HR 5140 United States House · 119th Congress

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.

This bill lowers the age at which minors in Washington, D.C. can be tried as adults for certain crimes from 16 to 14 years old. It amends two key sections of D.C. law: changing the age for exclusion from juvenile court jurisdiction (from 16 to 14) and lowering the age for transfer to criminal court (from 15-18 to 14 across multiple scenarios). The policy directly affects minors aged 14 or older who commit specified serious offenses in D.C., removing them from the juvenile justice system. The changes apply to offenses committed on or after the bill's effective date.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2025
Committee Review
Sep 2025
House Passage
Sep 2025
Senate Passage
President
Introduced Sep 4, 2025 Last action Sep 17, 2025
Floor votes · House Sep 16, 2025

How they voted

225203
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 432
Sep 16, 2025
D Democratic213
8 Yea 202 Nay 3
94% Nay
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican218
216 Yea 1 Nay 1
99% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
15
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Amendments
1
Sep 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 271). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4339)
lower
Sep 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 203 (Roll no. 271). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4339)
lower
Sep 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
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.
lower
Sep 10, 2025
Introduced
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 19.
lower
Sep 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
lower
Sep 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
lower
Sep 4, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors