The Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2026 aims to amend section 2301 of Title 16 of the District of Columbia Official Code by consolidating and standardizing the definition of neglect. The bill clarifies that a parent, guardian, or custodian's eligibility for or use of public benefits, as well as homelessness or lack of stable housing, alone cannot be used to establish that their failure to provide adequate care is solely due to financial means. Specifically, a new subparagraph (9)(D) is added to state that homelessness or lack of stable housing alone shall not be sufficient to classify a child as neglected.

Additionally, the bill makes several amendments to the definitions of "neglected child" and "abused child." It includes provisions that outline various circumstances under which a child may be considered neglected or abused, while also repealing certain existing definitions. The changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for determining neglect and abuse, ensuring that financial hardship is not automatically equated with neglect. The act will take effect following approval by the Mayor and a 30-day congressional review period.