This "bill" is actually a budget request submission (not a legislative act) from DC's Mayor to the Council, titled *Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Portion Budget Request Act of 2025*. It requests federal funding to offset a projected $1 billion revenue loss from 40,000 lost federal jobs, aiming to protect DC's economic progress. Key mechanisms include funding specific growth initiatives like $24 million for a DC Technology Ecosystem Fund, $171 million for Capital One Arena improvements, and $160 million for affordable housing through the Housing Production Trust Fund. The request directly affects DC residents by supporting public safety, schools, and economic development programs, while addressing budget imbalances from reduced federal revenue. (Note: This is a budget submission, not a voteable bill.)
This bill (B 26-0262) is part of Mayor Bowser's FY2026 budget package to address a $1 billion revenue shortfall over four years, driven by federal job losses and economic uncertainty. It directly affects DC residents and city operations through adjustments to spending and taxes, including a reduced Universal Paid Leave tax rate (0.72% from 0.75%) and $180 million in new funding for public safety and schools. Key mechanisms include targeted investments in economic growth (e.g., $171 million for Capital One Arena improvements, $24 million for tech startups) and "rightsizing" unsustainable spending in health services and government operations. The budget maintains core services like DC Public Schools funding ($2.8 billion) and affordable housing ($160 million for the Housing Production Trust Fund). It is a financial plan, not a policy bill, designed to stabilize city finances amid revenue shortfalls.
This bill authorizes physical poker and blackjack gaming at designated locations in the District of Columbia, specifically at eligible establishments holding certain liquor licenses (like restaurants or hotels with Class C/H, D/H, or arena CX permits). It creates a regulatory framework where the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) and the Office of Lottery and Gaming will issue licenses, collect taxes, and enforce rules for these card games, while explicitly excluding online or electronically determined play. The law defines "card gaming" as wagering on physical games with real cards at authorized venues, requiring operators to follow specific rules set by the Chief Financial Officer. This change aims to generate revenue from local gambling activities currently drawing residents to Maryland and support tourism through events like poker tournaments.
This bill exempts nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C. from real property taxes on buildings and grounds used for solar energy generation, energy storage, and energy management activities - provided they meet Energy Star guidelines. It directly affects tax-exempt nonprofits that operate qualifying solar infrastructure, removing their tax burden for these specific uses. The bill expands existing tax exemptions under Section 1002 by explicitly including solar energy systems, storage, and management, while also covering electric vehicle charging infrastructure. It does not alter general tax rules but targets a specific category of nonprofit property use.
This resolution declares an emergency to prevent the automatic adoption of federal tax changes from the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (H.R.1), which would reduce District of Columbia tax revenues by $94.4 million in 2025 and $657.8 million over five years. It directly affects D.C. government finances by allowing the Council to decouple from these federal provisions without waiting for full legislative review. The key mechanism is an immediate emergency declaration (taking effect instantly) to pause automatic conformity, giving the Council time to analyze the tax changes and develop necessary forms/guidance. This action specifically targets retroactive federal tax provisions, such as those eliminating taxes on overtime and tips, to avoid unintended revenue losses.
This resolution declares an emergency to amend the District's property tax code, granting a tax exemption for Food & Friends' specific property at 219 Riggs Road, NE. The exemption is necessary to ensure the nonprofit can continue providing medically tailored home-delivered meals to over 3,000 District residents annually - particularly those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or other serious illnesses who rely on their services. Without this exemption, Food & Friends' operations would be jeopardized, disrupting critical nutrition support for vulnerable residents. The resolution fast-tracks this exemption amendment through emergency procedures.
This bill would provide a complete property tax exemption for disabled veterans in the District of Columbia who have a 100% service-connected disability rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as for their surviving spouses or the surviving spouses of veterans who died in the line of duty. It removes the current $159,750 household income limit and replaces the partial $445,000 deduction with a full exemption, aligning with policies in Maryland and Virginia. The exemption applies to the primary residence and associated property, while preserving the requirement for a VA disability rating.
The Fair Swipe Act of 2025 prohibits credit and debit card networks from charging interchange fees (swipe fees) on the sales tax and gratuity portions of restaurant and retail transactions in Washington, D.C. It directly affects local businesses, such as restaurants and retailers, which currently pay these fees on tax and tip amounts they do not retain. The bill requires merchants to submit documentation to receive credits for fees already paid, either at checkout or retroactively, and imposes a $1,000 civil penalty per violation for non-compliance. This policy change aims to help businesses retain more revenue by eliminating fees on tax and tip portions of card payments.
The Local News Funding Act of 2025 creates a system where District of Columbia registered voters receive five "news coupons" each to allocate online to local news outlets they support. Eligible outlets - such as newspapers, radio stations, podcasts, or digital platforms - must register with the Community Journalism Board, provide free local news, distinguish news from advertising, and disclose ownership. The program is funded by 0.1% of the District’s general fund budget (about $11.6 million annually), distributing grants based on voter allocations. The Community Journalism Board also administers the program and offers development grants for training and technical support to participating outlets.
The Job Growth Incentive Amendment Act of 2025 provides a tax credit to businesses that create at least 25 new jobs for District residents with wages at or above the average DC yearly wage between 2027 and 2032. The credit equals up to 100% of the business's FICA taxes for those employees and can be claimed for up to ten years if the jobs are retained beyond the first year. This updates the 2010 program, which required 10 jobs, a 120% wage threshold, and a 50% credit rate.
