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PR26-0324 • 2025

Language Access Rulemaking Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Language Access Rulemaking Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Nadeau
Last action
2025-10-24
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify that the new rules must be created immediately after a single reading. It only states that emergency circumstances exist and allows for quick action.

Emergency Rules for Language Access

This resolution allows the Office of Human Rights to make rules that help enforce the Language Access Act.

What This Bill Does

  • Declares an emergency situation related to language access needs.
  • Gives the Mayor and the Office of Human Rights permission to create or change rules for enforcing the Language Access Act.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The District of Columbia government
  • People who need language assistance services

Terms To Know

Language Access Act
A law that makes sure people can get help to understand and use official information in languages other than English.
Emergency circumstances
Special situations where quick action is needed because of urgent needs or problems.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not specify exactly what new rules will be made.
  • It only allows for the creation and amendment of existing rules, but does not create them itself.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0217, Effective from Oct 07, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 011721

  2. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0217

  5. 2025-10-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0324 Introduced by Councilmember Nadeau at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Language Access Rulemaking Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-217

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

October 7, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to authorize the Office of
Human Rights to adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
Language Access Act of 2004.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Language Access Rulemaking Emergency Declaration
Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. Emergency legislation is necessary to ensure the Mayor, through the Office of
Human Rights, can promulgate and amend rules and regulations to allow for the fair and
effective enforcement of the Language Access Act of 2004, effective June 19, 2004 (D.C. Law
15-167; D.C. Official Code § 2-1931 et seq.).

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances, making it necessary that the
Language Access Rulemaking Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 be adopted after a single
reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.