RFK emergency act allowed infrastructure bonds after required agreements

D.C. officials could issue bonds to pay for RFK campus infrastructure. Bond principal was capped at $759 million, or a smaller amount needed to provide $500 million after issuance costs. Officials could not issue bonds or spend their proceeds until required deal terms were in place and the team or an affiliate signed a community benefits agreement. The act named October 1, 2025, as the earliest date for these bonds and lasted no longer than 90 days.

The team or an affiliate had to sign a community benefits agreement with D.C. The agreement had to promise at least $50 million over 30 years for D.C. benefits, including local jobs, youth programs, and housing stability. The Mayor, Council chair, and team, or their representatives, had to meet together at least three times before signing. The agreement had to be signed within 90 days after the act took effect.

The developer had to set aside affordable homes if it built housing on the RFK development site. At least 30% of homes across the whole development site had to be affordable. The share was measured across the site, not in each building. Half of the affordable homes had to serve households earning no more than 60% of median family income, and half had to serve households earning no more than 30%. Usual affordable housing zoning rules did not apply; the deal documents set other details, including how long homes stayed affordable.

Sellers would owe an extra 4.25% sales tax on covered stadium sales under the act. The tax covered tickets to public events at the planned RFK stadium only if they were already subject to D.C. sales or use tax. It also covered other taxable goods and services sold there. The extra tax on goods and services sold inside the stadium excluded food, drinks, and parking.

The act provided property tax and deed tax exemptions for specified RFK stadium property and transfers. The exemptions covered RFK campus property holding the stadium and standalone parking facilities that serve it. The property tax exemption applied only while the specified leases between D.C. and Pro-Football LLC or its affiliate remained in effect. The deed tax exemption covered only transfers of interests between those parties under those leases.