Statutory Neglect Amendment Act of 2025

This bill amends Washington, D.C.'s child neglect definitions to clarify that homelessness or lack of stable housing cannot be used as sole evidence of neglect, and that a parent's eligibility for public benefits cannot be used as sole evidence of parental failure unrelated to financial need. It updates the statutory definition of "neglected child" in Title 16 to explicitly exclude financial hardship as the sole factor for neglect determinations. The bill also specifies that child welfare agencies (the Child and Family Services Agency) must consider financial circumstances when assessing neglect, requiring reasonable efforts to address financial barriers. These changes directly affect parents, guardians, and child welfare cases in D.C., ensuring neglect determinations focus on specific child safety risks rather than socioeconomic status alone.