Washington, D.C. Residents Voting Act

Summary

Returns most of the land that created the District of Columbia back to the State of Maryland while keeping a defined, smaller “Federal District” that contains core federal property (the White House, Capitol, Supreme Court, major monuments, and adjacent federal office buildings). The retrocession only occurs if Maryland passes a law accepting the transfer and the President issues a proclamation; the Act’s effective date is also tied to repeal of the Twenty-Third Amendment or the President’s proclamation, whichever is later. The measure preserves federal ownership and special federal jurisdiction over identified federal lands (including certain military and Coast Guard tracts while the United States controls them), sets out a precise new boundary description for the Federal District, transfers jurisdiction and title for other property to Maryland, and protects federal and employee benefit entitlements (including pensions and Title 5 benefits) so that individuals do not lose earned benefits when the territory transfers.

• Most of the current District of Columbia territory would be returned to Maryland while a smaller, defined Federal District around core federal buildings and monuments remains under federal control.
• Retrocession only takes effect if Maryland accepts the transfer by law and the President issues a proclamation; the Act’s effective date is also tied to repeal of the Twenty-Third Amendment or the presidential proclamation, whichever is later.
• The bill preserves U.S. ownership and jurisdiction over federal properties and reserves exclusive congressional authority over defense/Coast Guard parcels while they remain under federal control.
• Title and jurisdiction over property the District then held would transfer to Maryland, while federal-held property remains federal.
• Federal pensions, retirement benefits, and obligations tied to the District are preserved for individuals and funds and, where appropriate, become obligations of Maryland after retrocession.
• Statutory references to the "District of Columbia" in certain federal statutes are revised to refer to a "Federal District," and some federal residency/naming rules are adjusted.
• No new federal appropriations, tax-law changes, or emergency spending provisions are included; the bill focuses on jurisdictional, property, and benefit transitions.
• Implementation will require detailed mapping, legal transfers, administrative coordination, and likely audits to ensure benefits and titles are preserved and transferred correctly.
• Reserved federal lands used for defense or Coast Guard purposes remain under exclusive federal legislative authority while controlled by the United States, but Maryland may exercise certain state processes consistent with future federal law.