Bill > B26-0616

This bill, the Body-Worn Camera Transparency for Use of Force Emergency Amendment Act of 2026, mandates the public release of body-worn camera recordings in cases of officer-involved deaths or serious use of force, even when the officer involved is not from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), as long as an MPD officer was present. It clarifies that "law enforcement officer" includes any authorized officer, agent, or employee of federal, state, or local governments involved in law enforcement, and defines "MPD" as the Metropolitan Police Department. The bill also retroactively applies these transparency requirements to incidents occurring since August 1, 2025, requiring release within 10 business days of the bill's effective date, and includes a description of the incident along with the recordings. Furthermore, it amends existing regulations to prevent MPD officers from reviewing body-worn camera footage to assist in writing initial reports for incidents involving MPD officers, but allows them to do so for incidents involving other law enforcement officers prior to the bill's emergency effective date. This emergency legislation is intended to be in effect for no longer than 90 days.

https://lims.dccouncil.gov/Legislation/B26-0616