Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act of 2025

Bill: 119-hr-5172
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Introduced: 2025-09-08
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Assault and harassment offenses

Crimes against property

Criminal procedure and sentencing

District of Columbia

Motor vehicles

Sex offenses

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2025-10-03
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 279.

Summaries:
action_date: 2025-09-08
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act</strong></p><p>This bill establishes and increases mandatory minimum sentences of imprisonment for specified crimes in the District of Columbia.</p><p>First, the bill mandates a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder (currently, the mandatory minimum sentence is 30 years imprisonment and the maximum sentence is life imprisonment without parole). The bill also repeals provisions that prohibit the sentencing of individuals under the age of 18 to life imprisonment without parole for first-degree murder.</p><p>The bill also establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of </p><ul><li>10 years imprisonment for second-degree murder,</li><li>10 years imprisonment for kidnapping,</li><li>25 years imprisonment for first- degree sexual abuse, and</li><li>25 years imprisonment for rape.&nbsp;</li></ul><p>Finally, the bill increases the mandatory minimum sentence for</p><ul><li>first-degree burglary from 5 years to 10 years imprisonment,</li><li>unarmed carjacking from 7 years to 10 years imprisonment,</li><li>armed carjacking from 15 years to 20 years imprisonment, and</li><li>rape with a prior conviction of a crime of violence from 7 years to 30 years imprisonment.</li></ul>

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 279 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5172 [Report No. 119–326] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 8, 2025 Mr. Biggs of Arizona (for himself and Mr. Donalds ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform October 3, 2025 Additional sponsor: Mr. Higgins of Louisiana October 3, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 8, 2025 A BILL To increase the mandatory minimum sentences applicable to certain crimes in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act of 2025 . 2. Increase in mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes in District of Columbia (a) First degree murder (1) Mandatory life imprisonment Section 801 of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104, D.C. Official Code) is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking not less than 30 years and all that follows and inserting life imprisonment without release. ; and (B) by striking subsection (b). (2) Conforming amendment relating to sentencing procedure Section 801a of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104.01, D.C. Official Code) is repealed. (3) Conforming amendment relating to conditions for imposition of sentence in excess of 60 years Section 3a(b–2)(1) of the Act to establish a Board of Indeterminate Sentence and Parole for the District of Columbia and to determine its functions, and for other purposes, approved July 15, 1932 (sec. 24–403.01(b–2)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking in excess of 60 years for first degree murder or first degree murder while armed, . (b) Second degree murder Section 801(c) of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104(c), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not more than life and inserting not less than 10 years or more than life . (c) Rape and first degree sexual abuse (1) Mandatory minimum for rape Section 3(b) of the Act to establish a Board of Indeterminate Sentence and Parole for the District of Columbia and to determine its functions, and for other purposes, approved July 15, 1932 (sec. 24–403(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking shall not be less than 7 years if the violation occurs after the person has been convicted in the District of Columbia or elsewhere of a crime of violence, as so defined and inserting shall be not less than 25 years or, if the violation occurs after the person has been convicted in the District of Columbia or elsewhere of a crime of violence, as so defined, shall be not less than 30 years . (2) Mandatory minimum for first degree sexual abuse Section 201(a) of the Anti-Sexual Abuse Act of 1994 (sec. 22–3002(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking for any term of years or for life and inserting for a term of not less than 25 years or more than life . (3) Removal of requirement of aggravating circumstances for imposition of sentence in excess of 30 years Section 201(b) of the Anti-Sexual Abuse Act of 1994 (sec. 22–3002(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking The court may impose and inserting Except in the case of a sentence imposed under subsection (a) or imposed on a person convicted of rape pursuant to section 3(b) of the Act to establish a Board of Indeterminate Sentence and Parole for the District of Columbia and to determine its functions, and for other purposes, approved July 15, 1932, the court may impose . (d) Kidnaping Section 812 of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2001, D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not more than 30 years and inserting not less than 10 years or more than 30 years . (e) Car jacking (1) Unarmed Section 811a(a)(2) of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2803(a)(2), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not less than 7 years and inserting not less than 10 years . (2) Armed Section 811a(b)(2) of such Act (sec. 22–2803(b)(2), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not less than 15 years and inserting not less than 20 years . (f) First degree burglary Section 823(a) of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–801(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not less than 5 years and inserting not less than 10 years . 3. Effective date This Act, and the amendments made by this Act, shall apply with respect to criminal conduct that occurred after the date of the enactment of this Act.

October 3, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

tv_txt: I 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5172 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 8, 2025 Mr. Biggs of Arizona (for himself and Mr. Donalds ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To increase the mandatory minimum sentences applicable to certain crimes in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act . 2. Increase in mandatory minimum sentences for certain crimes in District of Columbia (a) First degree murder (1) Mandatory life imprisonment Section 801 of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104, D.C. Official Code) is amended— (A) in subsection (a), by striking not less than 30 years and all that follows and inserting life imprisonment without release. ; and (B) by striking subsection (b). (2) Conforming amendment relating to sentencing procedure Section 801a of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104.01, D.C. Official Code) is repealed. (3) Conforming amendment relating to conditions for imposition of sentence in excess of 60 years Section 3a(b–2)(1) of the Act to establish a Board of Indeterminate Sentence and Parole for the District of Columbia and to determine its functions, and for other purposes, approved July 15, 1932 (sec. 24–403.01(b–2)(1), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking in excess of 60 years for first degree murder or first degree murder while armed, . (b) Second degree murder Section 801(c) of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104(c), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not more than life and inserting not less than 10 years or more than life . (c) Rape and first degree sexual abuse Section 801a of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104.01, D.C. Official Code) is repealed. (1) Mandatory minimum for rape Section 3(b) of the Act to establish a Board of Indeterminate Sentence and Parole for the District of Columbia and to determine its functions, and for other purposes, approved July 15, 1932 (sec. 24–403(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking shall not be less than 7 years if the violation occurs after the person has been convicted in the District of Columbia or elsewhere of a crime of violence, as so defined and inserting shall be not less than 25 years or, if the violation occurs after the person has been convicted in the District of Columbia or elsewhere of a crime of violence, as so defined, shall be not less than 30 years . (2) Mandatory minimum for first degree sexual abuse Section 201(a) of the Anti-Sexual Abuse Act of 1994 (sec. 22–3002(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking for any term of years or life and inserting for a term of not less than 25 years or more than life . (3) Removal of requirement of aggravating circumstances for imposition of sentence in excess of 30 years Section 201(b) of the Anti-Sexual Abuse Act of 1994 (sec. 22–3002(b), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking The court may impose and inserting Except in the case of a sentence imposed under subsection (a) or imposed on a person convicted of rape pursuant to section 3(b) of the Act to establish a Board of Indeterminate Sentence and Parole for the District of Columbia and to determine its functions, and for other purposes, approved July 15, 1932, the court may impose . (d) Kidnaping Section 812 of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2001, D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not more than 30 years and inserting not less than 10 years or more than 30 years . (e) Car jacking (1) Unarmed Section 811a(a)(2) of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2803(a)(2), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not less than 7 years and inserting not less than 10 years . (2) Armed Section 811a(b)(2) of such Act (sec. 22–2803(b)(2), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not less than 15 years and inserting not less than 20 years . (f) First degree burglary Section 823(a) of the Act to establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–801(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended by striking not less than 5 years and inserting not less than 10 years . 3. Effective date This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to individuals charged on or after the date of the enactment of this Act with an offense to which such an amendment applies.