Congress Moves to Disapprove D.C. Council's Insurance Regulation Amendment Act of 2024

This joint resolution exercises Congress's authority under the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to disapprove a specific piece of local legislation: the D.C. Council's "Insurance Regulation Amendment Act of 2024." The D.C. Council approved this act on January 15, 2025, and it was transmitted to Congress on February 6, 2025. If this resolution passes Congress, it effectively nullifies the D.C. insurance law before it can take effect.

The Oversight Mechanism in Action

Think of the D.C. Home Rule Act as setting the ground rules for how the District governs itself, but with a key condition: Congress retains the right to review and potentially overturn laws passed by the D.C. Council. This resolution is a direct application of that oversight power. It doesn't amend or change the D.C. insurance act; it simply prevents it from becoming law by formally disapproving it. The focus here isn't on the content of the insurance act itself, but on the procedural step of congressional review mandated by the Home Rule Act.

Impact: D.C. Lawmaking and the Federal Backstop

The immediate practical effect is straightforward: the specific changes proposed by the Insurance Regulation Amendment Act of 2024 will not be implemented in the District of Columbia. This action highlights the unique relationship between D.C. and the federal government, where locally enacted laws are subject to congressional approval. While the resolution itself is a simple disapproval, it underscores the limits on D.C.'s legislative autonomy and the final authority Congress holds over the District's laws, regardless of the subject matter.