B 26-0558 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Clemency Board Waiver Authority Temporary Amendment Act of 2026

This bill temporarily allows the District of Columbia Clemency Board to waive the 5-year waiting period for applicants seeking a pardon, but only under specific conditions. It directly affects individuals applying for pardons who have already received a federal waiver from the Pardon Attorney or President (as required by federal law). The Board must verify this federal waiver, cannot grant it to those on probation/parole, and may still deny the request even with federal approval. The waiver authority expires 225 days after the bill takes effect.

Issues: ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics: Probation & Parole

Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Council Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 2, 2026 Signed Jun 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossment → Enrollment · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was finalized and signed into law, changing the fiscal impact statement source from the Chief Financial Officer to the Budget Director and adding an official signature block for the Council Chairman and Mayor. The core policy regarding the Clemency Board's ability to waive the 5-year waiting period for pardons remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; it still authorizes the Clemency Board to waive the 5-year waiting period for pardon applicants under specific conditions.

FISCAL

The source of the fiscal impact statement was updated from the Chief Financial Officer to the Budget Director, and the approval date for the underlying act was corrected.

TECHNICAL

A signature block was added at the end of the document for the Council Chairman and the Mayor, which is required for the bill to become official law.

Floor votes · Council Feb 3, 2026

How they voted

12–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 13

Feb 3, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1

90% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 3, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (12-0-1)

council

Jan 2, 2026

Introduced

B26-0558 Introduced by Councilmember Pinto at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors