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B 26-0707

Rodent Education and Management Yields ("REMY") Results Amendment Act of 2026

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Christina Henderson

The act funds a pilot of rodent-proof dumpsters, restricts anticoagulant rodenticides, and funds public education to reduce rodent problems and exposure.

Public Hearing on B26-0707
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Bill Summary · B 26-0707

Purpose and intent

The REMY Amendment Act of 2026 seeks to reduce rodent populations in the District of Columbia through a public health-oriented approach. It emphasizes eliminating accessible food sources, protecting people and wildlife from rodenticides, and increasing public knowledge about effective rodent prevention and control. The bill would implement a pilot program to subsidize rodent-proof dumpsters, restrict certain uses of anticoagulant rodenticides, and fund a District-wide public education effort on rodent prevention and health risks.

Key provisions and changes

  • Commercial corridor rodent-proof dumpster pilot (Sec. 909):

    • Establishes a pilot grant program to install at least 10 rodent-proof dumpsters in commercial corridors with high rodent activity.
    • Eligible applicants include Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Main Streets, or private food-serving businesses in identified high-rodent areas, with consent from affected businesses.
    • The Department of Health will monitor and evaluate the pilot for a minimum of 12 months, focusing on:
    • Reduction in rodent activity and complaints
    • Compliance with proper dumpster usage and waste collection frequency
    • Durability and maintenance of dumpster models
    • A report to the Council within 18 months detailing findings, expansion recommendations, and proposed specifications for standardized dumpsters.

  • Rodenticide use restrictions (Sec. 910):

    • Prohibits the sale, distribution, or use of anticoagulant rodenticides on public or private property, with certain exceptions:
    • Government agencies acting within official duties
    • Contractors acting for government agencies
    • Companies or individuals certified to apply pesticides (within the scope of certification)
    • Violations require the responsible party to remove the anticoagulant within 7 days of notification. Repeated violations or failure to remove may incur civil fines and penalties per a specified provision.
    • Anticoagulant rodenticide would be treated as a restricted-use pesticide.

  • Public education on rodent abatement (Sec. 911):

    • Establishes a public education program to reduce rodent populations, covering:
    • Sanitation, habitat modification, and biological controls
    • Evidence-based abatement resources and strategies
    • Safe practices and disease risk prevention
    • Emergency procedures for rodenticide exposure
    • Delivery methods may include printed materials, digital content, in-person trainings, bus/metro banners, partnerships with community organizations, schools, faith-based groups, and targeted outreach to food establishments, property owners/managers, and venues near high-rodent areas.

Who is affected

  • Commercial districts, BIDs, Main Streets, and private food-serving businesses in high-rodent corridors (potentially benefiting from subsidized rodent-proof dumpsters).
  • Retailers and pest management professionals via new restrictions on anticoagulant rodenticides and licensing/credentialing requirements.
  • Residents, pet owners, and wildlife in the District through reduced exposure to rodenticides and improved public education.
  • DC Health, which would administer the education program and oversee the pilot and broader outreach.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The act creates a pilot program with a minimum 12-month evaluation period after dumpster installation and a reporting timeline within 18 months of program start.
  • It defines new definitions (e.g., anticoagulant rodenticide, Bureau) and adds sections (909–911) to the Rodent Control Act of 2000.
  • Effective date: upon mayoral approval (and potential congressional review as required by the Home Rule Act).

Fiscal notes

  • A fiscal impact statement is to be provided in the committee report; specifics are not included in the text provided.

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

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