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B 26-0450

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025

26th Council Period (2025-2026) Introduced by Phil Mendelson

Enacts an emergency FY2026 budget package to keep DC programs running immediately, pending congressional review; expires Feb 22, 2026 unless Congress acts.

Returned from Mayor
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · B 26-0450

Summary — B 26-0450

Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025
Sponsor: Chairman Phil Mendelson
Act No.: D.C. Act 26-210 (signed Nov 24, 2025; expires Feb 22, 2026)

Purpose and context

This is a large, omnibus emergency bill enacted to implement and amend provisions necessary to support the District of Columbia’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget while the legislation is subject to congressional review. The Council passed the bill in early November 2025; the Mayor signed it on November 24, 2025. As an emergency (congressional review) act it took immediate effect but carries an expiration date of February 22, 2026, pending the outcome of congressional review.

Major content areas (high‑level)

The act covers a broad range of statutory changes across government operations, finance, and programs. Key titles and subject matter include:

  • Title I — Government Direction and Support

    • FOIA clarifications
    • Cultural and community affairs
    • Surplus property fund, recreational facilities assessments
    • Human services grant administration, ANC funding flexibility
    • Grants for community legal education and accountability provisions for budget delays

  • Title II — Economic Development & Regulation

    • Building conversion permit fees, Great Streets and neighborhood prosperity grants
    • Sidewalk vending rules, RFK campus infrastructure fund
    • Gaming/bingo regulation updates, commercial and nonprofit incentives
    • Housing and property initiatives (housing downtown program, community land trusts, eminent domain authority for Truxton Circle)
    • Support for local theaters, Events DC grants, fee/penalty waivers

  • Title III — Public Safety & Justice

    • Immigrant legal services program
    • Repeal/reversal of a 911–311 fund sweep
    • Background checks, detainer policy amendments, rehiring retired officers
    • Grant‑making authority for the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety & Justice

  • Title IV — Public Education System

    • Uniform per‑student funding formula changes
    • Charter school payments, early childhood educator subsidies, literacy and workforce programs
    • Universal paid leave provisions and facility funding items

  • Title V — Human Support Services

    • Health planning, cash assistance COLA, Health Care Alliance, TANF and medical cannabis provisions
    • Direct care professional payment rates, rapid rehousing, behavioral health and substance‑use outreach programs

  • Title VI–VIII — Operations, Infrastructure, Finance & Technical Amendments

    • DMV/DDOT fee adjustments, renewable energy and stormwater funds, distracted driving, public restroom program, electrification
    • Revenue items (sales tax timing, hotel tax, baby bond, combined reporting, tax exemptions, non‑lapsing fund transfers, etc.)
    • Numerous technical and conforming amendments

Who is affected

  • District agencies (budget, education, health, transportation, housing, public safety, economic development)
  • Residents and service recipients: students, low‑income residents, tenants/homebuyers, health care recipients, immigrants
  • Businesses and nonprofits: small businesses, vendors (sidewalk vending), developers, theaters, community land trusts
  • Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANCs) and local community organizations
  • Metro/transportation stakeholders (WMATA board stipend included)

Procedural notes and timeline

  • Introduced: Oct 31, 2025
  • Final Council reading(s): Nov 4, 2025
  • Transmitted to Mayor: Nov 17, 2025
  • Signed by Mayor / Enacted: Nov 24, 2025 (Act No. A26‑0210)
  • Returned from Mayor (clerical filing): Nov 25, 2025
  • Emergency act expiration: Feb 22, 2026 (pending congressional review and potential further action by Congress)

Impact and next steps

This omnibus emergency measure implements many program authorizations, fee and tax adjustments, and technical changes that enable the FY2026 budget to operate immediately. Because it is enacted under the congressional review emergency process, its continued effect is contingent on the congressional review period and any actions Congress may take. The bill text is lengthy and covers many specific statutory amendments; stakeholders should consult the enacted act for detail on particular programs, dollar‑amounts, effective dates, and implementing agency responsibilities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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