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H.R. 5140

Introduced

To lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia to 14 years of age.

Introduced 9/4/2025•119th Congress•House

Latest Action

Received in the Senate.

9/17/2025 • Senate

Summary

This bill lowers the age at which an individual may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia (DC) to 14 years of age.

Under current DC law, an individual who is under 18 years of age is tried as a juvenile in family court. However, an individual who is 16 years of age or older may be tried as an adult if the individual is charged with murder, first-degree sexual abuse, burglary in the first degree, robbery while armed, or assault with intent to commit any such offense. Additionally, an individual who is 15 years of age or older may be tried as an adult if the individual is alleged to have committed a felony and it is determined that (1) it is in the interest of the public welfare to try the individual as an adult, and (2) there are no reasonable prospects for the individual's rehabilitation.

The bill lowers the minimum age to be tried as an adult in these cases to 14 years of age.

Introduced in House • 9/4/2025

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Topics & Subjects

Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDistrict of ColumbiaJuvenile crime and gang violenceViolent crime

Amendments (1)

This bill has 1 amendment proposed or adopted.

View all amendments on Congress.gov

Related Federal Spending

Sponsor & Cosponsors (7)

Party Breakdown

0
Democrats
7
Republicans
0
Independents

Sponsor

R[
Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

Republican • TX-26

Sponsored 9/4/2025

Cosponsors (6)

R[
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]

R-TN-2

Joined 9/8/2025

R[
Rep. Higgins, Clay [R-LA-3]

R-LA-3

Joined 9/9/2025

R[
Rep. Downing, Troy [R-MT-2]

R-MT-2

Joined 9/11/2025

R[
Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]

R-FL-13

Joined 9/15/2025

R[
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]

R-SC-2

Joined 9/16/2025

R[
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

R-NY-21

Joined 9/17/2025

Bill Journey

Originated in the House

Introduced

September 4, 2025

Committee Review

September 10, 2025

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 19.

Floor Debate

September 16, 2025

Passed Chamber

Other Chamber

September 17, 2025

President

Enacted into Law

Text Versions (2)

Engrossed in House9/16/2025
Introduced in House9/4/2025

Related Bills (1)

H.Res. 707

Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4922) to limit youth offender status in the District of Columbia to individuals 18 years of age or younger, to direct the Attorney General of the District of Columbia to establish and operate a publicly accessible website containing updated statistics on juvenile crime in the District of Columbia, to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to prohibit the Council of the District of Columbia from enacting changes to existing criminal liability sentences, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5143) to establish standards for law enforcement officers in the District of Columbia to engage in vehicular pursuits of suspects, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5140) to lower the age at which a minor may be tried as an adult for certain criminal offenses in the District of Columbia to 14 years of age; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5125) to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to terminate the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1047) to require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to reform the interconnection queue process for the prioritization and approval of certain projects, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3015) to reestablish the National Coal Council in the Department of Energy to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on matters related to coal and the coal industry, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3062) to establish a more uniform, transparent, and modern process to authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of international border-crossing facilities for the import and export of oil and natural gas and the transmission of electricity; and for other purposes.

RelatedView bill →

Details

Bill TypeHR
Current StatusIntroduced
Cosponsors6