PRIA Logo™
District of ColumbiaB26-0288Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Phil Mendelson (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

19 provisions identified: 9 benefits, 1 costs, 9 mixed.

Affordable homes for lower-income households

The Developer must make at least 30% of all homes across the development site affordable, rather than in each building. Half of the required affordable homes must serve households earning no more than 60% of median family income. The other half must serve households earning no more than 30%. The site's regular inclusionary zoning rules do not apply. Project documents set the affordability period, housing lottery, and income checks.

More project opportunities for local businesses

For covered construction and related professional services, certified businesses must hold at least 20% equity and receive 20% development participation. The equity calculation excludes debt, mezzanine financing, and equity from limited or institutional investors. Small businesses must receive 40% of the adjusted development budget in subcontracts, with a 50% goal. At least 10% of participating businesses are preferred from Wards 7, 8, 5, and 6, in that order. If qualified small businesses are insufficient, qualified certified businesses can count, but reasonable efforts must keep small businesses significant participants.

Public parking financing gets firm limits

Parking garage purchase contributions and spending are capped at $175 million from the District and $181 million from EventsDC. Beginning October 1, 2031, the Mayor or designated District entity can issue parking project bonds. Principal cannot exceed $210 million, or the lower amount needed to raise $175 million after financing costs. Parking Facilities Fund money can support repayment. These special project obligations are not backed by District credit or general taxing power except as the law allows.

Public stadium financing gets firm limits

The law allows infrastructure bonds beginning October 1, 2025, to finance the RFK project. Bond principal cannot exceed $759 million, or the lower amount needed to raise $500 million after financing costs. The District's stadium budget contribution and construction spending cannot exceed $500 million. Infrastructure fund money can support repayment. These are special project obligations, not backed by District credit or general taxing power except as the law allows.

Local hiring and training for residents

For covered construction, the Developer must make good-faith efforts for District residents to fill 51% of new hires. Ward 7 and 8 residents get hiring preference for at least 20% of new project jobs. District residents must perform at least 10% of required apprenticeship hours; 35% is the goal. Fines apply only for missing the 10% minimum, and hiring, apprenticeship, and business agreements must precede bond issuance or spending. Project documents must also require a Team sales office, including senior leaders, in the District by their stated deadline.

District tax relief for bond investors

RFK Campus bonds and their interest and income are exempt from District taxes. Money pledged or available to repay or secure the bonds is also exempt. Estate, inheritance, and gift taxes still apply.

Community funding targets lower-income neighborhoods

The Mayor, designated development agency, or another designated District entity runs a Community Reinvestment Fund with community committee oversight. Team donations pay for benefits negotiated in the Community Benefits Agreement. The fund also receives up to $2 million yearly from excess campus infrastructure money for qualifying low-income census tracts. Those transfers serve Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8, prioritizing communities most affected by redevelopment and stadium operations. Uses include housing stability, displacement prevention, small businesses, community wealth, and public health; money carries over subject to budget approval.

Green building standards for campus construction

Before bonds are issued or spent, project documents must require green building standards where feasible. Stadium construction must be consistent with LEED BD+C version 5 Platinum, and upkeep with LEED O+M version 5 Platinum. Nonresidential commercial buildings must be consistent with LEED BD+C version 5 Gold. Residential buildings within the commercial development must be consistent with LEED BD+C version 5 Silver.

Team commits money to community benefits

The Team or an affiliate must commit at least $50 million over 30 years through a Community Benefits Agreement. The agreement is due within 90 days after the 2025 RFK Campus Redevelopment Emergency Amendment Act takes effect. Signatories must hold at least three negotiation meetings with the Mayor or designated District entity and the Council. Benefits must address jobs, campus access, youth education, housing stability, health, the environment, safety, and cultural heritage. A nine-member oversight committee must be appointed within one month after signing and must review and publish Team progress reports.

Developer covers excess stadium upkeep costs

The Stadium Maintenance Fund receives excess stadium revenue and pays only for stadium maintenance, repairs, and capital expenses. The District's upkeep contribution is limited to money available in that fund. The Developer must cover costs above the fund's balance. Fund money does not return to the General Fund.

Excess campus money supports transit access

The Mayor runs a transportation fund receiving up to $20 million yearly from excess campus infrastructure money. When annual excess deposits exceed $20 million, the next $2 million goes to community reinvestment. Amounts above $22 million go to the District General Fund. Transit money supports campus-serving rail, buses, stations, access, and operating or capital projects; road work qualifies only for transit access. Spending needs approved budget authorization, and fund money carries over rather than returning to the General Fund.

Further campus subsidies face new limits

The District cannot provide additional tax abatements, tax exemptions, or subsidies for developing the rest of the site. Tax-exempt bond financing remains allowed. Federal low-income housing tax credits and housing vouchers also remain allowed.

Neighborhood traffic planning and parking enforcement

The District transportation agency, Developer, and neighborhood commissions 7F, 7D, 6A, 6B, and 5D must create a traffic and parking plan. It covers the stadium and nearby blocks, including transit, driving, ride sharing, walking, and biking. The plan must focus on reducing harm to nearby communities. The transportation agency must also issue rules ensuring parking-meter and residential-permit enforcement, including Sundays and holidays. Drivers violating those restrictions face enforcement under District rules; no penalty amount is specified.

