
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the act applies as of August 1, 2025 (retroactively), but does not specify a calendar date for when it officially takes effect after Mayoral approval.

Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This law requires the public release of body-worn camera recordings and officer names when Metropolitan Police Department officers are present during incidents involving deaths or serious use of force by any other law enforcement officer.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires releasing body-worn camera videos for all MPD officers present at an incident where another law enforcement officer causes a death or uses serious force.
  • Mandates that names and recordings be released within 10 business days after the effective date for incidents happening between August 1, 2025, and the law's effective date.
  • Allows MPD officers to review body-worn camera footage before writing reports only when non-MPD officers are involved in a death or serious use of force prior to this act's effective date.
  • Updates definitions so that 'law enforcement officer' includes federal, state, and local government agents authorized to enforce laws.
  • Expands reporting requirements to include the names of all law enforcement officers directly involved in an incident where MPD officers were present.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers
  • Other federal, state, or local law enforcement officers who interact with MPD during incidents involving death or serious use of force
  • The public receiving released body-worn camera recordings and incident descriptions

Terms To Know

Body-Worn Camera (BWC)
A video recording device worn by police officers to capture events during their duties.
Officer-Involved Death
An incident where a person dies while law enforcement officers are present or involved in the situation.
Serious Use of Force
A significant application of physical force by an officer that is not just minor contact, such as using weapons or restraints causing injury.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law expires after 90 days unless renewed because it was passed on an emergency basis.
  • The release of names for non-MPD officers is limited to information that is 'as available' at the time of reporting.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-27 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0282 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 005081, Expires on Jun 21, 2026

  2. 2026-03-23 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0282, Expires on Jun 21, 2026

  3. 2026-03-23 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  4. 2026-03-09 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 23, 2026

  5. 2026-03-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2026-03-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2026-03-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0616 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT.
D.C. ACT 26-282
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARCH 23, 2026
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,section3004oftheBody-WornCameraRegulationandReportingRequirementsActof2015andChapter39ofTitle24oftheDistrictofColumbiaMunicipalRegulationstorequirethereleaseofbody-worncamerarecordings
ofMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentOfficerspresentintheeventofanofficer-involveddeathorserioususeofforcebyalawenforcementofficerotherthanaMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficer.
BEITENACTEDBY THECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“Body-WornCameraTransparencyforUseofForceEmergencyAmendment Act of 2026”.
Sec.2.Section3004oftheBody-WornCameraRegulationandReportingRequirementsActof2015,effectiveOctober22,2015(D.C.Law21-36;D.C.OfficialCode§5-116.33),isamendedasfollows:
(a)Subsection(c)(2)(A)isamendedasfollows:(1)Sub-subparagraph(i)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Sub-sub-subparagraph(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(D)Thenamesandbody-worncamerarecordingsofallMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficers,aswellasthenames,asavailable,ofallotherlawenforcementofficers,directlyinvolvedintheofficer-involveddeathorserioususeofforce;and”. (B)Sub-sub-subparagraph(I1)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;and”andinsertingasemicoloninitsplace.(2)A newsub-subparagraph(i-D)isaddedtoreadasfollows:

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(-1)Notwithstandingsub-subparagraph(i)ofthissubparagraph,forincidentsoccurringbetweenAugust1,2025,andtheeffectivedateoftheBody-Worn
CameraTransparencyforUseofForceEmergencyAmendmentActof2026,passedonemergencybasisonMarch3,2026(EnrolledversionofBill26-616)(“Body-WornCamera‘TransparencyEmergencyAct”),within10businessdaysaftertheeffectivedateoftheBody-WornCameraTransparencyEmergencyAct,publiclyrelease:
“()Thenamesandbody-worncamerarecordingsofallMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficers,aswellasthenames,asavailable,ofallotherlaw
enforcementofficers,directlyinvolvedintheofficer-involveddeathorserioususeofforce;and“(I1)A descriptionoftheincident;and”.(3)Sub-subparagraph(ii)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;and”andinsertingthephrase“;provided,thatforallofficer-involveddeathssinceAugust1,2025,theinformation
reportedpursuanttothissub-subparagraphshallincludethenamesofallMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficersaswellasotherlawenforcementofficersdirectlyinvolvedintheofficer-involveddeath;and”initsplace.(b)Subsection(¢)(1)isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(e)(1)Foranyincidentinvolvinganofficer-involveddeathdirectlyinvolvinganMPDofficerorserioususeofforcedirectlyinvolvinganMPD officer,MPD officersshallnotreviewanybody-worncamerarecordingstoassistininitialreportwriting;provided,thatMPD officersmayreviewbody-worncamerarecordingstoassistininitialreportwritingforincidentsinvolvinganofficer-involveddeathdirectlyinvolvingalawenforcementofficerotherthananMPD officerorserioususeofforcedirectlyinvolvingalawenforcementofficerotherthanan
MPD officerpriortotheeffectivedateoftheBody-WornCameraTransparencyEmergencyAct.”,
(©)Subsection(g)isamendedasfollows:(1)Newparagraphs(1A)and(1B)areaddedtoreadasfollows:“(1A)“Lawenforcementofficer”meansanyofficer,agent,oremployeeoftheUnitedStatesoranystateorlocalgovernmentauthorizedbylaworbyagovernmentagencyto
engageinorsupervisetheprevention,detection,orinvestigationofanyviolationofcriminalorcivillaw. “(1B)“MPD”meanstheMetropolitanPoliceDepartment.”.(2)Paragraph(3)isamendedasfollows:
(A)Subparagraph(A)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“MetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficer”andinsertingthephrase“MPDofficer,oranyotherlawenforcementofficerwhileanMPD officerispresent”initsplace.(B)Subparagraph(B)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“MetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficer”andinsertingthephrase“MPDofficer,oranyotherlawenforcementofficerwhileanMPD officerispresent”initsplace.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
(C)Thelead-inlanguageofsubparagraph(C)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“MetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficer”andinsertingthephrase“MPDofficer,oranyotherlawenforcementofficerwhileanMPD officerispresent”initsplace.(D)Subparagraph(D)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“MetropolitanPoliceDepartmentcanine”andinsertingthephrase“MPDcanine,orcanineofanyotherlawenforcementofficerwhileanMPD officerispresent”initsplace.
Sec.3.Chapter39ofTitle24oftheDistrictofColumbiaMunicipalRegulationsis
amendedasfollows:(a)Section3900isamendedasfollows:(1)Subsection3900.9isamendedtoreadasfollows:*3900.9.(a)Foranyincidentinvolvinganofficer-involveddeathdirectlyinvolvinganMPD memberoraserioususeofforcedirectlyinvolvinganMPD member,MPD membersshall
notreviewanyBWC recordingstoassistininitialreportwriting;provided,thatMPD membersmayreviewbody-worcamerarecordingstoassistininitialreportwritingforincidentsinvolvinganofficer-involveddeathdirectlyinvolvingalawenforcementofficerotherthanan
MPD memberorserioususeofforcedirectlyinvolvingalawenforcementofficerotherthananMPD memberpriortotheeffectivedateoftheBody-WornCameraTransparencyforUseofForceEmergencyAmendmentActof2026,passedonemergencybasisonMarch3,2026(EnrolledversionofBill26-616).“(b)Foranincidentotherthanthosedescribedinparagraph(a)ofthissubsection,membersshallindicate,whenwritingany initialorsubsequentreports,whetherthemember
viewedBWC footagepriortowritingthereportandspecifywhatBWC footagethememberviewed.”,

