KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to District of Columbia

PR26-0093 • 2025

Downtown Arena Revitalization Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Downtown Arena Revitalization Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Taxes
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Mendelson
Last action
2025-03-14
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details about creating rules for additional signage, so this claim was removed.

Emergency Resolution for Downtown Arena Redevelopment

This emergency resolution allows the District of Columbia to continue supporting the redevelopment and financing of the downtown arena during a gap between existing laws.

What This Bill Does

  • Declares an emergency situation related to the need to support the redevelopment of the downtown arena.
  • Approves agreements for leasing property owned by the government for use in operating the downtown arena.
  • Permits the sale and purchase agreement for the downtown arena, including granting necessary easements.
  • Allows airspace leases around the downtown arena and provides tax breaks for the project.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The District of Columbia government
  • Entities involved in the redevelopment of the downtown arena

Terms To Know

Emergency Act
A temporary law passed to address urgent situations, set to expire on a specific date.
Permanent Act
A long-term law that replaces the Emergency Act after it expires and is approved by Congress.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution only addresses the gap between the expiration of the Emergency Act and the effective date of the Permanent Act.
  • It does not specify how long the emergency declaration will last beyond this period.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-14 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0041, Effective from Mar 04, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 002661

  2. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0041

  5. 2025-03-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0093 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Downtown Arena Revitalization Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-41

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

March 4, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to congressional review, with respect to the need
to approve the development and financing agreement for the redevelopment of the
downtown arena, approve an agreement for the disposition by lease of certain real
property owned by the District government for the use and operation of the downtown
arena; approve a purchase and sale agreement for the downtown arena, authorize the
granting of certain easements related to the downtown arena property; authorize airspace
leases associated with the downtown arena, continue and provide for property tax
abatements and deed transfer and recordation tax exemptions for the downtown arena,
and authorize the issuance of rules to provide for additional signage on the downtown
arena.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Downtown Arena Revitalization Congressional Review
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025”.

Sec. 2. (a) On December 3, 2024, the Council unanimously approved the Downtown
Arena Revitalization Emergency Act of 2024, effective December 17, 2024 (D.C. Act 25-653; 71
DCR 15803) (“Emergency Act”). The Emergency Act is scheduled to expire on March 17, 2025.
(b) On December 17, 2024, the Council unanimously approved the Downtown Arena
Revitalization Act of 2024, enacted on February 3, 2025 (D.C. Act 25-718; 72 DCR 1109)
(“Permanent Act”). The Permanent Act was transmitted to Congress on February 13, 2025, and
has a projected law date of April 3, 2025.
(c) In order to address the imminent gap in the law between the expiration of the
Emergency Act and the effective date of the Permanent Act, it is necessary to approve
congressional review emergency legislation

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the that the
Downtown Arena Revitalization Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2025 be adopted after
a single reading.

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

2

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.