This week the DC Council will hold a Legislative Meeting to discuss a number of bills but will also discuss overriding a mayoral veto on Bill 24-416, the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2021. In summary, Bill 24-416 as passed:
Standardizes every element of a criminal offense.
Establishes culpable mental state definitions
Establishes defenses, including self-defense, defense of others, defense of property, execution of public duty, exercise of parental duty of care, duress, entrapment, and excusing mental disability.
Standardizes penalty classifications with nine felony classes and five misdemeanor classes.
Updates penalty enhancements.
Eliminates mandatory and statutory minimum sentences.
Expands a defendant’s right to a jury trial for misdemeanor cases carrying jail time beginning in fiscal year 2027.
Updates Second Look eligibility to include individuals who committed a crime when they were over 25 years of age, provided they have completed at least 20 years of their sentence
Eliminates juvenile delinquency proceedings for offenses committed by children under twelve.
Raises the dollar-value threshold for felony grades of most property offenses from $1,000 to $5,000.
Decriminalizes certain offenses, including possession of drug paraphernalia, panhandling, and illegal vending.
Specifies the maximum imprisonment penalties authorized for any offense and eliminates the life without release penalty.
Mayor Bowser, in her letter to the Council vetoing the bill, stated that as written, Bill 24-416 "does not make us safe." She requested that the Council amend the bill and remove provisions its more controversial provisions. One such provision reduces sentences for illegally carrying a gun on the street, reducing the maximum penalty from 15 to four years. She also stated that the bill reduced penalties for carjackings, robbery, and home invasions. Mayor Bowser is of the belief that the Council went too far with Bill 24-416, and many of the policy proposals would be better as stand-alone bills so the public can offer their thoughts. To override the Mayor's veto of the legislation, the Council, after it reconsiders the legislation, must approve the override by a two-thirds vote of the Council in order for it to become effective
In Maryland, Prince George's County Council will discuss a letter to the Prince George’s County House Delegation, reducing their position on proposed State legislation. In the Montgomery Council, Bill 1-23- Property Tax Credit - Elderly Individuals and Retired Military Services Members - Amendments, will be introduced. This bill would increase the assessed value of qualifying properties by $50,000 so that the maximum assessed value of a property would be updated from $650,000 to $700,000 for qualifying elderly residents and from $500,000 to $550,000 for eligible military service members and retirees.
In Virginia, the only local legislative meeting occur is in Fairfax County in the Legislative Committee. The Committee discusses a wide variety of topics and issues and is particularly active during the annual Virginia General Assembly. The is no public agenda for this meeting online, but it can be viewed online.
Here is our list of the most important meetings occurring around the DC Area this week.
Click on the blue hyperlinks below for more information about each meeting.
District of Columbia
DC Council
Legislative meeting- Tuesday, January 17 at 12:00 pm
Policy of interest
Bill 25-15-Public Health Emergency Credit Alert Extension Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2022
Bill 25-14-Housing Authority Accountability Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2023
Bill 25-12-Continuity in Condominium Warranty Claims Emergency Amendment Act of 2023
Bill 25-Tipped Minimum Wage Increase Implementation Clarification Emergency Act of 2023
Bill 24-416-Motion to Override Mayoral Veto of Bill 24-416, the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2021
DC State Board of Education
DC SBOE Public Meeting-Wednesday, January 18 at 5:30 pm
Maryland
Charles County
Board of Charles County Commissioners
Charles County Board of Education
No Charles County Board of Education meeting this week
Montgomery County
Montgomery County Council
Montgomery County Council meeting-January 17 at 10:00 am
Introduction of bills
Bill 1-23- Property Tax Credit - Elderly Individuals and Retired Military Services Members - Amendments
Bill for final reading
Expedited Bill 32-22- Department of Health and Human Services - Structure and Positions
Montgomery County Board of Education
Prince George's County
Prince George's County Council
Prince George's County Council Meeting-Tuesday, January 17 at 10:00 am
Policy of interest
LTR 01172023-Proposed letter to the Honorable Michael A. Jackson, Chair, Prince George’s County Senate Delegation and the Honorable Nick Charles, Chair, Prince George’s County House Delegation, transmitting the position of the Prince George's County Council on proposed State legislation
Prince George's County Board of Education
Virginia
Alexandria City
Alexandria City Council
No City Council Legislative Meeting this week
Alexandria City Board of Education
Alexandria City School Board Meeting-Thursday, January 19 at 6:30 pm
Arlington County
Arlington County Board
No Arlington County Board meeting this week
Arlington County School Board
Arlington County School Board meeting-Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 pm
Fairfax County
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Legislative meeting-Friday, January 20 at 4:00 pm
Fairfax County School Board
Fairfax County School Board Work Session-Tuesday, January 17 at 11:00 am