(2)Subsection3900.10(a)(1)isamendedasfollows:(A)Sub-subparagraph(A)isamendedasfollows:(i)Sub-sub-subparagraph(i)isamendedtoreadasfollows:“(i)Thenamesandbody-worncamerarecordingsofallMetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficers,aswellasthenames,asavailable,ofallotherlaw
enforcementofficers,directlyinvolvedintheofficer-involveddeathorserioususeofforce;and”.
(i)Sub-sub-subparagraph(ji)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;and”andinsertingasemicoloninitsplace.
(B)A newsub-subparagraph(Aci)isaddedtoreadasfollows:

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
“(A-i)Notwithstandingsub-subparagraph(A)ofthissubparagraph,for
incidentsoccurringbetween August 1,2025,and theeffectivedateof theBody-Worn Camera
‘TransparencyforUseofForceEmergencyAmendmentActof2026,passedonemergencybasis
on March 3,2026 (Enrolledversionof Bill 26-616),within10 businessdays afiertheeffective
dateoftheBody-WornCameraTransparencyforUseofForceEmergencyAmendmentActof
2026, passedon emergency basison March 3,2026 (Enrolledversionof Bill 26-616),publicly
release:
“(i)Thenamesandbody-worncamerarecordingsofall
MetropolitanPoliceDepartment officers,as wellas thenames, as available,of allotherlaw
enforcementofficers,directlyinvolvedintheofficer-involveddeathor serioususe of force;and
“Gi)A descriptionof theincident;and”.
(C)Sub-subparagraph(B)isamendedbystrikingthephrase“;and”and
insertingthephrase“;provided,thatforallofficer-involveddeathssinceAugust 1,2025, the
informationreportedpursuanttothissub-subparagraphshallincludethenamesofall
MetropolitanPoliceDepartmentofficersaswellasotherlawenforcementofficersdirectly
involvedintheofficer-involveddeath;and” initsplace.
(b)Section3999.1 isamended by addinga new definitionbetween thedefinitionsof
“FOIA” and “Metadata”to readas follows:
“Law enforcementofficer”-meansanyofficer,agent,oremployeeoftheUnitedStates
or any stateor localgovernment authorizedby law or by a government agency toengage inor
supervisetheprevention,detection,or investigationof any violationof criminalor civillaw.”.
Sec.4.Applicability.ThisactshallapplyasofAugust1,2025.
Sec.5.Fiscalimpactstatement.TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpact
statementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approvedOctober16,2006(120Stat.2038:D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.6.Effectivedate.
This actshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalby the Mayor (orintheeventof vetoby the
Mayor, actionby theCounciltooverridetheveto),and shallremain ineffectforno longerthan
90 days,as providedforemergency actsof theCouncilof theDistrictof Columbia insection

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C. OfficialCode § 1-204.12(a)).
am,
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

APPROVED
March 23,2026

DocketNo.826-06:

COUNCILOFTHE DISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

IITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
[x1AcTION FinalReading
[x1voTEDATE March3,2026,
Dxvoicevore ‘Approved
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE~Result

CouncilMember Aye |Nay |NV_|AB |Rec |CouncilMember | Aye| Nay|NV_|AB | Rec| CouncilMember | Aye| Nay |NV | AB | Rec
ChaiemanMendelson]X Frumin x Pinto
‘Alen x Henderson| X R.White
Bonds x LewisGeorge| x T.White
Crawford x Nadeau x
Felder x Parker x
X-IndicateVote AB Absent NV--Present,NotVoting Rec-Recused
CERTIFICATIONRECORD
Biv rte
‘SecretarytotheCouncil Date