Project review exemptions retain some safeguards

The site gains a tree-rule exemption, but each removed Heritage Tree requires a fee at the special-tree rate. That exemption does not cover the Anacostia Commons riparian area. Stadium utility work, site preparation, and construction are exempt from the specified historic review requirement. Environmental exemptions granted by the District environment agency must go to the Council for a 30-day review, excluding recess days. Without a disapproval resolution they are approved; introducing one starts another 30-day period, excluding recess, to reject them before automatic approval.

Campus project gains limited rule exemptions

Covered project agreements are exempt from the District's procurement reform and public-private partnership laws after financing and closing preconditions are met. The specified stadium, accessory office, parking, and public recreation buildings are temporarily exempt from zoning. Each building's exemption ends when its final occupancy certificate is issued. Entertainment-area sign permits are allowed on the Stadium, Stadium District Parcel, and Plaza District Commercial Parcel. Those permits remain subject to the applicable sign requirements.

Parking income and taxes repay bonds

Before bonds are issued or spent, project documents must give the District net parking revenue outside Stadium Event Days. Net revenue means parking receipts minus 15% for operations, with additional capital reserves governed by an improvement plan. The District and Developer must sign at least one parking operations agreement that includes that plan. Specified stadium ticket taxes, penalties, and interest enter a Parking Facilities Fund for bond payments, related costs, and reserves. After bond issuance, excess money goes to stadium maintenance; the fund does not revert to general use and carries over subject to budget approval.

Bond repayment rights have defined limits

The District can sell campus bonds publicly or privately in multiple series, with pledged assets and added repayment security. Bond security interests take effect immediately without delivery, filing, or recording, and are valid against other claimants. After a default or broken agreement, bondholders can seek court enforcement, an accounting, injunctions, or early repayment, subject to financing documents. The bonds do not count as general District debt and do not pledge its general credit or taxing power. Campus infrastructure and parking funds remain available for repayment, and District officials and staff have no personal bond liability.

Mayor gains campus property deal powers

The Mayor can lease the development site and sell Stadium Seat Rights under the Term Sheet despite the 1939 sale law. Site leases and redevelopment easements require the financing documents, closing documents, and other bond preconditions in the law. Covered lease parcels follow the jurisdiction plat recorded February 5, 2025, including nearby public streets that may close. The Mayor can transfer stadium and parking ownership, and seat-right sale authority, to a District entity. Seat-right sales and use of their proceeds must follow the Term Sheet.

Missed development deadlines trigger earlier rent

Each missed commercial development deadline moves the Developer's fair-market rent reset one year earlier, up to 10 years. The change is prorated by missed square footage as a share of all required square footage. Stage requirements are 415,000 square feet at year 3; 567,000 at 5; 342,000 each at 6 and 7; 735,000 at 8; 885,000 at 9; 735,000 each at 10 and 11; 960,000 at 12; and 735,000 at 13. The clock follows specified zoning approvals, with a one-year adjustment for judicial challenges and a separate stage-one approval trigger for Plaza design review. Qualifying force majeure and federal-review delays solely caused by the reviewing agency do not trigger earlier rent.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Phil Mendelson

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 148 • No: 108

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 4 • No: 9

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 3 • No: 10

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 11 • No: 2

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 1 • No: 12

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 4 • No: 9

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 1 • No: 12

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 1 • No: 12

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 4 • No: 9

House vote • 9/17/2025

Other

Yes: 13 • No: 0

House vote • 9/17/2025

Final Reading

Yes: 11 • No: 2

House vote • 8/1/2025

Other

Yes: 3 • No: 9

House vote • 8/1/2025

Other

Yes: 4 • No: 8

House vote • 8/1/2025

First Reading

Yes: 9 • No: 3

House vote • 8/1/2025

Other

Yes: 3 • No: 9

House vote • 8/1/2025

Other

Yes: 11 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Law L26-0054, Effective from Nov 21, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 013478

    12/5/2025House

  2. Act A26-0151 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 010871

    10/10/2025House

  3. Transmitted to Congress

    10/8/2025House

  4. Returned from Mayor

    10/6/2025House

  5. Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0151

    10/3/2025House

  6. Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Oct 14, 2025

    9/29/2025House

  7. Legislative Meeting

    9/17/2025House

  8. Legislative Meeting

    8/1/2025House

  9. Committee of the Whole

    8/1/2025House

  10. Committee Mark-up of B26-0288 by the Business and Economic Development Committee

    8/1/2025House

  11. Committee Mark-up of B26-0288 by the Committee of the Whole

    8/1/2025House

  12. Public Hearing on B26-0288 View Public Hearing Record

    7/30/2025House

  13. Public Hearing on B26-0288 View Public Hearing Record

    7/29/2025House

  14. Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

    7/4/2025House

  15. Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register

    7/4/2025House

  16. Referred to Committee on Business and Economic Development, and Committee of the Whole

    7/1/2025House

  17. Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0288 Published in the District of Columbia Register

    6/27/2025House

  18. Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Committee of the Whole, Business and Economic Development

    6/25/2025House

  19. Notice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Committee of the Whole, Business and Economic Development

    6/25/2025House

  20. B26-0288 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

    6/20/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation