PR26-0620 • 2025

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution 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: Approved
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on the exact nature or duration of the emergency declared, only that it pertains to congressional review.

Emergency Clemency Board Waiver

This resolution allows the Clemency Board to waive the five-year waiting period for pardon applications during congressional review.

What This Bill Does

Amends section 205 of the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018 to give the Clemency Board authority to waive the five-year waiting period for pardon applications.
Prevents a gap in law between the expiration of an emergency act and the effective date of a temporary act.

Who It Names or Affects

The Clemency Board
People applying for pardons

Terms To Know

Clemency Board: A group that reviews pardon applications in the District of Columbia.
Congressional Review: The process where Congress examines and may approve or reject laws passed by local governments.

Limits and Unknowns

This resolution only applies during a specific emergency situation.
It does not change the permanent rules for granting pardons outside of this emergency period.

Bill History

2026-04-17 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Resolution R26-0358, Effective from Mar 31, 2026 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 006072
2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Retained by the Council
2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2026-03-31 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Approved with Resolution Number R26-0358
2026-03-30 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
PR26-0620 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL

A RESOLUTION

26-358

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

March 31, 2026

To declare the existence of an emergency, due to congressional review, with respect to the need
to amend section 205 of the Clemency Board Establishment Act of 2018 to authorize the
Clemency Board to, for applicants seeking a pardon, grant a waiver of the 5-year waiting
period.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review
Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2026”.

Sec. 2. (a) On January 6, 2026, the Council passed the Clemency Board Waiver Authority
Emergency Amendment Act of 2026, effective January 27, 2026 (D.C. Act 26-253; 73 DCR
1078) (“emergency act”), which expires on April 27, 2026.
(b) On February 3, 2026, the Council passed on second reading the Clemency Board
Waiver Authority Temporary Amendment Act of 2026, enacted on March 2, 2026 (D.C. Act 26-
274, 73 DCR 3151) (“temporary act”), which has not yet completed congressional review.
(c) Congressional review emergency legislation is necessary to prevent a gap in the law
between the expiration of the emergency act and the effective date of the temporary act.

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
Clemency Board Waiver Authority Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2026
be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.