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Facts & Research

Recent Legislative Activity

State legislatures and U.S. Congress frequently consider bills addressing death-penalty issues, including legislation to repeal capital punishment, reform it, or expand it.

Below are important pieces of death penalty legislation that have recently passed or are currently being considered. (DPIC welcomes additions and suggestions.)

(Left: A board displays the vote totals in the Kentucky Senate on HB 269, a bill to prohibit the imposition of the death penalty against individuals with a documented history of serious mental illness. One late vote was added to the tally displayed on the vote board. The 25-9 vote on March 25, 2022 completed legislative approval of the measure, which was forwarded to the governor for final action.)

2023 - Proposed legislation
States with bills to abolish death penalty indicated with *
Session dates via StateScape
State names link to state legislative homepage

ALABAMA (Session dates: 03/07/2023 - 06/14/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB14Would require a unanimous vote by jurors to impose a death sentenceIntroduced by Rep. Christopher England (D) and referred to the Judiciary committee on February 8, 2023.
ARIZONA* (Session dates: 01/09/2023 - 04/30/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HCR2023Proposed amendment to the constitution of Arizona to prohibit the death penaltyIntroduced in the House in January 2023 by Rep. Patricia Contreras (D), along with 11 Democratic cosponsors.
HCR2035Proposed amendment to the constitution of Arizona to prohibit the death penaltyRead in the House on February 6, 2023 and co-sponsored by 26 Democrats.
SB1474Exclude those who had a serious mental illness at the time the offense was committed from being sentenced to deathIntroduced in the Senate on February 2, 2023 by Sen. Juan Mendez, along with six Democratic cosponsors. Second senate reading on February 9, 2023.
SB1475Would repeal the death penaltyIntroduced in the Senate on February 2, 2023 by Sen. Juan Mendez, along with five Democratic cosponsors. Second senate reading on February 9, 2023.
ARKANSAS (Session dates: 01/09/2023 - 03/15/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 1694Would establish a process for those with serious mental illness to be evaluated and be exempt from the death penalty; would not apply retroactively.Filed on March 24, 2023 by Rep. Flowers (D) and Rep. Leding (D), co-sponsored by Rep. Pilkington (R). Referred to the Judiciary Committee on March 27. Died in committee on May 1.
SB 552Would create the offense of capital rape.Filed on March 30, 2023 by Sen. Hester (R) and Sen. Gonzalez (R), and referred to Judiciary Committee. Died in senate committee on May 1.
CALIFORNIA (Session dates: 12/05/2022 - 11/30/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
DELAWARE* (Session dates: 01/10/2023 - 06/30/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 70Would eliminate the death penalty and resentence those convicted of first-degree murder committed after 18 years of age to life without parole.Introduced by Rep. Sean Lynn and assigned to Judiciary Committee on January 25, 2023. Co-sponsored by Sen. Hoffner (D), Sen. McBride (D), Rep. Baumbach (D), and Rep Neal (D). Additional sponsors include Sen. Gay (D) and Rep. Morrison (D).
FLORIDA (Session dates: 03/07/2023 - 05/05/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 555/SB 450Would only require eight out of 12 jurors to agree to a death sentence for it to be imposed.SB 450 prefiled by Sen. Jacques (R) on January 31, 2023; SB 450 passed the Senate 29-10 on March 30 and passed the House 80-30 on April 13. SB 450 approved by the Governor on April 20. HB 555 prefiled by Rep. Ingoglia (R) on January 30, 2023 and referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee on February 7, 2023; HB 555 substituted by SB 450 on April 13.
HB609/SB520Would allow a judge to override a jury’s recommendation of life under certain circumstancesHB609 filed by Rep. Jacques on February 2, 2023 and referred to the Criminal Justice subcommittee on February 14, 2023. SB520 filed by Rep. Ingoglia (R) on February 2, 2023. Both bills died in committee on May 5.
HB1297/SB1342Would allow capital punishment for sexual battery and prevent the judge from reducing a jury’s death sentence to lifeHB1297 introduced by Rep. Baker (R) and co-sponsored by Rep. Black (R), Rep. Jacques (R), and Temple (R) on March 1, 2023; passed the House 95-14 on April 13 and passed the Senate on April 18; HB1297 was signed by the governor on May 1. SB1342 introduced by Sen. Martin (R) on March 1, 2023, passed committee, and was substituted with HB1297.
GEORGIA (Session dates: 01/09/2023 - 04/02/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
IDAHO (Session dates: 01/09/2023 - 03/31/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 186Would add firing squad as a method of executionIntroduced on February 22, 2023 by the Ways and Means Committee. PASSED the House on March 3 by a vote of 50-15, with 5 abstentions. PASSED the Senate on March 20 by a vote of 24-11. SIGNED by Governor Brad Little on March 24 and goes into effect on July 1.
ILLINOIS (Session dates: 01/13/2021 - 01/11/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
SB2151/SB2145/SB2114/SB1596Would reinstate the death penalty.SB2151 was introduced by Sen. Chaplin Rose (R) and referred to assignments on February 10, 2023. SB2145 was introduced by Sen. Andrew Chesney (R) and referred to assignments on February 10, 2023. SB2114 was introduced by Sen. Neil Anderson (R) and referred to assignments on February 9, 2023. SB1596 was introduced by Sen. Jason Plummer (R) and referred to assignments on February 8, 2023.
HB3495Would reinstate the death penalty for first degree murder of a peace officer.Introduced by Dave Severin (R) on February 17, 2023. Assigned to the House Judiciary Committee on February 28. Sent to Criminal Administration and Enforcement Subcommittee on March 7. Re-referred to Rules Committee on March 10.
INDIANA (Session dates: 01/10/2023 - 03/07/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
IOWA (Session dates: 01/09/2023 - 05/22/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
SF14 / SF357Would establish the death penalty for murder in first degree offenses involving kidnapping and sexual abuse offenses against the same victim who is a minor.Introduced by Sen. Brad Zaun (R) and referred to Judiciary on January 9, 2023. On February 21, Committee approves bill and renumbers as SF 357.
KANSAS (Session dates: 01/09/2023 - 05/21/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB2349/SB211
 
