Rodent Education and Management Yields ("REMY") Results Amendment Act of 2026

COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
Statement of Introduction
Rodent Education and Management Yields Results (REMY) Amendment Act of 2026
June 22, 2026
Today, I am pleased to introduce the Rodent Education and Management Yields Results
(REMY) Amendment Act of 2026, along with Councilmembers Charles Allen, Matthew Frumin,
Janeese Lewis George, and Brooke Pinto. This legislation takes a public health approach to
preventing and abating growing rodent populations in the District. It focuses on addressing one of
the main causes of rodent infestations – significant amounts of accessible food – while also
providing public education on effective rodent abatement and protecting children, pets, and
wildlife from the health risks of rodenticides.
Discarded food and food scraps that are not properly stored are a major driver of rodent
infestations in the District, particularly in commercial areas with restaurants and other food
establishments producing a significant amount of waste. Although there are rodent proof
dumpsters available for commercial businesses, they are significantly more expensive than
standard dumpsters and many businesses cannot afford the upgrade, instead relying on ineffective
traps and rodenticide sprays while continuing to provide an easy food source for rodents.
Because rodent problems continue to increase in the District, residents are more frequently
turning to rodenticides purchased online or at hardware stores that, when applied improperly, are
not effective at reducing rodent populations. These rodenticides do, however, pose significant
health risks to residents, particularly children, as well as pets and endangered wildlife. One local
hospital reported 12 cases of pediatric hospitalization tied to rodenticide exposure in the past year.
Pets and wildlife are also susceptible to ingesting and being poisoned by rodenticides, particularly
owls, eagles, and other birds of prey.
The REMY Act proposes to both strategically decrease food sources for rodents,
while protecting residents from the health risks associated with untrained application of
rodenticides. Specifically, this bill proposes to:
• Decrease food sources for rodents by establishing a commercial corridor rodent -proof
dumpster pilot program to support Business Improvement Districts and Main Streets in
addressing areas with high rodent populations;
• Protect children, pets, and wildlife from rodenticide poisoning by requiring training and
certification for the sale and usage of anticoagulant rodenticides in the District; and
• Increase public awareness for effective prevention and abatement strategies by requiring
DC Health to conduct public education as part of its rodent abatement efforts.
Christina Henderson Committee Member
Councilmember, At-Large Human Services
Chairperson, Committee on Health Facilities
Transportation and the Environment
COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA The John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20004

I look forward to working with my Council colleagues to move this legislation forward to reduce rodent populations in the District while protecting human and environmental health.

1
1 ______________________________ ______________________________ 2 Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Christina Henderson 3 4 5 ______________________________ ______________________________ 6 Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Matthew Frumin 7 8 9 ______________________________ 10 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George 11 12 13 A BILL 14 15 _________________________ 16 17 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 18 19 _________________________ 20 21 22 To amend Subtitle B of the Rodent Control Act of 2000 to create a pilot program within the 23 Department of Health to provide grants to Business Improvement Districts and Main 24 Streets to subsidize or purchase rodent proof trash receptables for commercial businesses 25 in rodent hot spots, to limit the use of rodenticides by persons not trained or licensed as 26 pesticide applicators, and to require the Department of Health to conduct a public 27 education campaign on rodent prevention and control and rodenticide health risks. 28 29 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 30 act may be cited as the “Rodent Education and Management Yields Results Amendment Act of 31 2026”. 32 Sec. 2. Subtitle B of the Rodent Control Act of 2000, effective February 2, 2001 (D.C. 37 33 Law 13-172; D.C. Official Code § 8-2103.01 et seq.), is amended as follows: 34 (a) Section 904 (D.C. Official Code § 8-2103.01) is amended by added a new paragraph 35 (1A) and (1B) to read as follows: 36 “(1A) “Anticoagulant rodenticide” means a pesticide product intended to kill a rat 37

