H.R. 5140 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House Sep 16, 2025. Received Sep 17, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryLowers age for trying minors as adults
In Washington D.C., people under 18 are normally tried as juveniles in family court. But the law already allows younger people to be tried as adults for serious crimes like murder, sexual abuse, or armed robbery. This bill would lower the age at which that can happen, from 16 down to 14 years old for the most serious offenses, and from 15 down to 14 for other felonies when prosecutors believe it's in the public interest and the minor can't be rehabilitated.
How it affects you
This directly affects young people in D.C. who are accused of serious crimes and their families. Fourteen-year-olds could now be charged and tried in adult criminal court rather than juvenile court, potentially facing adult sentences and a permanent criminal record.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Sep 4, 2025)
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.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 5140
AN ACT
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.
Sponsor: Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX-26) · Introduced Sep 4, 2025 · Crime and Law Enforcement · 2 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Sep 17, 2025: “Received in the Senate.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · Sep 16, 2025
Passage Passed 225–203
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 8 | 202 | 3 |
| Republicans | 217 | 1 | 1 |
9 members voted against most of their party: 8 Democrats voted Yes and 1 Republicans voted No.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.