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.
A House bill (H.R.) in the 119th U.S. Congress.
Overview
| Congress | 119th U.S. Congress (2025–2026) |
|---|---|
| Type | House bill (H.R.) |
| Originating chamber | House |
| Introduced | 2025-09-04 |
| Sponsor | Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26] |
| Policy area | Crime and Law Enforcement |
| Cosponsors | 6 |
| Latest action | 2025-09-17 — Received in the Senate. |
| Last updated | 2026-07-13 |
Summary
Official summary (Introduced in House, 2025-09-04):
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.
Cosponsors (6)
| Name | Party / state |
|---|---|
| Tim Burchett | R TN 2025-09-08 |
| Clay Higgins | R LA 2025-09-09 |
| Troy Downing | R MT 2025-09-11 |
| Anna Paulina Luna | R FL 2025-09-15 |
| Joe Wilson | R SC 2025-09-16 |
| Elise M. Stefanik | R NY 2025-09-17 |
Full text & official record
The official bill text, section-by-section summary, amendments, committee reports, and the complete legislative timeline for H.R. 5140 are published by Congress on congress.gov.
View H.R. 5140 on congress.gov →
Frequently asked questions
What is H.R. 5140?
H.R. 5140 is a House bill (H.R.) introduced in the 119th U.S. Congress, originating in the House. Official title: 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..
Where can I read the full bill text?
The full text, cosponsors, amendments, and legislative status for H.R. 5140 are available on congress.gov.
Bill data: congress.gov API (official congressional records).