The Council of the District of Columbia passed a sweeping crime omnibus bill on Tuesday in what will be the first of two votes on the legislation, the product of months of work combining proposals and initiatives centered on bringing down the uptick in criminal activity in the district .
The Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024 passed the council with 12 “aye” votes, and one member, Councilman Trayon White, voted present. The bill will increase penalties for some crimes and create new definitions for others, as well as establish drug-free zones, increase parameters for juvenile detention, and bring back police provisions rolled back by previous district crime bills.
Despite its passage today, the omnibus will go to a second vote expected to come in the next few weeks, meaning the legislation’s language could change from what was passed on Tuesday.
The council spent nearly two hours debating different aspects of the bill as council members raised concerns about restoring some police provisions, as well as the reintroduction of drug-free zones and the ban on mask-wearing when committing crimes.