All Roll Calls
Yes: 148 • No: 108
District of ColumbiaB26-0288Council Period 26 (2025-2026)HouseWALLET
Robert F. Kennedy Campus Redevelopment Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Phil Mendelson (Democratic)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
26 provisions identified: 17 benefits, 4 costs, 5 mixed.
No sales tax on stadium PSLs
Sales of Personal Seat Licenses at the Stadium are exempt from sales tax. The exemption lasts for the full term of the lease between the District and Pro-Football LLC or its affiliate. This lowers PSL purchase costs for as long as that lease remains in effect.
Hard caps on stadium spending
The law caps District spending on stadium construction at $500 million. It also caps public payments to buy parking garages: up to $175 million from the District and up to $181 million from EventsDC.
Parking bonds and revenue rules
Starting October 1, 2031, the District can issue parking bonds up to $210 million in principal to raise $175 million. The Washington Convention and Sports Authority can also issue up to $284 million in principal to net $181 million for parking, without Council submission. Before bonds issue, the District must get all net parking revenue except on stadium event days and have a parking operations agreement and capital plan. The law creates the RFK Campus Parking Facilities Fund to receive set receipts, pay debt service, fund reserves, and be pledged as bond security; balances do not revert at year-end. After required amounts are covered, any excess moves to a Stadium Maintenance Fund to support ongoing upkeep.
RFK infrastructure bonds start 2025
Beginning October 1, 2025, the District can issue bonds up to $759 million in principal to raise $500 million for RFK Campus infrastructure. The Mayor and authorized delegates set final bond terms and can sign the financing and closing documents. The District pledges not to cut pledged revenues or change tax exemptions until the bonds are paid. The bond security interest is perfected when created, and the bonds are not general obligations; officials are not personally liable. If there is a default, bondholders have defined legal remedies. The District may use the RFK Campus Infrastructure Fund to pay or secure these bonds.
Property and deed tax breaks for stadium sites
Deeds between the District and Pro-Football LLC (or its affiliate) for stadium and standalone parking property are exempt from deed recordation tax. Parcels with the stadium and standalone parking are exempt from property tax and possessory interest tax while the authorized leases remain in effect. These exemptions reduce taxes on those specific properties and transfers.
30% of homes must be affordable
At least 30% of all homes on the site must be affordable. Half of the affordable homes are for households at or below 60% of median family income. The other half are for households at or below 30% of median family income. The share is based on all units built on the site, and inclusionary zoning rules do not apply here.
Local hiring and training goals
The developer must sign CBE, apprenticeship, and First Source agreements with the District. For construction jobs, the goal is 51% District resident hires, with at least 20% of new jobs going to Ward 7 and 8 residents. At least 10% of apprenticeship hours must be worked by District residents, with a non‑binding goal of 35%. The city can fine only if the 10% apprenticeship requirement is missed.
Big share for local small businesses
The developer must provide at least 20% equity and 20% development participation to certified business enterprises. At least 40% of the adjusted development budget must be subcontracted to small businesses, with a goal of 50%. At least 10% of subcontracted dollars should go to firms in Wards 7, 8, 5, and 6.
Stronger community benefits and oversight
The community benefits agreement must include projects for local jobs and economic development, campus access and activation, youth education and workforce training, housing stability, health equity, environment, public safety, and cultural heritage. The CBA can only be signed after the Mayor, Council Chair, and Team meet at least three times. A nine‑member oversight committee is created within one month of CBA signing to request, review, and publish the Team’s progress reports. Money in the Community Reinvestment Fund does not revert at year end and stays available if the budget authorizes it. The Authority must hire an independent consultant and file quarterly redevelopment compliance reports to the Council starting October 1, 2026. The developer must open a team sales office with senior leadership in the District, with timing set in the Transaction Documents.
