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B26-0649 • 2025

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review 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
2026-04-17
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify if the act affects other entities beyond those mentioned.

Emergency Amendment to Clemency Board Waiver Authority

This act allows the Clemency Board in Washington D.C. to grant waivers for applicants seeking pardons, provided they receive notice from the Office of the Pardon Attorney or the President.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends a part of an existing law about the Clemency Board.
  • Allows the Clemency Board to give special permission (waiver) to people who want a pardon before waiting five years, if they receive notice from the Office of the Pardon Attorney or the President.
  • Requires the Clemency Board to get written notice from the Office of the Pardon Attorney or the President before granting this waiver.
  • Gives the Clemency Board the power to ask for more information from applicants, including meeting with them.
  • Needs written notice from the Clemency Board about whether they will grant a waiver request.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who apply for pardons in Washington D.C.
  • The Clemency Board of Washington D.C.
  • The Office of the Pardon Attorney and the President

Terms To Know

Clemency
Forgiveness from a punishment, often given by a government official.
Waiver
Permission to do something that is usually not allowed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act only lasts for up to 90 days.
  • It applies specifically in Washington D.C. and does not affect other places.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-17 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Act A26-0295 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 006067, Expires on Jul 09, 2026

  2. 2026-04-13 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 2026-04-10 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0295, Expires on Jul 09, 2026

  4. 2026-04-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Apr 21, 2026

  5. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 2026-03-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    B26-0649 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL
AN ACT
D.C. ACT 26-295
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
APRIL 10, 2026
‘Toamend,onanemergencybasis,duetocongressionalreview,section205oftheClemencyBoardEstablishmentActof2018toauthorizetheClemencyBoardto,forapplicantsseekingapardon,grantawaiveroftheS-yearwaitingperiod.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthisactmaybecitedasthe“ClemencyBoardWaiverAuthorityCongressionalReviewEmergencyAmendmentActof2026”.
Sec.2.Section205oftheClemencyBoardEstablishmentActof2018,effectiveDecember 13,2018 (D.C. Law 22-197; D.C. OfficialCode § 24-481.05),isamended by adding a
newsubsection(f)toreadasfollows
“( TheBoardmay,uponwrittenrequestoftheapplicant,grantawaiveroftherequirementsofsubsection(c)(1)ofthissection;provided,that:
“(1)TheBoardshallonlygrantawaiverunderthissubsectionwheretheBoardisinreceiptof noticefrom theOfficeof the Pardon Attorneythatthe Pardon Attorneyor the
PresidentoftheUnitedStateshasprovidedtheapplicantwithawaiverofthe5-yearrequirement,pursuantto § 9-140.112 of the Departmentof JusticeManual;
“(2)TheBoardmaydeclinetograntawaiverunderthissubsectionevenwhentheBoardisinreceiptofthenoticedescribedinparagraph(1)ofthissubsection;
“G)TheBoardshailnotgrantawaiverunderthissubsectionwhentheapplicantisonprobation,parole,orsupervisedrelease;
“(4)TheBoardmayrequestadditionalinformationfromtheapplicanttosupporttheirrequestforawaiverofsubsection(c)(1)ofthissection,whichmayincludearequesttomeetwiththeapplicanttodiscusstheirwaiverrequest;
“(5)TheBoardshallprovidetheapplicantwithwrittennoticeoftheBoard’s
decisiontograntordenyawaiverrequestpursuanttothissubsection;and
“(6)PriortotheBoardmakingadeterminationwhethertograntarequestforawaiverpursuanttothissubsection,theapplicant'sapplicationshallbedeferreduntiladeterminationismade.”.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
TheCounciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementoftheBudgetDirectorasthefiscalimpactstatementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
October16,2006(120Stat.2038;D.C.OfficialCode§1-301.47a).
Sec.4,Effectivedate.
ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection
412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a))..
a
‘hairman_
Councilofthe Districtof Columbia

Districdof ColnbiaAPPROVED
APRIL 10, 2026

DocketNo.826.0649,
{XJTEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
(xTacTION
[x]VOTEDATE
[VOICEvoTE
RECORDEDVOTEONREQUEST
ABSENT
[]ROLLCALLVOTE-Result
COUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004
FinalReading,CC
March31,2028,
Approved

CouncilMember Aye|Nay |NV_|AB| Rec|CouncilMember_|Aye| Nay|NV| AB |Rec|CouncilMember__|Aye| Nay |NV| AB| Rec
‘ChaimanMendelson]x Feumin x Pinto x
‘Aen x Henderson| x write
Bonds x LensGeorge_| x T.White x
Crawora x Nedeau x
Felder x Parker x
X-indicateVote NV-Presont,NotVoting
CERTIFICATIONRECORD +: 7-26SecretarytothaGouna