H.R. 5214 — District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025

Summary

District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act of 2025

This bill mandates, in the District of Columbia (DC), pretrial and post-conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous crimes and cash bail to obtain pretrial release for public safety or order crimes.

Under current DC law, a court may generally order a defendant released before trial based on the judge’s assessment of the risks posed by the defendant's release. If the defendant is charged with a crime of violence or a dangerous crime, the court must determine conditions for release; if the defendant has a prior history of such crimes, is charged with a crime that involves deadly weapons, or is charged with a crime of violence, there is a rebuttable presumption that the defendant must be detained.

The bill requires defendants charged with a crime of violence or a dangerous crime to be detained while awaiting trial. It also prohibits a court from releasing a defendant charged with a public safety or order crime without a secured appearance bond (i.e., money or property subject to forfeiture). Public safety or order crimes include fleeing from a law enforcement officer, rioting, and stalking.

Current DC law also allows individuals who are convicted of an offense to be released pending sentencing or an appeal if the court finds the individual is unlikely to flee or pose a danger to others. The bill requires individuals who are convicted of a crime of violence or a dangerous crime to be detained in these circumstances.

How Congress Voted

House roll call 298 — Nov 19, 2025

426 votes

235(55%)

Yea

178(42%)

Nay

0(0%)

Present

13(3%)

Not voting

Related bills

Procedurally related

H.Res. 879Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 80) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to ''National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska Integrated Activity Plan Record of Decision''; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 130) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to ''Buffalo Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan Amendment''; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 131) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to ''Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program Record of Decision''; providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 58) denouncing the horrors of socialism; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1949) to repeal restrictions on the export and import of natural gas; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3109) to require the Secretary of Energy to direct the National Petroleum Council to issue a report with respect to petrochemical refineries in the United States, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5107) to repeal the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 enacted by the District of Columbia Council; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5214) to require mandatory pretrial and post conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous crimes and require mandatory cash bail for certain offenses that pose a threat to public safety or order in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.119

Bill text versions

Legislative Journey

Introduced
Committee
Floor
Passed Chamber 1
Passed Chamber 2
Signed

Nov 20, 2025

Received in the Senate.

Senate

Nov 19, 2025

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

House

Nov 19, 2025

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 237 - 179 (Roll no. 298). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4796)

House

Nov 19, 2025

Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 237 - 179 (Roll no. 298). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H4796)

Nov 19, 2025

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4805-4806)

House

Nov 19, 2025

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 5214, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Garcia (CA) demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

House

Nov 19, 2025

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

House

Nov 19, 2025

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5214.

House

Nov 19, 2025

Rule provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 80, H.J. Res. 130, H.J. Res. 131, H. Con. Res. 58, H.R. 1949, H.R. 3109, H.R. 5107 and H.R. 5214. The resolution provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 80, H.J. Res. 130, H.J. Res. 131, H. Con. Res. 58, H.R. 1949, H.R. 3109, H.R. 5107, and H.R. 5214 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides for one motion to recommit on H.J. Res. 130, H.J. Res. 131, H.R. 1949, H.R. 3109, H.R. 5107, and H.R. 5214, and one motion to commit S.J. Res. 80.

House

Nov 19, 2025

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 879. (consideration: CR H4796-4800)

House

Nov 18, 2025

Rule H. Res. 879 passed House.

House

Nov 17, 2025

Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 879 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 80, H.J. Res. 130, H.J. Res. 131, H. Con. Res. 58, H.R. 1949, H.R. 3109, H.R. 5107 and H.R. 5214. The resolution provides for consideration of S.J. Res. 80, H.J. Res. 130, H.J. Res. 131, H. Con. Res. 58, H.R. 1949, H.R. 3109, H.R. 5107, and H.R. 5214 under a closed rule with one hour of general debate on each measure. The resolution also provides for one motion to recommit on H.J. Res. 130, H.J. Res. 131, H.R. 1949, H.R. 3109, H.R. 5107, and H.R. 5214, and one motion to commit S.J. Res. 80.

House

Sep 30, 2025

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 269.

House

Sep 30, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 119-315.

House

Sep 30, 2025

Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 119-315.

Sep 10, 2025

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 19.

House

Sep 10, 2025

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

House

Sep 8, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

House

Sep 8, 2025

Introduced in House

Sep 8, 2025

Introduced in House