2
or mouse that has a mode of action that interferes with blood clotting, including products with 38 Brodifacoum, Bromadiolone, Chlorophacinone, Difenacoum, Difethialone, Diphacinonon, or 39 Warfarin as active ingredients. 40 “(1B) “Bureau” means the Bureau of Rodent Control with the Department of 41 Health.”. 42 (b) New sections 909, 910, and 911 are added to read as follows: 43 “Sec. 909. Establishment of commercial corridor rodent-proof dumpster pilot grant 44 program. 45 “(a) The Bureau shall establish a pilot grant program to provide grants to install at least 46 10 rodent-proof dumpsters for businesses in commercial corridors with high rat populations. 47 “(b) To be eligible to participate in the pilot program, an applicant shall: 48 “(1) Be a Business Improvement District, Main Street, or private food-serving 49 business; 50 “(2) Be located in a commercial corridor where the Bureau has identified there to 51 be a high incidence of rodents; and 52 “(3) Demonstrate that current dumpsters are causing increased rodents in a 53 commercial corridor and have consent from a business to replace one or more current dumpsters 54 with rodent-proof dumpsters. 55 “(c) The Bureau shall monitor and evaluate the pilot program for a period of no less than 56 12 months following installation of the rodent-proof dumpsters and assess factors including: 57 “(A) Reduction in rodent activity and complaints in pilot areas; 58 “(B) Business compliance with proper use of rodent-proof dumpsters, including 59 adequate frequency of waste collection; and 60

3
“(C) Durability, maintenance requirements, and user satisfaction of different 61 dumpster designs, if grantees purchase different models. 62 “(d) Within 18 months of the pilot program’s commencement, the Department of Health 63 shall submit a report to the Council detailing the program’s findings, recommendations for 64 expanding the pilot program, and proposed specifications for standardized rodent-proof 65 dumpsters. 66 “Sec. 910. Rodenticide use restrictions. 67 “(a) It shall be unlawful for a person to use, sell, or otherwise distribute for use 68 anticoagulant rodenticides on public or private property; provided, that this section shall not 69 prohibit the purchase or use of anticoagulant rodenticides by: 70 “(1) A District or federal government agency acting within the scope of its official 71 duties; 72 “(2) A contractor acting on behalf of a local or federal government agency; or 73 “(3) A company or person certified to apply pesticides by the Department of 74 Energy and the Environment, when acting within the scope of that certification. 75 “(b) A person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall remove the anticoagulant 76 rodenticide within 7 days of notification of the violation from the Mayor. A person who fails to 77 remove the rodenticide or who receives more than 2 notifications of violations shall be subject to 78 civil fines, penalties, and fees consistent with section 908(d). 79 “(c) Anticoagulant rodenticide shall be considered restricted-use pesticide pursuant to 80 D.C. Code § 8–432. 81 “Sec. 911. Public education on rodent abatement. 82 “(a) The Bureau shall establish a public education program (“program”) to reduce rodent 83

4
populations, which shall include information on the following topics: 84 “(1) Effective rodent prevention strategies, including sanitation, habitat 85 modification, and biological control; 86 “(2) Evidence-based rodent abatement strategies, including available government 87 and community resources; 88 “(3) Safe practices for encountering rodents to minimize risk of disease 89 transmission; and 90 “(4) Public health risks to children, adults, pets, and wildlife of improper use of 91 rodenticides, including emergency response procedures when a human or pet has ingested 92 rodenticide. 93 “(b) The program may: 94 “(1) Distribute printed materials, including brochures, mailers, or door hangers; 95 “(2) Create digital content, including website resources, social medial, and 96 interactive tools; 97 “(3) Conduct in-person trainings and community events; 98 “(4) Take out bus and metro banners; 99 “(5) Conduct partnerships with community organizations, schools, faith-based 100 institutions, and business associations; and 101 “(6) Conduct direct outreach to high-priority parties, including food service 102 establishments, property managers and owners, landlords, event venues, and other parties near 103 areas with high rodent activity.”. 104 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement. 105 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal 106

5
impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, 107 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 108 Sec. 4. Effective date. 109 This act shall take effect after approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the 110 Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto) and a 30-day period of congressional review 111 as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 112 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-206.02(c)(1)). 113