The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly on DC Council’s Two New Bills to Stop Rats
In a surprising move, Councilmember’s Lewis George (Ward 4) and Pinto (Ward 2) both introduced bills to suppress DC’s growing rat population in the same week. As a founding member of DC Responsible Rat Management, DCVFA examines how these bills would shift the District’s approach to managing rats.
The Good: These bills adhere to our Coalition motto “prevention, not poison”. They focus on better waste management—a central driver of rodent expansion—and data collection—a much needed tool to shape our strategy. The are laudable and necessary approaches for consideration.
The Bad: There is an absence of mention of rodenticides. These poisons harm both young children and pets—posing a deep risk to our community. Plus they throw our ecosystem out of whack, decimating the hawks, foxes, and other animals that would usually help keep the rat population in check.
The Ugly: Some of these measures require funding; that is something that DC is in short supply of now. This is a challenge we must overcome, as many of these investments will save the city and residents on the costs of rat abatement and repairing rat-caused property damage. Plus, they will make the nation’s capital a more beautiful, attractive city. However, several of the provisions can be implemented quickly without huge investments, such as data collection and agency coordination.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the bills and what they specifically propose.
B26-0492 - Rodent Abatement and Transparency (RAT) Amendment Act
Introduced by CM Janeese Lewis George (Ward 4)
Cosponsored by CMs Nadeau (1), Henderson (At Large), Parker (5), Allen (6), and Pinto (2)
Dashboard: Establishes a data collection center for rodent population estimates as well as geospatial trends in treatments and service requests. Data would be filtered by Ward, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC), and Single Member District (SMD).
Liability/Fines: Costs from rodent damage can be recouped by DC gov. Specific to parties responsible for waste accumulation and overgrown weeds/grass.
Rodent Report: Requires DC Health to submit a comprehensive report to the Council by March 30, 2027, outlining abatement efforts, their effectiveness, and the resources needed to make meaningful progress.
Coordination: Dept of Public Works (DPW) must report active rodent activity found during enforcement of trash violations to DC Health.
Public trash bin removal: DPW must notify the relevant ANC member and DC Council before removal of a trash bin in a residential zone.
Rodent Abatement Through Smart Solutions (RATSS) Amendment Act
Introduced by CM Brooke Pinto (Ward 2)
Cosponsored by CM Allen (6)
Home waste storage: Establishes a $300 voucher to purchase rodent-proof sheds to store waste bins. Requires the District or contractor administer training on trash can storage and rodent prevention for voucher recipients.
Residential trash bins: Establishes that when the city replaces a broken trash bin, it services the entire block. This is designed to prevent a “whack-a-mole” solution that when one broken bin gets replaced, it does not simply drive rats to other broken bins.
Public trash cans: As bins get replaced, new designs must be rodent-proof and have fullness sensors to notify DPW when a pickup is needed.
Securing commercial waste: Provides restaurants and other businesses a grant of $12k to lease or $36k to purchase a commercial trash compactor.
Ultimately, these bills underscore one central message: the rat population is growing in the District and we need your help to change that. Sensible solutions center root drivers of the rat population: better waste management (including composting in secure containers!) and preventing rats from accessing waste bins and buildings. Join DC Responsible Rat Management to help us turn the tide on problematic poisons and stem the rat population in our city.
About DC Voters for Animals
DCVFA lifts up the policies and politicians doing the most for animals and our community in DC. We advocate for all animals, including companion animals such as cats and dogs, animals in farms and labs such as chickens and beagles, and wildlife such as squirrels and migratory birds. Join us by signing up for action alerts and donating to support political change for animals.