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HR 5140 119th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation District of Columbia Juvenile crime and gang violence Violent crime

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: September 4, 2025 Introduced by: Gill, Brandon Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 14 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 17, 2025
Received in the Senate.
Sep 16, 2025
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 16, 2025
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 271). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4339)
Sep 16, 2025
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4346)
Sep 16, 2025
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 5140, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill, and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Garcia (CA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Sep 16, 2025
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
Sep 16, 2025
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5140.
Sep 16, 2025
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015 and H.R. 3062. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015, and H.R. 3062 under a closed rule, and provides for a motion to recommit on each measure.
Sep 16, 2025
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 707. (consideration: CR H4339)
Sep 15, 2025
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 707 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015 and H.R. 3062. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4922, H.R. 5143, H.R. 5140, H.R. 5125, H.R. 1047, H.R. 3015, and H.R. 3062 under a closed rule, and provides for a motion to recommit on each measure.
Sep 10, 2025
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Sep 10, 2025
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 19.
Sep 4, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sep 4, 2025
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 16, 2025 House · vote #271 On Passage Passed 225–203 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 104 — Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 707, the amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text … Agreed to Sep 16, 2025
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now September 17, 2025

Received in the Senate.

 Hearings & markups 2
 Related & companion bills 1
  • HRES 707 Related bill Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4922) to limit youth offender status in the District of Columbia to indiv…
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Lobbying activity 19

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 19 filings →
 Cosponsors 6
All 6 Republican 6
R
Stefanik, Elise M.
New York · Sep 17, 2025
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Sep 16, 2025
 R
Luna, Anna Paulina
Florida · Sep 15, 2025
 R
Downing, Troy
Montana · Sep 11, 2025
 R
Higgins, Clay
Louisiana · Sep 9, 2025
 R
Burchett, Tim
Tennessee · Sep 8, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). 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.. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-5140/
MLA
"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.." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-5140/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 5140, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-5140/.
Markdown link
[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.](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-5140/)
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