# District of Columbia B26-0262: Fiscal Year 2026 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2025

District of Columbia B26-0262, Fiscal Year 2026 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2025, is a Council Period 26 (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by no sponsor on record; status signed, last action 2025-09-12 (Act A26-0144 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 009586, Expires on Nov 25, 2025); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-04).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0262-26
- As of: 2026-11-04
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: District of Columbia B26-0262
- State: District of Columbia
- Session: Council Period 26 (2025-2026)
- Title: Fiscal Year 2026 Local Budget Emergency Act of 2025
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-05-23
- Last action: 2025-09-12, Act A26-0144 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 009586, Expires on Nov 25, 2025
- Sponsors: no sponsor on record
- Cosponsors: 1
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (24 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 34

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More help for affordable housing: benefit, high. The Housing Production Trust Fund gets $100 million and can get up to $10 million more. This money stays available until September 30, 2026. The law also adds $10 million to the Trust Fund (if the CFO certifies resources), $1 million for the Housing Preservation Fund, and $2,950,715 for Emergency R…
- More funding for paid leave and unemployment: benefit, high. The law provides $139,758,882 to the Universal Paid Leave Fund. Those funds stay available until September 30, 2026. It also provides $181,261,204 to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund to pay benefits and keep it solvent. This keeps paid leave and unemployment checks funded for workers who quali…
- UDC funding stays available longer: benefit, high. The University of the District of Columbia gets $229,982,595. These funds do not revert and remain available until September 30, 2026. Money in the Higher Education Incentive Program Fund is also available until that date.
- Ballpark fund gets $132 million: benefit, high. The Ballpark Revenue Fund receives $132,217,913. About $12.3 million comes from enterprise funds and about $120.0 million from dedicated taxes. The money supports ballpark operations and related obligations.
- Lottery operations and prize coverage: benefit, high. The Office of Lottery and Gaming gets $272,199,697. After notifying the Mayor, the office can increase this amount to transfer more to the General Fund or to cover prizes, agent commissions, and gaming fees tied to unplanned excess revenues.
- Major funding for water systems: benefit, high. The law funds core water services. It gives $838,132,574 to the Water and Sewer Authority for operations, with small caps on meeting and reception costs. It adds $8,905,835,000 for construction across wastewater, sewer, water system, and equipment, and adjusts for any federal payments. The Washingt…
- More funding for Metro and transportation: benefit, high. The law provides $787,599,699 to Metro (WMATA). Dedicated taxes, parking meter WMATA funds, and adult learner transit subsidy funds stay available through September 30, 2026. Pepco payments and interest for undergrounding go to DDOT and never expire until spent. Starting October 1, 2025, DC can sig…
- Steady funding for charter schools: benefit, high. D.C. public charter schools receive $1.396 billion, paid quarterly, with the first payment within 15 days of the fiscal year start. On July 1, 2026, schools get advances against FY2027: 30% for charters (45% for new charter LEAs opened after December 31, 2025) and 10% for DCPS. Any funds not given…
- Convention and sports authority funding: benefit, high. The Washington Convention and Sports Authority receives $260,430,195. The money supports its operations and projects that drive local tourism and events.
- Bigger capital plan for city projects: benefit, high. The law adds $1,745,849,000 for capital construction. It includes $1,341,007,000 in local funds, $33,616,000 in local transportation funds, $6,300,000 in federal funds, $52,747,000 from the DC Highway Trust Fund, and $312,179,000 from the federal Highway Trust Fund. Funds stay available until spent…
- Legal aid for low-income residents: benefit, medium. The law provides $31,785,256 to the D.C. Bar Foundation for the Access to Justice Initiative. It funds legal aid grants, a poverty lawyer loan repayment program, and civil legal counsel projects. Funds can be spent through September 30, 2026.
- Alliance services kept through 2026: benefit, medium. The law delays a planned limit on DC Healthcare Alliance services for adults age 21 and older until October 1, 2026. It provides $21,538,938 to support this delay, but the CFO must certify extra local resources first. Enrolled adults keep their current service access until that date.
- More money for childcare subsidies: benefit, medium. The law sets aside $5,500,000 for childcare subsidies in FY2026. The Chief Financial Officer must certify extra local resources before the money is available. This can lower childcare costs for eligible families.
- More help for renters and housing: benefit, medium. The law lets DC add any extra federal Emergency Rental Program money it receives in Fiscal Year 2026, so more renters can get help. It also allows up to $1,000,000 more in local funds for the housing department, following specific budget rules.
- More support for special education transport: benefit, medium. Special Education Transportation gets $133,215,046. On July 1, 2026, the program gets an advance equal to 10% of its FY2027 local funds; this reduces the final FY2027 payment. The money can fund incentives to cut routes that serve two or fewer students.
- More support for business districts: benefit, medium. The law provides $39,810,000 for Business Improvement Districts. If local law dedicates more revenue to a BID than this amount, the budget can rise so the BID gets the full dedicated funds.
- Council operations and home security funds: benefit, medium. The D.C. Council gets $39,934,656. Funds can pay up to $50,000 for the Chair’s official reception, staff credential fees (like bar dues), uniforms, limited use of one EV charger, and legal settlements. Up to $390,000 supports home security for Councilmembers (up to $260,000 for assessments and up t…