Community benefits and local reinvestment
The Team must invest at least $50 million over 30 years in community benefits under a Community Benefits Agreement. The law creates a Community Reinvestment Fund to pay for these benefits, run by the Mayor or a designated District agency and overseen by the CBOC. The Fund gets Team donations and up to $2 million each year from excess infrastructure funds, to be spent in low‑income census tracts in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8 on housing stability, preventing displacement, blight cleanup, small business and wealth programs, and public health.
Financing tools for bonds and parking
Interest and income from the project’s Bonds are exempt from District taxes, except estate, inheritance, and gift taxes. Mayor‑approved RFK Campus parking facilities count as eligible costs for Authority financing. These changes make financing the project and parking easier and potentially cheaper.
Stadium assets and seat-rights rules
The Mayor can lease the development site, sell stadium seat rights, and grant easements once bond conditions are met. The Mayor can transfer stadium and parking ownership to a District agency and allow the Developer to sell seat rights under the Term Sheet. Any money from selling seat rights must be spent only for the Term Sheet’s allowed purposes.
Developer covers stadium upkeep shortfalls
District payments for stadium maintenance, repairs, and capital can only come from the Stadium Maintenance Fund. If costs are higher than the Fund’s balance, the developer must pay the excess. The District cannot contribute beyond what is in the Fund.
Faster approvals and green building
Stadium, office, parking, and public sports buildings on part of the RFK Campus are not subject to local zoning until each building gets a final occupancy certificate. DDOE exemptions for the Development Site go to the Council for 30 days of review (excluding recess); they are approved unless a disapproval is introduced, which triggers another 30 days to act. The law creates a Stadium District Entertainment Area where special sign permits are allowed under new rules. The developer must be feasibly consistent with LEED goals: Stadium construction and operations at Platinum, commercial at Gold, and residential at Silver.
Strict build schedule and penalties
The law sets a 10‑stage construction schedule with outside completion dates (for example, Stage One is 415,000 square feet in 3 years). For the Plaza District Commercial Parcel, outside dates usually start on the zoning order’s effective date; if that order is challenged, the dates start one year after. If design review is required, the stage one date starts on the review approval’s effective date, with the same one‑year shift if challenged. If the developer misses a completion date, the year when rent resets to Fair Market Rent moves up by one year per miss, up to 10 years. The accelerated amount equals Fair Market Rent times the share of undelivered square footage; force majeure and federal review delays by the agency are exceptions.
Transit fund for RFK access
The Transportation Improvement Fund must pay for public transit access on the RFK Campus, such as Metrorail and Metrobus infrastructure and stations. Road work is allowed only if it directly improves transit access. It can fund operating and capital costs, not unrelated new road construction or general maintenance. Fund money does not revert at year end and stays available if the budget authorizes it.
More public updates on RFK project
The Mayor must post and send all project Transaction Documents and changes within 30 days of signing. Starting June 1, 2026, the Mayor must issue public construction progress reports every quarter. Starting October 1, 2026, the Mayor must send the Council quarterly reports on First Source and small business compliance (with personal details removed). Starting January 1, 2030, semi‑annual reports must cover events, commercial space, and employee counts by ward.
Planning studies for fire and parking
By January 1, 2028, the Mayor must deliver a site survey, feasibility study, and funding assessment for adding a new fire engine and ladder company on the site. No sooner than July 1, 2032, DDOT must report on whether a third parking garage is needed for RFK Campus traffic. These are planning steps and do not build facilities by themselves.
CFO rules for stadium taxes
The Chief Financial Officer must issue rules for the new Stadium sales taxes. The rules explain how to count gross receipts and how to file and pay taxes online. This gives taxpayers and officials clear steps to follow.
Where stadium tax money goes
The Parking Fund receives receipts from the named stadium-related taxes, including penalties and interest. A Transportation Improvement Fund is set up and can get up to $20 million each year from excess RFK Campus infrastructure money. If an annual deposit is more than $20 million, the next $2 million goes to the Community Reinvestment Fund, and any amount over $22 million goes to the District’s General Fund.
