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B26-0557 • 2025

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Pinto
Last action
2026-02-06
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

This act allows the Clemency Board to grant waivers for applicants seeking pardons, even if they have not waited five years.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds a new subsection (f) to Section 205 of the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018.
  • Allows the Clemency Board to waive the requirement that an applicant wait five years before applying for a pardon, upon written request from the applicant.
  • Requires the Clemency Board to receive notice from the Office of the Pardon Attorney or the President of the United States granting a waiver of the five-year waiting period.
  • Gives the Clemency Board discretion to deny a waiver even if they have received such notice.
  • Specifies that applicants on probation, parole, or supervised release cannot get a waiver.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Applicants seeking pardons from the Clemency Board
  • The Clemency Board members and staff

Terms To Know

Clemency Board
A group that reviews applications for pardons in the District of Columbia.
Waiver
An official permission to skip a rule or requirement.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act expires on April 27, 2026.
  • It is an emergency amendment and will remain in effect for no longer than 90 days.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0253 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 001078, Expires on Apr 27, 2026

  2. 2026-02-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2026-01-27 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0253, Expires on Apr 27, 2026

  4. 2026-01-20 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Feb 02, 2026

  5. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2026-01-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2026-01-02 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0557 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
JANUARY 27, 2026
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,section205oftheClemencyBoardEstablishmentActof2018toauthorizetheClemencyBoardto,forapplicantsseekingapardon,grantawaiverofthe5-yearwaitingperiod.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“ClemencyBoardWaiverAuthorityEmergencyAmendmentActof2026”,
Sec.2.Section205of theClemency Board EstablishmentActof 2018,effective
December 13,2018 (D.C.Law 22-197;D.C. OfficialCode § 24-481.05),isamended by addinga
new subsection(f)toread as follows:
“(f)TheBoardmay,uponwrittenrequestoftheapplicant,grantawaiverofthe
requirementsofsubsection(c)(1)ofthissection;provided,that:
“(1)TheBoardshallonlygrantawaiverunderthissubsectionwheretheBoardisinreceiptof notice from theOfficeofthePardon AttorneythatthePardon Attorneyorthe
PresidentoftheUnitedStateshasprovidedtheapplicantwithawaiverofthe5-yearrequirement
pursuantto§9-140.112oftheDepartmentofJusticeManual;
“(2)The Board may declinetogranta waiverunderthissubsectioneven when the
Boardisinreceiptofthenoticedescribedinparagraph(1)ofthissubsection;
“(3)The Board shallnot granta waiverunder thissubsectionwhen theapplicant
isonprobation,parole,orsupervisedrelease;“(4)TheBoardmayrequestadditionalinformationfromtheapplicanttosupporttheirrequestfora waiverof subsection(c)(1)ofthis section,which may includea requestto
meetwiththeapplicanttodiscusstheirwaiverrequest;
“(5)The Board shallprovidetheapplicantwith writtennoticeof theBoard’s
decisiontograntor deny a waiverrequestpursuanttothissubsection;and
“(6)PriortotheBoardmakingadeterminationwhethertograntarequestforawaiverpursuanttothissubsection,theapplicant’sapplicationshallbedeferreduntiladeterminationismade.”.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec,3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
‘TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudget Directoras thefiscalimpact
statementrequiredby section4aof theGeneralLegislativeProceduresAct of 1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4,Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
Va ua‘hairman
Councilof theDistrictof Columbia

APPROVED
January27,2026

DocketNo.826-0587
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ABSENT
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COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading
January6,2026
Approved

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