B 26-0187 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Metropolitan Police Department Training Academy College Credit Opportunity Amendment Act of 2025 (now known as "Peace DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2025")

This bill allows the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to partner with accredited colleges so that recruits can earn up to 15 college credits for completing the MPD Academy training program. These credits would count toward the 60-credit-hour education requirement for sworn officers, effectively reducing the requirement to 45 hours for eligible recruits. The bill directly affects MPD recruits by lowering the educational barrier for hiring, making the department more competitive with jurisdictions that have lower requirements. It amends existing law to streamline the path to becoming a sworn officer while maintaining MPD's standards for officer qualifications.

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

Council Passage

Jul 2025

Signed into Law

Nov 2025

Introduced Mar 24, 2025 Signed Nov 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as the 'Peace DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2025' with several substantive updates. Key changes include expanding special police authority to issue citations for fare evasion, clarifying that police training hours can count toward the 60-hour education requirement for new officers, and updating survivor benefits for firefighters and police to include deaths from illnesses covered by additional medical leave sections. The bill also adjusts theft thresholds for warrantless arrests and clarifies how certain offenses are sealed.

Scope change

The bill's scope was slightly narrowed in its description of the fare evasion amendment, removing specific mention of 'individuals' in favor of a general reference to the Act, and the sunset date provision for pretrial detention was changed from 'repeal' to 'amend'.

ENFORCEMENT

Special police officers are now explicitly authorized to issue citations for fare evasion and arrest for related infractions.

REQUIREMENT

Applicants for Metropolitan Police Department sworn officer positions can now count up to 20 credits from their initial training program toward the 60-hour post-secondary education requirement.

The threshold for warrantless arrests for theft was raised from property valued under $250 to property valued at $1,000 or more, with a new provision for repeat offenses within six months.

ELIGIBILITY

Survivor benefits for firefighters and police officers now cover deaths resulting from injuries or illnesses listed in three additional sections of the Fire and Police Medical Leave and Limited Duty Amendment Act.

TECHNICAL

The description of the fare evasion adjudication process was simplified to remove the specific phrase 'individuals engaging in fare evasion'.

TIMELINE

The provision regarding the sunset date for pretrial detention rules was changed from repealing the date to amending it.

Floor votes · Council Jul 1, 2025

How they voted

12–0

Passed

Total votes 12

Jul 1, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jul 1, 2025

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (12-0)

council

Jul 1, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (McDuffie)

legislature

Jul 1, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (White)

legislature

Jul 1, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (Pinto)

legislature

Jun 17, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (L. George and Allen)

legislature

Jun 17, 2025

Introduced

Amendment (CM Pinto)

legislature

Jun 11, 2025

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0187 by the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee

legislature

Apr 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety

legislature

Mar 24, 2025

Introduced

B26-0187 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors