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Washington DC AI Laws: Mayor's Order and RESALE Act (2027)

Independently fact-checkedLaw current as of November 5, 2026By Recording Law Editorial TeamReviewed November 5, 202614 min read

Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited November 5, 2026). · Law checked current as of November 5, 2026. · 20 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Washington DC AI Laws: Mayor's Order and RESALE Act (2027)

As of November 2026, we found no comprehensive AI act in the District of Columbia: AI use by the District government runs on Mayor's Order 2024-028, and the closest new statute is the RESALE Act (D.C. Law 26-181, Bill 26-224), which bars ticket sellers from using surveillance data to set prices for the tickets it covers, starting January 1, 2027.

Status as of November 4, 2026: The Council's legislative database (LIMS) showed at least six AI-related bills as under Council review: B26-0329, B26-0491, B26-0524, B26-0667, B26-0853 and B26-0858. The AI Taskforce created by the Mayor's Order is set to sunset on December 31, 2026.

This page covers District law, with one short note on the federal layer. We searched LIMS by title and full text for "artificial intelligence" and "algorithm". We went through all 173 full-text results for "artificial intelligence" and part of the 556 for "algorithm". We did not search the D.C. Code itself, so this is not a complete list. For how other jurisdictions compare, see the US AI laws hub.

Mayor's Order 2024-028: DC's AI Values and Taskforce

Mayor Bowser signed Mayor's Order 2024-028 on February 8, 2024. Its title is "Articulating DC's Artificial Intelligence Values and Establishing Artificial Intelligence Strategic Benchmarks." It is directed at District government, not at private companies.

We found no comprehensive AI act in the District of Columbia as of November 4, 2026; Mayor's Order 2024-028 guides District government, and a ticket surveillance-pricing ban applies January 1, 2027.
As of November 4, 2026, the no-act finding rests on Council database searches, not the full D.C. Code. The ticket rule covers tickets only, and a bill is not a law.

The order names six values: Clear Benefit to the People, Safety & Equity, Accountability, Transparency, Sustainability, and Privacy & Cybersecurity.

The District's plan page quotes the order's main working parts:

  • AI Taskforce: "The AI Taskforce shall comprise five members, all of whom shall be District government employees." Its job includes reviewing AI tools on request and reporting to the City Administrator on agency progress.
  • Sunset: "The AI Taskforce shall sunset on December 31, 2026."
  • Agency strategic plans: Agencies were grouped in cohorts with deadlines before October 1 of 2024, 2025 and 2026. All three dates have passed. We did not check which agencies met them.
  • Advisory Group on AI Values Alignment (AIVA): A group that holds public listening sessions and can advise the Mayor on a specific AI tool or deployment on request.

a closed navy folder and black pen on a walnut desk beside an unbranded laptop with a plain grey lid

Two workforce rules sit under the order. On February 12, 2026, the Mayor announced mandatory Responsible AI training for all DC Government employees and contractors, to be finished within 90 days of notification.

The Office of the Chief Technology Officer also posts an AI/ML Governance Policy. It applies to covered District workforce members and agencies, and to "any provider and third-party entity with access to District information, systems, networks, and applications." It requires a cyber and business risk assessment before using an AI or machine learning platform, and written approval from the agency director or designee before using agency data with one. Violators may lose system access and face discipline.

The RESALE Act (D.C. Law 26-181): Surveillance Pricing Ban for Tickets

The Restricting Egregious Scalping Against Live Entertainment (RESALE) Amendment Act is a ticket law, not an AI law. We include it because Section 28-5509 limits using surveillance data to set prices in one market. The section does not use the words AI or algorithm. The Council's notice says it became D.C. Law 26-181, effective September 25, 2026, and the signed act says it "shall apply as of January 1, 2027."

Section 28-5509(a) provides that a ticket issuer, reseller or secondary ticket exchange "shall not use personally identifiable information collected through electronic surveillance technology, technological methods, systems, or tools, including sensors, cameras, device tracking, biometric monitoring, or other forms of observation or data collection capable of gathering personally identifiable information about a consumer's behavior, characteristics, location, or other personal attributes, whether in physical or digital environments, to set a price, fee, or discount for a ticket covered under this chapter."

The limits matter:

  • Tickets only, and not every ticket. The rule covers tickets under the new chapter, not other goods or services. The chapter's definition covers live concerts, theatrical performances, shows and similar live events. It leaves out motion picture screenings, and sporting events organized by a professional or intercollegiate team located in the District or by a professional athletic association with an event in the District.
  • Discount exceptions. A price reduction is allowed when set on publicly available criteria any consumer can meet, or offered to a broadly defined group such as teachers, military members, seniors or students who voluntarily show membership, or offered through a publicly established need-based program. The terms must be clearly disclosed.
  • Location for legal purposes. Location data may still be used to determine jurisdiction-specific requirements, including calculating taxes.

The chapter makes a violation a Class 2 civil infraction, and failure to comply is an unlawful trade practice under D.C. Code 28-3904. The civil penalty is in addition to the Attorney General's remedies under Section 28-3909.

AI Bills in the DC Council

Sponsors and last actions are what the LIMS bill pages showed on November 4, 2026. Descriptions come from the Council's summaries or the bill text. All six are bills, not laws.

BillWhat it would doSponsor and last action shown
B26-0329, Campaign Finance Modernization Amendment Act of 2025Among broader campaign finance changes, would require a disclosure on campaign material using artificial media, defined as realistic but false images, audio or video made with generative AI or other digital technology. Section 315a(b) would bar distributing such media within 90 days of an election if the person knows or should know it is artificial media, and its text has no exception for disclosed media, though the bill's long title describes the bar as reaching media that does not conform to the disclosure rule. Satire and parody are exemptIntroduced July 14, 2025 by Councilmember Allen. Referred to the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor September 17, 2025.
B26-0491, Artificial Intelligence Literacy in Education Act of 2025Would direct local education agencies to adopt and implement a model AI literacy policyIntroduced November 17, 2025 by Councilmember Pinto. Referred to the Committee of the Whole December 2, 2025.
B26-0524, Distribution of False Sexual Imagery Prohibition Amendment Act of 2025Would create misdemeanor and felony offenses for nonconsensual distribution of sexually explicit images, video or audio created or altered through digital technology, including AIIntroduced December 1, 2025 by Councilmember Henderson. Public hearing listed for November 9, 2026.
B26-0667, Surveillance Pricing Prohibition Amendment Act of 2026"would prohibit algorithmic pricing of consumer goods"Introduced April 20, 2026 by Councilmember Henderson. Public hearing October 19, 2026.
B26-0853, Transparency in Downcoding Amendment Act of 2026Would prohibit health insurers from automatically downcoding a claim using AI based solely on the reported diagnosis codeIntroduced October 5, 2026 by Councilmember Henderson. Referred to the Committee on Health October 6, 2026.
B26-0858, Restricting Editing and Alterations in Listing Photos Amendment Act of 2026Would require a clear and conspicuous disclosure when a real property ad or listing uses an image altered with photo editing software or AI, beyond common adjustments that do not materially change how the property is shown, with a written description of material differences and an unedited versionIntroduced October 9, 2026 by Councilmember Henderson. Referred to the Committee on Public Works and Operations, with comments from the Committee on Housing, October 20, 2026.

The Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act was introduced twice: B24-0558 on December 9, 2021, and B25-0114 on February 2, 2023. The Attorney General's 2021 release described annual audits and a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. We found no record that either bill was enacted. A LIMS title search for "algorithm" on November 4, 2026 listed no Council Period 26 bill under that name.

DC Insurance Regulators: Bulletin 24-IB-002-05/21

The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) issued Bulletin 24-IB-002-05/21 on May 21, 2024, to all insurers licensed in the District. It reminds them that "decisions or actions impacting consumers that are made or supported by advanced analytical and computational technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems (as defined below), must comply with all applicable insurance laws and regulations."

The bulletin sets out how DISB expects insurers to govern AI systems, including those from third parties, and what documents it may request in an investigation or examination. The NAIC's implementation map, status as of November 3, 2026, lists it as the District's adoption of the NAIC model bulletin. It applies existing law to AI; it is not a new statute.

AI in DC Schools: OSSE's Model Policy

On September 1, 2026, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education released an AI Model Policy for staff use. OSSE calls it "guidance only," and local education agencies can tailor it and "adopt it as they see fit."

Its red category covers physical surveillance of students and staff, student discipline decisions, evaluations of teacher performance, and determining eligibility for IEPs or Section 504 accommodations. Its yellow category covers monitoring digital activity on school-issued devices, drafting IEP language, reviewing and grading student work, and supplemental coaching to educators.

AI in the DC Courts

The DC Courts established an AI Task Force in March 2024 and published an AI Strategic Planning Roadmap dated June 2025. The roadmap is a planning document for the court system. It does not set rules for the public.

District of Columbia open legal code book on a library reading desk

Deepfakes and AI Note-Takers in DC

D.C. Code 22-3051(7), in the District's law on non-consensual sexual images, defines a sexual image as "a photograph, video, or other visual recording of an unclothed private area or of sexual conduct." It does not mention AI, and B26-0524 above would add offenses that name it. B26-0329 above would add election rules for artificial media, including media made with generative AI.

The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (P.L. 119-12) makes it a crime to knowingly publish nonconsensual intimate visual depictions, authentic or "digital forgery," on the statute's elements, and it requires covered platforms to remove them within 48 hours of a valid request. It is not a general deepfake ban. See District of Columbia deepfake laws for the detail.

AI note-takers raise recording-consent questions, covered on the District of Columbia AI meeting recording laws page.

District of Columbia printed compliance checklist on a clipboard with check marks

Federal AI Policy and the District

As of November 4, 2026, we found no federal statute, scanning the titles of the public laws of the 119th Congress, that sets general rules for private AI systems or generally preempts state AI laws. In December 2025, Executive Order 14365 directed federal agencies to challenge or discourage state AI laws the administration views as conflicting with national policy, and called for a federal framework from Congress. The order itself does not declare any state law invalid. See Trump's AI executive orders and state AI law preemption.

What Changes in DC AI Law in 2027

  • December 31, 2026: The AI Taskforce under Mayor's Order 2024-028 is set to sunset, and its members' terms run to the same date, per the District's plan page. We found no extension on that page as of November 4, 2026.
  • January 1, 2027: The RESALE Act applies, including the Section 28-5509 surveillance-pricing ban for covered tickets.
  • End of Council Period 26: B26-0329, B26-0491, B26-0524, B26-0667, B26-0853 and B26-0858 showed as under Council review on November 4, 2026. A 2018 Council post said a bill not passed before the end of that Council Period would die, so check whether each bill passed or was reintroduced in 2027.

More District of Columbia Laws

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the District of Columbia have an AI law?

We found no comprehensive AI act in the District as of November 4, 2026, based on searches of the Council's legislative database, not the full D.C. Code. The District government's own AI use runs on Mayor's Order 2024-028. One new statute, the RESALE Act (D.C. Law 26-181), bars surveillance-based pricing of many event tickets as of January 1, 2027, and it does not use the word AI.

What is Mayor's Order 2024-028?

It is an executive order Mayor Bowser signed on February 8, 2024. It sets six AI values for the District government, creates a five-member AI Taskforce of District employees that is set to sunset on December 31, 2026, and sets agency strategic plan deadlines. It is not a statute and does not regulate private businesses.

Is surveillance pricing banned in DC?

For many live event tickets, yes, as of January 1, 2027. Section 28-5509 of the RESALE Act bars ticket issuers, resellers and secondary ticket exchanges from using personally identifiable information collected through electronic surveillance technology to set a ticket price, fee or discount, with exceptions for certain disclosed discounts and for location data used for legal requirements such as taxes. The chapter's ticket definition leaves out motion picture screenings and sporting events organized by District-based professional or intercollegiate teams or by a professional athletic association with an event in the District. A broader bill on consumer goods, B26-0667, was under Council review on November 4, 2026 and is not law.

What happened to the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act?

It was introduced as B24-0558 in 2021 and B25-0114 in 2023. We found no record that either was enacted, and a title search of the Council's database on November 4, 2026 listed no Council Period 26 bill under that name.

Do DC insurers have AI rules?

DISB Bulletin 24-IB-002-05/21, dated May 21, 2024, reminds insurers licensed in the District that decisions made or supported by AI systems must comply with existing insurance laws, and it sets out DISB's governance expectations. It is a regulator's statement of expectations under existing law, not a new statute.

Does DC have an AI law for schools?

We found no enacted one. OSSE released an AI Model Policy on September 1, 2026, which it calls guidance only. B26-0491 would direct local education agencies to adopt an AI literacy policy, but it was a bill under Council review on November 4, 2026.

Will any DC AI rules change in 2027?

The AI Taskforce is set to sunset on December 31, 2026, and the RESALE Act's ticket surveillance-pricing ban applies from January 1, 2027. At least six AI-related bills were under Council review on November 4, 2026, and a 2018 Council post said a bill not passed by the end of that Council Period would die.

Updates

Added the RESALE Act's surveillance-pricing ban (D.C. Law 26-181), DISB's AI bulletin and more pending bills (B26-0329, B26-0524, B26-0853, B26-0858), dated every bill status from the Council's database, and removed unsupported 'first' claims and the copied federal section.

Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes

Corrected the date the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act was reintroduced (February 2023, not February 2025), clarified that DC's non-consensual intimate image statutes most likely do not cover fully AI-generated deepfakes, and added the pending AI Literacy in Education Act (B26-0491) and OSSE's September 2026 AI model policy for schools.

Corrected the TAKE IT DOWN Act penalty description: threatening to publish an AI-generated or digitally forged intimate image carries a lower penalty (up to 18 months, or 30 months for a minor victim) than publishing such an image or threatening to publish a genuine one (up to 2 years, or 3 years for a minor victim), per the enacted federal text.

Sources and References

  1. DC's AI Values and Strategic Plan (text of Mayor's Order 2024-028 provisions)(techplan.dc.gov).gov
  2. B26-0224, RESALE Amendment Act, Council LIMS record (A26-0410, L26-0181)(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  3. Mayor Bowser Signs Order Defining DC's AI Values and AI Strategic Plan (Feb. 8, 2024)(mayor.dc.gov).gov
  4. OCTO release on Responsible AI training for the DC Government workforce (Feb. 12, 2026)(octo.dc.gov).gov
  5. OCTO, AI/ML Governance Policy(octo.dc.gov).gov
  6. Council notice of D.C. Law 26-181, effective September 25, 2026(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  7. D.C. Act 26-410, RESALE Amendment Act of 2026, signed act(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  8. B26-0491, Artificial Intelligence Literacy in Education Act of 2025, Council LIMS record(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  9. B26-0524, Distribution of False Sexual Imagery Prohibition Amendment Act of 2025, Council LIMS record(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  10. B26-0667, Surveillance Pricing Prohibition Amendment Act of 2026, Council LIMS record(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  11. B26-0853, Transparency in Downcoding Amendment Act of 2026, Council LIMS record(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  12. DC Attorney General release on the Stop Discrimination by Algorithms Act (Dec. 9, 2021)(oag.dc.gov).gov
  13. DISB Bulletin 24-IB-002-05/21, The Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems in Insurance(disb.dc.gov).gov
  14. NAIC, Implementation of Model Bulletin on Use of AI Systems by Insurers (status as of Nov. 3, 2026)(content.naic.org)
  15. OSSE Releases AI Model Policy to Guide Responsible Staff Use in Schools (Sept. 1, 2026)(osse.dc.gov).gov
  16. District of Columbia Courts, AI Strategic Planning Roadmap (June 2025)(www.dccourts.gov).gov
  17. D.C. Code 22-3051, definitions(code.dccouncil.gov).gov
  18. TAKE IT DOWN Act, Public Law 119-12(www.govinfo.gov).gov
  19. Council of the District of Columbia, Return from Recess Starts Countdown for Bill Passage by End of Council Period (Oct. 9, 2018)(dccouncil.gov).gov
  20. B26-0329, Campaign Finance Modernization Amendment Act of 2025, Council LIMS record(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
  21. B26-0858, Restricting Editing and Alterations in Listing Photos Amendment Act of 2026, Council LIMS record(lims.dccouncil.gov).gov
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