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Bill

B 26-0021

Inventory of Historic African American Burial Grounds Amendment Act of 2025

26th Council Period (2025-2026)

DC bill establishes inventory of historic African American burial grounds to document, protect, and preserve unmarked or neglected ancestral burial sites across the District.

Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0021 Published in the District of Columbia Register
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Bill Summary · B 26-0021

Legislative bill overview

This bill amends DC's existing law to create or expand an inventory of historic African American burial grounds across the District of Columbia. The legislation appears designed to document, catalog, and potentially protect burial sites with historical significance to the Black community that may be unmarked, neglected, or at risk.

Why is this important

African American burial grounds, particularly from the slavery and Jim Crow eras, are often undocumented or forgotten, leading to desecration, development over these sites, or loss of historical memory. An official inventory serves as a tool for preservation, repatriation efforts, community recognition, and preventing unintended disturbance of ancestral remains during construction or urban development projects.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and funding – Creating and maintaining a comprehensive citywide burial ground inventory requires resources for research, documentation, mapping, and ongoing management
  • Legal liability and ownership – Identifying burial grounds may create complications regarding property rights, land ownership disputes, and potential liability for property owners whose land contains unmarked graves
  • Scope and accuracy challenges – Historical records for African American burial grounds are often incomplete or scattered across multiple sources, making comprehensive inventory creation technically difficult

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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