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Council enacts ‘Zoe’ law requiring annual police pursuit reporting and oversight
Summary
After emotional testimony from the victim's family, the council unanimously enacted CB 61, ordering annual police pursuit reporting and changes to mutual-aid agreements to standardize vehicle-pursuit policies across the county.
The Prince George's County Council unanimously enacted CB 61 on Nov. 17, 2025, a bill framed in testimony and by sponsors as the local "Zoe" law that requires annual reporting on police vehicle pursuits and seeks to standardize pursuit policies across municipal police and the county department.
Gina Pryor, speaking at the public hearing as a family member of a child killed in a vehicle-related incident, testified to the bill's importance as both a safety measure and the living legacy of her granddaughter. "The Zoe law stands as a powerful reminder that every child's life is precious and deserves protection," she told the council, urging stronger protocols, mandatory reporting and oversight.
Sponsors described CB 61 as intended to prevent similar tragedies and to improve accountability across agencies. Several council members offered condolences and noted related state-level work; one council member referenced complementary state legislation being pursued by the county's delegation to strengthen penalties for evading police that lead to fatal outcomes.
After the public comment and sponsor remarks the council voted to enact the bill; the motion passed on a recorded roll call, 10-0. The enacted bill directs an annual county report on police pursuits and seeks modifications to mutual-aid agreements to promote a uniform approach to pursuits within Prince George's County.
