Bill would repeal DC laws letting young offenders seek reduced sentences
Placed on the calendarH.R. 5242Latest action
Sponsor: David Kustoff · Representative · TN
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: To repeal the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 and the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016.
119th Congress
Topics: Crime & justice
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.
HR 5242 would repeal two D.C. laws that let people who offended young petition judges for reduced sentences.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
HR 5242 uses Congress's authority over Washington, D.C. to repeal the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 and the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016. Both laws let people who committed crimes before age 25 (or as minors, under the 2016 law) petition a judge for reduced sentences after serving significant prison time and showing rehabilitation. Repeal would restore the law to how it was before these acts passed, ending future petitions under these programs.
Who does it affect?
Incarcerated people in D.C.'s prison system convicted of crimes committed at a young age, along with D.C. courts and corrections officials who implement the resentencing process.
Why does it matter?
Repealing these laws would eliminate an existing legal pathway for eligible D.C. prisoners to seek sentence reductions going forward. The bill also reflects a broader dispute over how much control Congress should exert over D.C.'s local criminal justice policies.
AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.
Read the official bill on Congress.govMake the call
Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 10, 2025
- House committee
- House voteYou are here · Oct 14, 2025
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: it was placed on the , and the official record shows no floor action on it since. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 293.