B 26-0620 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Nationals Ballpark Amended and Restated Lease Emergency Act of 2026

This bill authorizes the District of Columbia Council to approve an updated lease agreement between the District and the Washington Nationals for their baseball stadium. The legislation extends the lease term through the 2058 season, providing a longer-term commitment than the minimum five-year extension required by a 2024 law. In exchange for this extended lease, the Nationals agree to contribute funds to a dedicated preservation and improvement fund for ballpark maintenance and modernization. The bill also confirms the District's right to use the property for public purposes while the lease is in effect.

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Council Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Mar 2, 2026 Signed Apr 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was restructured to shift from a direct Council approval of a lease to authorizing the Washington Convention and Sports Authority (Events DC) to enter into the lease. The text was cleaned of cover letter elements and reorganized to include a formal fiscal impact statement and effective date section, while removing the detailed contract summary from the main body of the act.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from the Council directly approving the lease agreement to authorizing Events DC to negotiate and sign the agreement, aligning the legislation with the administrative role of the authority.

SCOPE

Changed the primary action from the Council approving the lease to authorizing Events DC to enter into the lease agreement.

REQUIREMENT

Reordered and consolidated sections to move the fiscal impact statement to Section 3 and the effective date to Section 4, removing the detailed contract summary from the act text.

TECHNICAL

Removed the cover letter, recipient address, and signature block from the legislative text.

DEFINITION

Added a specific reference to the date the lease was submitted by Events DC (March 2, 2026) in the authorization clause.

Floor votes · Council Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

13–0

Passed

Total votes 13

Mar 31, 2026

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (13-0)

council

Mar 3, 2026

Committee

Retained by the Council with comments from the Committee of the Whole

legislature

Mar 2, 2026

Introduced

B26-0620 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors