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
To increase the mandatory minimum sentences applicable to certain crimes in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act
.
Sec. 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establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104.01, D.C. Official Code) is repealed.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establish a code of law for the District of Columbia, approved March 3, 1901 (sec. 22–2104.01, D.C. Official Code) is repealed.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
.
Sec. 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.