Sponsors (2)
The bill modernizes and humanizes language about intellectual disabilities in D.C. legal texts—improving dignity and reducing stigma—while imposing relatively minor administrative updates and a short-term risk of inconsistent cross-references in existing laws and materials.
People with intellectual disabilities: the bill replaces stigmatizing, outdated terminology with person-first, respectful language, improving dignity and legal recognition for this group.
District court users and staff (D.C.): legal texts used by courts and parties will read more clearly and respectfully, reducing confusing or demeaning language in court materials.
People with disabilities and the general public: removing outdated terminology helps reduce stigma and bias in public perception and social services.
State and local government offices and legal publishers: the change could create inconsistent cross-references with other statutes and legacy documents, risking confusion until harmonized.
State and local government staff and court administrators: updating legal materials, training, and references will impose minor administrative work and costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Replaces stigmatizing terms in three D.C. Code provisions with the phrase "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities."
Official title: To amend title 11, District of Columbia Official Code, to revise references in such title to individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Introduced February 5, 2025 by Eleanor Holmes Norton · Last progress February 5, 2025
Replaces outdated and stigmatizing terms in three places in the District of Columbia Code by removing words like "retarded" or "mentally retarded" and inserting the phrase "persons with moderate intellectual disabilities." The changes are textual updates to modern, respectful terminology and do not change legal jurisdiction, create new duties, or add funding or deadlines. This is a non-substantive, technical amendment limited to language in existing statutory provisions governing the D.C. courts and related definitions; it preserves current law's meaning while updating terminology to reduce stigma.