Washington, D.C. Admission Act

This bill would make most of Washington, D.C., a new state called Washington, Douglass Commonwealth. A smaller area, called the Capital, would stay as the federal seat around the Capitol, White House, Supreme Court, and nearby federal buildings, and the new state could not tax federal property unless Congress allows it. Residents would gain full voting rights in Congress by electing two Senators and one Representative, and the current nonvoting House Delegate would be eliminated . People who live in the Capital would vote in federal elections by absentee ballot in the last state where they lived.

Most local laws and court cases would carry over without interruption, and the new state would take over as D.C.’s legal successor. Federal police (Capitol Police, Park Police, Secret Service Uniformed Division) would not enforce the state’s laws unless the state allows, but they would continue their duties in the Capital. The Capital would not operate as a city government. Military bases in the state would stay under federal control, though the state could still handle some matters there. Several services would continue during a transition—like retirement benefits, pretrial services, court operations, Medicaid help, and college tuition aid—until the state sets up its own programs and certifies funding . A commission would guide the change and end two years after admission. Federal courts in D.C. would be renamed to reflect the new state and the Capital, and the bill advances a repeal of the 23rd Amendment .

• Who is affected: D.C. residents and people living in the federal Capital area; D.C. public employees and retirees; students and families who use local schools and aid programs .
• What changes: Statehood and full voting representation; Capital voters cast federal ballots in their prior state; most local laws continue; no state taxes on federal property; some federal support continues during the transition; court names are updated .
• When: Most changes take effect when the state is admitted; several programs end once the state certifies it has its own funding and laws; the transition commission ends two years after admission .