District of ColumbiaD.C. sets 2026 spending for schools and services
D.C. sets aside money for schools, health care, transit, and other services in its 2026 budget; federal payment amounts depend on Congress.
What it does
For the 2026 budget year, D.C. sets aside $4.3 billion for public education and $7.55 billion for health and other support services. Federal payment amounts depend on Congress.
D.C. may spend up to $51.5 million more on listed needs if the 2025 revenue forecast tops the budget forecast, expected revenue tops spending, and its finance chief certifies the increase without certifying long-term harm.
D.C. bars spending from this budget on the Mayor’s Arts Awards. Any money it provides for an RFK stadium may be spent only in line with a separate redevelopment measure.
Argument forSet funding amounts could help schools, health agencies, and transit officials plan services for the 2026 budget year.
Argument againstThe ban on spending money from this budget on the Mayor’s Arts Awards could make those awards harder to hold.
More detail
D.C. sets spending amounts for city services. The amounts cover District services, including schools, health care, and transit. The act ties total operating spending to its stated revenue and dollar limits, with listed exceptions. Federal payment amounts adjust to what Congress approves. These budget amounts are for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026.
D.C. may spend up to $51.5 million in extra local revenue on listed needs. Listed uses include child care, housing help, and delaying service limits for DC Healthcare Alliance members age 21 or older. The September 2025 forecast for 2025 local revenue must top the forecast used in the approved budget. The finance chief must estimate that 2025 revenue exceeds spending and certify the extra revenue. The chief can still block its use by certifying expected harm to D.C.’s long-term finances. If funded, service limits for Alliance members age 21 or older would be delayed until October 1, 2026. Some listed uses reach budget years 2027 through 2029.
D.C. bars arts award spending and restricts RFK stadium spending. The awards ban applies to money in this budget. The stadium rule applies only to this budget’s money for stadium development at the RFK campus. Any stadium spending must follow the separate RFK redevelopment measure cited in the act, including amendments to that measure.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Oct 23Law Number L26-0051 Effective from Oct 23, 2025Latest
- Sep 12Act A26-0147 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 009797
- Sep 10Transmitted to CongressMinor
- Sep 5Returned from Mayor
- Sep 4Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0147Became Law
- Aug 25Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Sep 09, 2025To Governor
- Jul 28Final ReadingMinor
- Jul 28Oral Amendment (LGeorge)Minor
- Jul 28Agendized; not considered at the request of Nadeau
- Jul 28Amendment (Pinto)Minor
- Jul 28Agendized; not considered at the request of Pinto and Parker
- Jul 28Amendment (Bonds)Minor
- Jul 28Agendized; not considered at the request of Parker
- Jul 28Amendment (White)Minor
- Jul 28Amendment (Frumin)Minor
- Jul 28Amendment (Felder and Bonds)Minor
- Jul 28Amendment (Mendelson)Minor
- Jul 28Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (Mendelson)Major
- Jul 14First Reading, CCMinor
- Jul 14Amendment (Henderson and Nadeau)Minor
- Jul 14Amendment (White)Minor
- Jul 14Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Committee of the Whole
- Jun 25Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Facilities Committee
- Jun 25Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Transportation and the Environment Committee
- Jun 25Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee
- Jun 25Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Business and Economic Development Committee
- Jun 25Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Committee of the Whole
- Jun 24Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Public Works and Operations Committee
- Jun 24Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee
- Jun 24Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Human Services Committee
- Jun 24Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Housing Committee
- Jun 23Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Youth Affairs Committee
- Jun 23Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Health Committee
- Jun 23Committee Mark-up of B26-0260 by the Executive Administration and Labor Committee
- Jun 18Public Hearing on B26-0260 View Public Hearing Record
- Jun 6Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0260 Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Jun 3Referred to Committee of the Whole with comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development, Committee on Executive Administration and Labor, Committee on Facilities, Committee on Health, Committee on Housing, Committee on Human Services, Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Committee on Public Works and Operations, Committee on Transportation and the Environment, and Committee on Youth AffairsMinor
- May 27B26-0260 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the SecretaryMinor
- May 23Notice of Public Hearing Published in the District of Columbia RegisterIntroduced
Taxes & BudgetEducationHealthcare