[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5183 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5183
To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to establish a uniform
60-day congressional review period for District of Columbia laws, to
clarify the expedited procedures applicable to consideration of
resolutions of disapproval of District of Columbia laws, to authority
the use of resolutions of disapproval to disapprove provisions of
District of Columbia laws and District of Columbia executive orders and
regulations, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 8, 2025
Mr. Gosar (for himself, Mr. Comer, and Ms. Hageman) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to establish a uniform
60-day congressional review period for District of Columbia laws, to
clarify the expedited procedures applicable to consideration of
resolutions of disapproval of District of Columbia laws, to authority
the use of resolutions of disapproval to disapprove provisions of
District of Columbia laws and District of Columbia executive orders and
regulations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``District of Columbia Home Rule
Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. UNIFORM 60-DAY CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW PERIOD FOR DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA LAWS.
(a) Establishment of 60-Day Period; Clarification of Beginning of
Period and Days Excluded.--Section 602(c)(1) of the District of
Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1-206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``the 30-calendar-day period (excluding
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, and any day on which neither
House is in session because of an adjournment sine die, a
recess of more than three days, or an adjournment of more than
three days) beginning on the day such act is transmitted by the
Chairman to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
President of the Senate'' and inserting the following: ``the
60-day period (excluding days either House of Congress is
adjourned for more than 3 days during a session of Congress)
beginning on the later of the day such act is transmitted by
the Chairman to the Speaker of the House of Representatives or
the day such act is transmitted by the Chairman to the
President of the Senate''; and
(2) by striking ``such 30-day period'' each place it
appears and inserting ``such 60-day period''.
(b) Elimination of Alternative Period for Acts Affecting Criminal
Laws.--Section 602(c) of such Act (sec. 1-206.02(c), D.C. Official
Code) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2); and
(2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
(c) Special Rule for Acts Designated by Council as Involving
Emergency Circumstances.--
(1) No renewal of waiver of review for succeeding acts.--
Section 602(c) of such Act (sec. 1-206.02(c), D.C. Official
Code), as amended by subsection (b), is amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) If an Act is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (1)
because of a determination by the Council under section 412(a) that the
Act should take effect immediately because of emergency circumstances,
an Act of the Council to extend the period during which such Act is
effective, or any Act of the Council which is substantially the same as
such Act, shall not be exempt from the requirements of paragraph
(1).''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 412(a) of such Act (sec.
1-204.12(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking
``ninety days'' and inserting ``ninety days, subject to section
602(c)(3)''.
SEC. 3. CLARIFICATION OF EXPEDITED PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO
CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL.
(a) Application of All Procedures to All Resolutions of
Disapproval.--The third sentence of section 602(c)(1) of the District
of Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1-206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is
amended by striking ``section 604, except subsections (d), (e), and (f)
of such section,'' and inserting ``section 604''.
(b) Clarification of Procedures.--Section 604 of such Act (sec. 1-
206.04, D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking subsections (c)
through (j) and inserting the following:
``(c) Referral to Committees.--A resolution with respect to Council
action shall be referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform of the House of Representatives, or the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, by the President of
the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case
may be.
``(d) Procedures in House of Representatives.--(1) In the House of
Representatives, if the committee to which a resolution has been
referred has not reported it at the end of twenty calendar days after
its introduction, it is in order to move to discharge the committee
from further consideration of any other resolution with respect to the
same Council action which has been referred to the committee.
``(2) In the House, a motion to discharge may be made only by an
individual favoring the resolution, is highly privileged (except that
it may not be made after the committee has reported a resolution with
respect to the same action), and debate thereon shall be limited to not
more than one hour, to be divided equally between those favoring and
those opposing the resolution. An amendment to the motion is not in
order, and it is not in order to move to reconsider the vote by which
the motion is agreed to or disagreed to.
``(3) In the House, if the motion to discharge is agreed to or
disagreed to, the motion may not be renewed, nor may another motion to
discharge the committee be made with respect to any other resolution
with respect to the same action.
``(4) In the House, when the committee has reported, or has been
discharged from further consideration of, a resolution, it is at any
time thereafter in order (even though a previous motion to the same
effect has been disagreed to) to move to proceed to the consideration
of the resolution. The motion is highly privileged and is not
debatable. An amendment to the motion is not in order, and it is not in
order to move to reconsider the vote by which the motion is agreed to
or disagreed to.
``(5) In the House, debate on the resolution shall be limited to
not more than one hour, which shall be divided equally between those
favoring and those opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit
debate is not debatable. An amendment to, or motion to recommit, the
resolution is not in order, and it is not in order to move to
reconsider the vote by which the resolution is agreed to or disagreed
to.
