Calling on all Leaders to Make DC Safer

Calling on all Leaders to Make DC Safer

Many Washingtonians are understandably on edge about recent increases in crime. We all want our families, friends, neighbors, and every District resident to live in safe communities where our children can walk around without us having to worry about them. To achieve that goal, we must be clear eyed about what we face and work together on short and long-term public safety strategies.

Attorney General Racine Introduces Bill to Improve District’s Consumer-Protection Law

WASHINGTON, D. C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced today that he has submitted legislation to the Council of the District of Columbia to update the Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA), the District’s general consumer protection law. The legislation is designed to update the CPPA to reflect best practices from other states’ consumer protection laws, making it easier for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to protect consumers in the District from fraud and other abuses.

AG Racine Leads 38 States Calling on Congress to Pass Marijuana Banking Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine today led a bipartisan coalition of 38 Attorneys General urging Congress to pass the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (H.R. 1595) or similar measures that would allow legal marijuana-related businesses to access the banking system.

Attorney General Joins Colleagues from Six States in Opposing Executive Order Weakening Clean Water Rule

WASHINGTON, D. C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine joined six state attorneys general in opposing an executive order issued today, which President Trump described as paving the way to eliminating the Clean Water Rule (also known as the Waters of the United States Rule, or WOTUS).

The coalition, which was led by New York and includes the attorneys general of the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, issued the following statement:

Legislative Initiatives

As an independent agency, OAG is authorized to introduce legislation for the Council’s consideration, such as campaign finance bills introduced in 2016 and 2017 designed to end the appearance of pay-to-play politics. Based on Attorney General Racine’s policy priorities and feedback gathered from our community engagement, OAG introduced the below bills to address community concerns.

Attorney General Racine Testifies on Campaign Finance Bills

Statement of Karl A. Racine
Attorney General for the District of Columbia

Before the Committee on the Judiciary
The Honorable Kenyan McDuffie, Chairperson
Public Hearing

Bill 21-442, the “Political Action Committee Contribution Regulation Amendment Act of 2015”
Bill 21-509, the “Citizens Fair Election Program Amendment Act of 2015”
Bill 21-511, the “Clean Elections Amendment Act of 2015”
Bill 21-565, the “Elucidating Your Elections Amendment Act of 2016”
Bill 21-622, the “Campaign Finance Transparency and Accountability Amendment Act of 2016”

Attorney General Schwalb Introduces Legislation to Improve Safety and Security at District Apartment Buildings Impacted by Crime


Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today introduced the Secure Apartments For Everyone (SAFE) Regulation Amendment Act to improve safety and reduce incidents of crime at District apartment complexes. Each apartment building has unique characteristics and challenges, and the SAFE Act sets forth a series of interventions that allow District tenants, owners, and government agencies to work together to identify building-specific problems and implement solutions that will make communities safer in the short and long term.