Introduced in House

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 5140 Introduced in House (IH)] 119th CONGRESS 1st Session 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. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 4, 2025 Mr. Gill of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL 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. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. LOWERING AGE AT WHICH A MINOR MAY BE TRIED AS ADULT FOR

SECTION 1. LOWERING AGE AT WHICH A MINOR MAY BE TRIED AS ADULT FOR CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. (a) Lowering Age at Which Minor May Be Excluded From Jurisdiction of Family Court.--Section 16-2301, District of Columbia Official Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``sixteen years of age'' and inserting ``fourteen years of age''; and (2) in paragraph (3) in the matter following subparagraph (C), by striking ``the age of sixteen'' and inserting ``the age of fourteen''. (b) Lowering Age at Which Minor May Be Transferred to Criminal Proceeding.--Section 16-2307(a), District of Columbia Official Code, is amended-- (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``fifteen'' and inserting ``fourteen''; (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``sixteen'' and inserting ``fourteen''; and (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``eighteen'' and inserting ``fourteen''. (c) Applicability.--This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall apply with respect to criminal offenses committed on and after the date of the enactment of this Act.