``(6) In the House, motions to postpone made with respect to the
discharge from committee or the consideration of a resolution, and
motions to proceed to the consideration of other business, shall be
decided without debate.
``(7) In the House, appeals from the decisions of the Chair
relating to the application of the Rules of the House of
Representatives to the procedure relating to a resolution shall be
decided without debate.
``(e) Procedures in Senate.--(1) In the Senate, if the committee to
which is referred a resolution described in subsection (b) has not
reported such joint resolution (or an identical joint resolution) at
the end of 20 calendar days after its introduction, such committee may
be discharged from further consideration of such joint resolution upon
a written demand by any Member of the Senate, and such joint resolution
shall be placed on the calendar.
``(2)(A) In the Senate, when the committee to which a resolution is
referred has reported, or when a committee is discharged (under
paragraph (1)) from further consideration of a resolution described in
subsection (b), it is at any time thereafter in order (even though a
previous motion to the same effect has been disagreed to) for a motion
to proceed to the consideration of the resolution, and all points of
order against the resolution (and against consideration of the
resolution) are waived. The motion is not subject to amendment, or to a
motion to postpone, or to a motion to proceed to the consideration of
other business. A motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion is
agreed to or disagreed to shall not be in order. If a motion to proceed
to the consideration of the resolution is agreed to, the resolution
shall remain the unfinished business of the Senate until disposed of.
``(B) In the Senate, debate on the resolution, and on all debatable
motions and appeals in connection therewith, shall be limited to not
more than 10 hours, which shall be divided equally between those
favoring and those opposing the resolution. A motion further to limit
debate is in order and not debatable. An amendment to, or a motion to
postpone, or a motion to proceed to the consideration of other
business, or a motion to recommit the resolution is not in order.
``(C) In the Senate, immediately following the conclusion of the
debate on a resolution described in subsection (b), and a single quorum
call at the conclusion of the debate if requested in accordance with
the rules of the Senate, the vote on final passage of the resolution
shall occur.
``(D) Appeals from the decisions of the Chair relating to the
application of the rules of the Senate to the procedure relating to a
resolution described in subsection (a) shall be decided without debate.
``(3) In the Senate the procedure specified in paragraph (1) or (2)
shall not apply to the consideration of a resolution after the
expiration of the 60 session days beginning with the date of the
introduction of the joint resolution.
``(f) Coordination Between Houses.--If, before the passage by one
House of a resolution of that House described in subsection (b), that
House receives from the other House a resolution described in
subsection (b), then the following procedures shall apply:
``(1) The resolution of the other House shall not be
referred to a committee.
``(2) Any Member of that House may at any time offer a
motion to proceed to the consideration of the resolution of the
other House, and such motion shall be considered in accordance
with paragraph (4) of subsection (d) (in the case of a motion
in the House) or in accordance with paragraph (2) of subsection
(e) (in the case of a motion in the Senate).
``(3) With respect to a resolution described in subsection
(a) of the House receiving the resolution--
``(A) the procedure in that House shall be the same
as if no resolution had been received from the other
House; but
``(B) the vote on final passage shall be on the
resolution of the other House.''.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZING USE OF RESOLUTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL TO DISAPPROVE
PROVISIONS OF DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LAWS.
(a) Authorization.--Section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia
Home Rule Act (sec. 1-206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended--
(1) in the second sentence--
(A) by striking ``such act shall take effect'' and
inserting ``such act and each provision thereof shall
take effect''; and
(B) by striking ``a joint resolution disapproving
such act.'' and inserting ``a joint resolution
disapproving such act or any provision thereof.'';
(2) in the third sentence--
(A) by striking ``disapproving such an act'' and
inserting ``disapproving such an act or any provision
thereof''; and
(B) by striking ``to have repealed such act'' and
inserting ``to have repealed such act or such provision
(as the case may be)''; and
(3) in the fourth sentence, by striking ``disapproving any
act'' and inserting ``disapproving any act or any provision
thereof''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Application of expedited procedures for consideration
of resolutions.--The fourth sentence of section 602(c)(1) of
such Act (sec. 1-206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended
by striking ``disapproving such act'' and inserting
``disapproving such act or any provision thereof''.
(2) Clarification of joint resolution definition.--Section
604(b) of such Act (sec. 1-206.04(b), D.C. Official Code) is
amended by striking ``; but does not include a resolution which
specifies more than one action''.
