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S 402119th CongressIntroduced
Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act
Introduced: Oct 29, 2025
Civil Rights & Justice
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Words Matter for the District of Columbia Courts Act amends the District of Columbia Official Code to replace outdated and offensive terminology regarding individuals with intellectual disabilities in court jurisdiction statutes with modern, respectful language across three specific legal provisions.
Key Points
- 1Amends Section 11-501(2)(D) of the DC Code to replace 'substantially retarded persons' with 'persons with moderate intellectual disabilities' in U.S. District Court jurisdiction statutes.
- 2Updates Section 11-921(a)(4)(D) of the DC Code to substitute outdated terminology with respectful language regarding intellectual disabilities in Superior Court jurisdiction provisions.
- 3Modifies Section 11-1101(a)(15) of the DC Code by removing the phrase 'the at least moderately mentally retarded' and inserting 'persons with moderate intellectual disabilities' in Family Court jurisdiction statutes.
Impact Areas
District of Columbia court system including Superior Court and Family CourtIndividuals with intellectual disabilities navigating DC's legal systemLegal professionals and court documentation standards in Washington D.C.
Generated by legislative-analysis-ai-2025 on Nov 3, 2025