District of Columbia Home Rule Improvement Act of 2025

The District of Columbia Home Rule Improvement Act of 2025 aims to significantly increase the federal government's authority over the District of Columbia's local legislative process. The bill proposes to extend the mandatory congressional review period for all D.C. Council legislation from 30 days to a uniform 60 days. It would also grant Congress the power to use "line-item vetoes" through resolutions of disapproval, allowing lawmakers to reject specific provisions of a D.C. law rather than having to strike down the entire act. Additionally, the bill would subject mayoral executive orders and city regulations to the same congressional review process as local laws.

If enacted, the legislation would place new restrictions on the D.C. Council's ability to govern. It proposes to prohibit the Council from passing laws that are substantially similar to those previously rejected by Congress and would end the practice of using emergency legislation to bypass the standard congressional review window. The bill also aims to establish expedited procedures in the House and Senate for considering resolutions to overturn D.C. actions and would require the D.C. Council to submit annual reports and participate in regular congressional oversight hearings.