Every Voice D.C. Bill to Address Campus Sexual Violence Becomes Law
After four years of advocacy, student-written B26-0029 has been enacted into law after passing the D.C. council with unanimous, bipartisan support.
Thursday, March 26th, 2026
Washington, D.C.: On Wednesday, March 25th, the Institution of Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resource Accessibility Act of 2025 completed its 30-day congressional review period and was enacted into law. The law requires institutions to adopt additional safety measures to promote transparency and offer comprehensive, confidential support to survivors.
In 2022, student advocates attending school in D.C. decided to respond to the ongoing rollbacks to Title IX and its protections for survivors of sexual violence through legislative action. With the support of lead sponsor Councilwoman Christina Henderson and partners like the National Women’s Law Center, these students drafted B26-0029 to address the failures they’d witnessed themselves.
Specifically, B26-0029 requires every institution in D.C. to adopt:
1) Confidential advising services: Confidential Resource Advisors (CRAs) aid survivors in navigating the complex process of obtaining necessary resources and understanding their rights;
2) Anti-retaliation amnesty policies for reporting parties: amnesty policies ensure that survivors are not silenced due to fear of retaliation or punishment for violating student code of conduct, such as underage drinking or drug consumption;
3) Annual prevention programming: students and employees must receive annual evidence-based, trauma-informed training on campus sexual violence prevention and responses; and
4) Scholarship and GPA waivers: survivors can request to waive a minimum grade point average, credit hour load, and other academic requirement or disciplinary record standards in order to maintain eligibility for campus-specific scholarships and grants.
With the Office for Civil Rights dismissing 90% of discrimination complaints in the last year (including sexual assault and harassment), the passage of this bill sends a clear message that the safety of students and student survivors studying in D.C. is vital, urgent and a priority.
This act goes into effect on June 30, 2026. Students should feel its effects when they start classes in the fall.
Words of Support
“I am forever thankful for the platform EVC has built for students, survivors, and advocates to effectuate change across the nation, and for creating a space for our voices to be heard. If you had told me four years ago that B26-0029 would become official D.C. law, I would have been in disbelief, but this experience has proven what we, as advocates, are truly capable of changing.” – Mathena, B26-0029 co-author
“All of our hard work coming into fruition is such an incredible sight to see. We want students across D.C. to feel comfortable telling their story without repercussions or judgement, which is what this bill is exactly designed for. The work is just getting started and I am so excited to continue on the legacy of Every Voice!” –Deyba, Howard University
The Every Voice Coalition (www.everyvoicecoalition.org) is a student, young alum and survivor-led organization working to pass state-level legislation to prevent campus sexual violence and support survivors. Every Voice bills have been passed in 12 states: Connecticut, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and now Washington, D.C.
Media contacts: national@everyvoicecoalition.org
