HR 5698119th CongressIn Committee

District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act

Introduced: Oct 6, 2025

Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-District of Columbia)

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act, would shift the authority to grant clemency for offenses under DC law to be exercised in accordance with law enacted by the District of Columbia itself. In other words, once DC enacts its own clemency framework, the power to pardon, grant reprieves, commute sentences, or remit fines for DC-law offenses would follow DC’s locally enacted procedures rather than being governed by other authorities. The measure preserves, in the meantime, any clemency authority currently exercised by the President or by the Mayor of DC prior to the effective date of the DC-specific law, and it clarifies that the new framework applies to offenses regardless of when they were committed (before, on, or after enactment). The bill defines “clemency” to include pardons, reprieves, commutations, and financial penalties remissions.

Key Points

1Establishes that clemency for crimes under DC law will be exercised under terms set by DC law enacted by the District of Columbia.
2Creates a rule of construction to preserve existing authorities: the President and the Mayor of DC may continue their clemency authorities as of the effective date referenced in the new DC law.
3Clarifies that the new DC-clemency framework is not limited by when crimes were committed; it can apply to offenses committed before, on, or after the enactment date.
4Expands the definition of clemency to explicitly include pardons, reprieves, commutations, and remission of fines or other financial penalties.
5The bill is titled the “District of Columbia Clemency Home Rule Act,” signaling a move toward greater local control over DC’s clemency processes.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Residents and individuals convicted under District of Columbia law, as well as DC government agencies and officials involved in administering or adjudicating clemency requests (e.g., potential clemency boards or offices created under DC law).Secondary group/area affected- Federal government interests/responsibilities in DC, since the President currently has clemency authority for federal offenses and the bill contemplates a transition where DC law governs DC offenses after enactment. Intergovernmental coordination between DC and federal authorities may be affected during the transition.Additional impacts- Legal and administrative processes: potential creation or adaptation of DC-specific clemency procedures, criteria, timelines, and decision-makers as part of DC’s enacted law.- Constitutional/intergovernmental considerations: the bill interacts with the balance of power between Congress, the federal executive, and DC’s home-rule framework; some aspects may require further clarifying implementing legislation.- Fiscal and operational implications: implementing a new local clemency system could involve administrative costs for DC agencies or boards, reporting requirements, and potential oversight mechanisms.The sponsor and status indicate this is an introduced House bill (as of October 6, 2025) referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The text anticipates that DC will enact its own clemency law to govern future actions for DC-law offenses, while preserving existing authorities until the new framework takes effect.

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