(c) Rule of Construction.--Section 602(c)(1) of such Act (sec. 1-
206.02(c)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end the
following new sentence: ``The enactment of a resolution disapproving a
provision of an act pursuant to this paragraph may not be construed to
repeal any of the remaining provisions of such act or prohibit the
enactment of any subsequent resolution disapproving any other provision
of such act pursuant to this paragraph.''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZING USE OF RESOLUTIONS OF DISAPPROVAL TO DISAPPROVE
EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND REGULATIONS.
(a) Authorization.--Title VI of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act (sec. 1-206.01 et seq., D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at
the end the following new section:
``limitations on regulatory authority of mayor
``Sec. 605. (a) Transmission of Executive Orders and
Regulations.--The Mayor shall transmit to the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President of the Senate a copy of each
executive order issued by the Mayor and each regulation promulgated by
an officer of the executive branch of the District government.
``(b) Delay in Implementation.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), an executive order or regulation transmitted under subsection (a)
shall take effect upon the expiration of the 60-day period (excluding
days either House of Congress is adjourned for more than 3 days during
a session of Congress) beginning on the later of the day such executive
order or regulation is transmitted by the Mayor to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives or the day such executive order or regulation
is transmitted by the Mayor to the President of the Senate, or upon the
date prescribed by such executive order or regulation, whichever is
later, unless during such 60-day period, there has been enacted into
law a joint resolution disapproving such executive order or regulation.
``(c) Deemed Repeal.--In any case in which any joint resolution
described in subsection (b) disapproving an executive order or
regulation has, within the 60-day period described in subsection (b),
passed both Houses of Congress and has been transmitted to the
President, such joint resolution, upon becoming law, subsequent to the
expiration of such 60-day period, shall be deemed to have repealed such
executive order or regulation, as of the date such joint resolution
becomes law.
``(d) Application of Expedited Procedures for Consideration of
Resolutions.--The provisions of section 604 shall apply with respect to
any joint resolution disapproving any executive order or regulation
pursuant to this section.''.
(b) Description of Expedited Procedures for Consideration of
Resolutions.--
(1) In general.--Section 604 of such Act (sec. 1-206.04,
D.C. Official Code), as amended by section 3(b), is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(g) Consideration of Resolutions Disapproving Executive Orders
and Regulations.--The provisions of this section shall apply with
respect to the issuance of an executive order by the Mayor and the
promulgation of a regulation by an officer of the executive branch of
the District government in the same manner as such provisions apply
with respect to a Council action, except that for purposes of
subsection (b) a `resolution' means only a joint resolution, the matter
after the resolving clause of which is as follows: `That the _________
approves/disapproves of the action of the Mayor or an officer of the
executive branch of the District government described as follows:
__________', with the blank spaces therein being appropriately filled,
and either approval or disapproval being appropriately indicated, but
does not include a resolution which specifies more than one action.''.
(2) Conforming amendment.--Section 604(b) of such Act (sec.
1-206.04(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking ``(b)
For the purpose of this section,'' and inserting ``(b) For the
purpose of this section with respect to a Council action,''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of contents of such Act is
amended by adding at the end of the items relating to title VI the
following:
``Sec. 605. Limitations on regulatory authority of Mayor.''.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITING COUNCIL FROM WITHDRAWING ACTS ALREADY TRANSMITTED.
Section 602(c) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1-
206.02(c), D.C. Official Code), as amended by section 2(c), is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) After the Council has transmitted an Act under this
subsection, the Council may not withdraw the Act from the Speaker of
the House or the President of the Senate during the period described
with respect to the Act under paragraph (1), and the Act shall be
subject to this subsection without regard to any attempt by the Council
to withdraw the Act.''.
SEC. 7. PROHIBITING TRANSMISSION OF ACTS SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS
DISAPPROVED ACTS.
(a) Prohibition.--Section 602 of the District of Columbia Home Rule
Act (sec. 1-206.02, D.C. Official Code) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(d) Prohibiting Transmission of Acts Substantially the Same as
Disapproved Acts.--If a joint resolution has been enacted into law to
disapprove an Act transmitted by the Council under this section, the
Council may not transmit another Act under this section which is
substantially the same as the Act disapproved by the joint resolution,
unless the Council is specifically authorized to transmit such an Act
by a law enacted after the date of the enactment of the joint
resolution to disapprove the original Act.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to acts of the District of Columbia which are
disapproved by a joint resolution enacted on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 8. ANNUAL HEARING AND REPORT ON STATE OF DISTRICT OF COL