New 4.25% tax on tickets
Tickets to public events at the District-owned Stadium now have an extra 4.25% sales tax. Multiply your ticket price by 4.25% to find the added tax. The tax applies to each ticket you buy.
Extra 4.25% tax on vendors
Vendors at the Stadium owe an extra 4.25% sales tax on taxable goods and services. This excludes food and beverage sales and parking services. Multiply each taxable sale by 4.25% to find the added tax due.
No new local tax abatements
The District cannot grant new local tax abatements, exemptions, or subsidies for the rest of the Development Site. This does not block tax‑exempt bond financing, federal low‑income housing tax credits, or housing vouchers. Developers must plan without new local abatements for these parcels.
Faster leasing and fewer procurement limits
The Mayor may lease RFK Development Site parcels owned or controlled by the District once bond‑issuance and spending conditions in section 6 are met. After those same conditions are met, standard procurement and public‑private partnership laws do not apply to the project’s Transaction Documents. These changes speed deals but reduce some procurement protections.
Traffic plan and stricter parking
DDOT must create a traffic operations and parking plan for the stadium area with neighborhood commissions and the developer. DDOT must also set rules so meters and residential permit limits are enforced in the stadium neighborhood, including Sundays and holidays.
Targeted environmental and historic waivers
The Development Site is exempt from one urban-forest rule, but the exemption does not apply in the Anacostia Commons riparian area. If a Heritage Tree is removed on the site, the developer must pay a fee at the special‑tree rate. Utility and site‑prep work for the Stadium is not subject to certain historic‑review steps.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Phil Mendelson
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 9/17/2025
Other
Yes: 3 • No: 10
House vote • 9/17/2025
Other
Yes: 4 • No: 9
House vote • 9/17/2025
Final Reading
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: 4 • No: 9
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: 11 • No: 2
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: 13 • No: 0
House vote • 9/17/2025
Other
Yes: 13 • No: 0
House vote • 9/17/2025
Other
Yes: 1 • No: 12
House vote • 8/1/2025
Other
Yes: 3 • No: 9
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: 11 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Committee Report Filed by the Committee of the Whole
1/29/2026HouseLaw L26-0054, Effective from Nov 21, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 013478
12/5/2025HouseAct A26-0151 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 010871
10/10/2025HouseTransmitted to Congress
10/8/2025HouseReturned from Mayor
10/6/2025HouseSigned by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0151
10/3/2025HouseTransmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Oct 14, 2025
9/29/2025HouseLegislative Meeting
9/17/2025HouseCommittee Report Filed by the Business and Economic Development Committee, Includes Hearing Record
8/15/2025HouseLegislative Meeting
8/1/2025HouseCommittee of the Whole
8/1/2025HouseCommittee Mark-up of B26-0288 by the Business and Economic Development Committee
8/1/2025HouseCommittee Mark-up of B26-0288 by the Committee of the Whole
8/1/2025HouseNotice of Mark-up filed in the Office of Secretary
7/31/2025HouseNotice of Mark-up filed in the Office of Secretary
7/30/2025HousePublic Hearing on B26-0288
7/30/2025HousePublic Hearing on B26-0288 View Public Hearing Record
7/29/2025HouseNotice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register
7/4/2025HouseNotice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia Register
7/4/2025HouseReferred to Committee on Business and Economic Development, and Committee of the Whole
7/1/2025HouseNotice of Intent to Act on B26-0288 Published in the District of Columbia Register
6/27/2025HouseNotice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Committee of the Whole, Business and Economic Development
6/25/2025HouseNotice of Public Hearing filed in the Office of Secretary by Committee of the Whole, Business and Economic Development
6/25/2025HouseB26-0288 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary
6/20/2025House
Bill Text
Amendment
9/17/2025
Enrollment
9/17/2025
Amendment
8/1/2025
Engrossment
8/1/2025
Introduced
6/20/2025
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