- Emergency planning, Guard pay, and meals: benefit, medium. The law sets aside $60 million for Emergency Planning and Security, adjusted to match what Congress provides. Eligible expenses waiting on federal reimbursement can be charged to this fund now. The Mayor must reimburse the D.C. National Guard for militia‑status emergency services requested by the M…
- Flexible use of reserves and relief funds: benefit, medium. The law makes all money in the Cash Flow Reserve and Fiscal Stabilization Reserve available for spending through September 30, 2026. It also allows ARPA and CARES funds to be moved among appropriations when the Mayor requests and the CFO certifies, as long as moves follow federal rules and the orig…
- Medicaid enrollees keep more money: benefit, low. The law sets $500,000 in FY2026 and again in FY2027, FY2028, and FY2029 to raise the Medicaid personal needs allowance. The CFO must certify extra local resources for the funds to be used. This lets Medicaid enrollees keep more of their own money.
- More pay help for early educators: benefit, low. The law adds $1,500,000 in FY2026 to the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, if the CFO certifies resources. This money supports higher pay for eligible early childhood educators.
- Travel help for youth in programs: benefit, low. If you join a District program with overnight travel outside DC, the government can pay for food and lodging. Parents or guardians can be covered too. Payments cannot exceed the GSA per diem rates.
- Arts grants stay spendable through 2029: benefit, low. Dedicated taxes for the Commission on the Arts and Humanities go into the Arts and Humanities Fund. Grants obligated in FY2026 can be spent through September 30, 2029.
- Funds to repeal a noise rule: benefit, low. The law funds work to repeal section 401 of the Amplified Sound Mitigation Regulation. It provides $608,000 in FY2026, $419,874 in FY2027, $428,561 in FY2028, and $437,429 in FY2029. Funds are available only if the CFO certifies extra local resources.
- Police housing aid and DNA testing: benefit, low. The law funds MPD housing incentives: $459,000 in FY2027 and $179,628 in FY2028, if the CFO certifies resources. It also provides $3,500,000 in FY2026 for in‑house DNA testing at the Department of Forensic Sciences, subject to CFO certification. These steps support officer recruitment and public sa…
- Funding for green finance projects: benefit, low. The law gives $3,750,000 to the Green Finance Authority. Funds stay available until spent to support green finance activities.
- Funds to run the health marketplace: benefit, low. The law provides $41,634,470 for the DC Health Benefit Exchange. This funds marketplace operations and enrollment support this fiscal year.
- Run retiree health benefits trust: benefit, low. The law provides $8,765,834 to administer the Other Post‑Employment Benefits Trust. The money supports managing retiree health benefit funding and the trust.
- No funds for RFK stadium and Mayor’s Arts Awards: benefit, low. The law blocks using this act’s funds for RFK stadium development unless it follows the RFK Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025. It also bans any money in this act from paying for the Mayor’s Arts Awards.
- Spending cap with possible increase: mixed, high. The law caps DC operating spending for Fiscal Year 2026 at the lesser of total revenues or $22,034,524,408. The Chief Financial Officer must apportion and monitor FY2026 appropriations. Local funds can increase by up to $51,522,144 if the September 2025 revenue estimate is higher, FY2025 revenues e…
- UDC limits subsidies for nonresidents: mixed, medium. The law gives $99,423,270 to UDC’s subsidy account. UDC cannot use it to subsidize nonresident students unless nonresident tuition is at least what comparable public schools in the metro area charge for the year ending September 30, 2026. On July 1, 2026, UDC receives an advance equal to 10% of its…
- Budget tools for contracts and funds: mixed, medium. The law lets the Mayor move operating money to enterprise or capital funds, and move back local funds (from the last four years) to operating, but not bond proceeds. ARPA and CARES funds in this act stay available until fully spent for their original purposes. DC can pay vendor fees tied to recover…
- Development funds and RFK pause: mixed, medium. The Tax Increment Financing Program gets $44.9 million to support projects. The government sets aside $13.0 million to repay past PILOT financing. The RFK Campus Infrastructure Fund receives $0 in this budget.
- Pension board operations from fund earnings: mixed, low. The law uses $39,739,954 from retirement fund earnings to pay the DC Retirement Board’s legal, investment, and admin costs. This supports pension management without new taxpayer money.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Cosponsor: Phil Mendelson (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-07-28 | House | Final Reading | pass | 12 | 0 |   |
| 2025-07-28 | House | Other | pass | 12 | 0 |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2025-09-12: Act A26-0144 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 009586, Expires on Nov 25, 2025 (House)
- 2025-08-29: Returned from Mayor (House)
- 2025-08-27: Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0144, Expires on Nov 25, 2025 (House)
- 2025-08-19: Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Sep 03, 2025 (House)
- 2025-07-28: Legislative Meeting (House)
- 2025-06-18: Public Hearing on B26-0262 View Public Hearing Record (House)
- 2025-06-03: Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee of the Whole (House)
- 2025-05-27: B26-0262 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary (House)
- 2025-05-23: Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment, 2025-07-28: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57784/Meeting1/Amendment/B26-0262-Amendment2.pdf?Id=219462)
- Enrollment, 2025-07-28: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57784/Meeting1/Enrollment/B26-0262-Enrollment1.pdf?Id=218898)
- Introduced, 2025-05-27: [PDF](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57784/Introduction/B26-0262-Introduction.pdf?Id=212308)

## Related bills

- B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025 (signed)
- B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2026 (signed)
- B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026 (signed)
- B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act of 2025 (signed)
- B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Corrections Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed)
- B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarification Temporary Amendment Act of 2026 (signed)

## Sources
- [Amendment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57784/Meeting1/Amendment/B26-0262-Amendment2.pdf?Id=219462)
- [Enrollment (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57784/Meeting1/Enrollment/B26-0262-Enrollment1.pdf?Id=218898)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://lims.dccouncil.gov/downloads/LIMS/57784/Introduction/B26-0262-Introduction.pdf?Id=212308)

## Related
- [B26-0047: Funeral Directors Licensing Reform Amendment Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0047-26)
- [B26-0785: Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing Rental Vehicle Sales Tax Clarification Emergency Amend…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0785-26)
- [B26-0663: Fiscal Year 2026 Revised Local Budget Temporary Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0663-26)
- [B26-0181: Short-Term Disability Insurance Benefit Protection Clarification Amendment Act…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0181-26)
- [B26-0735: Special Education for Young Adults in the Custody of the Department of Correcti…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0735-26)
- [B26-0760: Medical Cannabis Licensing and Unlicensed Establishment Enforcement Clarificati…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0760-26)
- [District of Columbia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia/bills)
- [District of Columbia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/district-of-columbia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/DC-B26-0262-26 (as of 2026-11-04).