Sponsors
Last progress June 10, 2025 (8 months ago)
Introduced on June 10, 2025 by H. Morgan Griffith
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Armed Services, 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.
Returns almost all of the land Maryland originally ceded to create Washington, D.C. back to the State of Maryland (retrocession) once Maryland enacts a law accepting the land and the President issues a proclamation. The bill preserves a much smaller area as the permanent Federal District under exclusive federal control, specifies which properties remain federal, updates which laws apply where, keeps many federal benefits and program rules in force for people who move from federal to state jurisdiction, and ties the effective date to either the Presidential proclamation or the repeal of the Twenty‑third Amendment, whichever happens later.
Provides that, once the President issues a proclamation and except for the area kept as the Federal District, the territory Maryland ceded to Congress to form the District is ceded and relinquished back to the State of Maryland.
Carves out the “Federal District” (described elsewhere in section 111) from the retrocession, keeping it under federal control as the permanent seat of the U.S. Government, with Congress continuing to exercise exclusive legislative authority over it.
Makes retrocession conditional: retrocession does not occur unless the State of Maryland enacts legislation accepting the retrocession.
Requires the President to issue a proclamation within 30 days after Maryland enacts legislation accepting the retrocession, announcing acceptance and declaring the territory has been ceded back to Maryland.
Describes what the “Federal District” will consist of upon retrocession, including major federal monuments, the White House, the Capitol Building, the U.S. Supreme Court Building, and adjacent federal office buildings (using terms as referenced in 40 U.S.C. § 8501(a)).
Who is affected and how:
Residents of the current District of Columbia and people living in the areas to be retroceded: Their jurisdiction would change from the federal municipal entity to the State of Maryland for most purposes. They would become Maryland residents for state law, taxation, voting in state elections, and state benefits, subject to the timing and conditions set by the Act. Some people living inside the much smaller retained Federal District would remain under exclusive federal jurisdiction.
Voters and electoral administration: The bill changes how affected residents are assigned for federal elections and ties timing to the status of the Twenty‑third Amendment, so Presidential electors and local voting administration would need adjustment to avoid conflicts between the 23rd Amendment and new state jurisdiction.
State of Maryland and Maryland local governments: Maryland must pass enabling legislation to accept the territory and would take on responsibility for local government services, law enforcement, public schooling, tax administration, and infrastructure in the retroceded area. That creates administrative and fiscal transitions for state and local governments.
Federal government and agencies: The U.S. retains ownership and authority over specified federal properties (military installations and other holdings). Federal agencies must transfer records, adjust property holdings, and preserve statutory authorities identified in the Act. Federal courts will be renamed or otherwise adjusted; federal personnel rules and benefits listed in the Act are preserved to reduce disruption for employees and retirees.
Federal employees, retirees, and program beneficiaries: The Act preserves many federal retirement, civil service, scholarship, prison placement, and other program rules so that federal employees and program participants do not abruptly lose benefits or status because of the territorial change.
Courts, litigants, and contract parties: The law provides continuity rules so pending cases, judgments, contracts, permits, and licenses remain effective or are transitioned orderly, reducing legal uncertainty but requiring administrative action to reidentify jurisdiction and case captions.
Public services and infrastructure users: Utilities, public schools, policing, zoning, permitting, and local services in the retroceded area would move under Maryland authority, which could change service rules, eligibility, fees, and schedules until full transition is implemented.
Potential legal and political consequences:
Constitutional questions and litigation risk: Retrocession raises constitutional and constitutional-practice questions (e.g., the Twenty‑third Amendment, representation), so courts could see litigation over timing, application of laws, and electoral consequences.
Political and representational impacts: Changing D.C.’s boundaries and jurisdiction could shift who votes as Maryland residents and reduce or reconfigure the District’s local self-government; it may affect congressional and electoral calculations, heightening political controversy.
Administrative costs and state obligations: Maryland would assume responsibilities for local services and may face short-term fiscal costs or the need to expand programs; federal agencies will incur costs for property transfers, records transfers, and administrative adjustments. The Act preserves many federal obligations to limit abrupt costs or benefit loss, but some administrative burdens remain for state and federal actors.
Overall effect: The legislation would create a major jurisdictional and administrative change from a federal municipal entity to state control for most of the territory, while preserving federal holdings and many federal legal treatments so affected people and programs continue without immediate loss of benefits. Implementation depends on Maryland acceptance and Presidential proclamation, and some provisions are conditioned on repeal of the Twenty‑third Amendment, making the transition legally and politically complex.