Would abolish the death penalty, create the crime of aggravated murder with a sentence of life imprisonment without paroleHB2359 was introduced on February 8, 2023 by Rep. Schreiber (R), Rep. Blew, Rep. Amy (D), Rep. Ballard (D), and Rep. Carmichael (D). SB211 was introduced on February 8, 2023 by Sen. McGinn (R), Sen. Bowers (R), Sen. Dietrich (R), Sen. Doll (R), and Sen. Faust-Goudeau (D).
KENTUCKY* (Session dates: 01/03/2023 - 03/30/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
SB45Would abolish the death penalty; those presently sentenced to death would receive life without parole; and would prohibit life without parole for juvenile offenders convicted of capital offenses.Sponsored by Sen. Stephen Meredith (R), Sen. Gerald A. Neal (D), and Julie Raque Adams (D) and introduced on January 5, 2023. Sent to Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Protection on February 7, 2023.
HB104Would include abuse of a corpse by deviate sexual intercourse, sexual intercourse, or sexual contact as an aggravating circumstance.Introduced on January 5, 2023 by Rep. Samara Heavrin (R).
HB 179Would abolish the death penalty and replace it with life without parole for current death-row prisoners sentenced to death.Introduced on February 7, 2023 by Rep. James Tipton (R).
HB 249Would include the intentional killing of a child under 12 as an aggravating factor in capital cases.Introduced in the House by six Republican representatives on February 10, 2023. Passed 85-6 in the House on March 10. Passed 32-4 in the Senate on March 16. SIGNED by the Governor on March 24.
LOUISIANA* (Session dates: 04/10/2023 - 06/08/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 228Would abolish the death penalty.Prefiled by Rep. Kyle Green Jr. on March 27, 2023. Referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice on April 10.
MISSISSIPPI (Session dates: 01/03/2023 - 04/04/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB103Would remove firing squad as an execution method.Sponsored by Rep. Zakiya Summers (D) and referred to Judiciary on January 4, 2023. Died in committee on January 31, 2023.
HB1079Would provide death penalty sentencing alternatives to those under 18 at the time of the crime was committed.Sponsored by Rep. Jill Ford (R) and referred to Judiciary on January 16, 2023. Died in committee on January 31, 2023.
MISSOURI* (Session dates: 01/04/2023 - 05/30/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 609/HB 839/HB 961Would abolish the death penalty and specify that any person sentenced to death must be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.HB 609 introduced by Rep. Sarah Unsicker (D) on January 4, 2023, read a second time on January 5, and referred to the Judiciary Committee on May 12. HB 839 introduced by Rep. Patty Lewis (D) on January 18 and referred to the Judiciary on May 12. HB 961 introduced by Rep. Tony Lovasco (R) on January 25, and referred to the Judiciary on May 12.
MONTANA (Session dates: 01/02/2023 - 04/25/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
NEBRASKA* (Session dates: 01/04/2023 - 04/18/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
LR 17CAProposes a constitutional amendment that would abolish the death penalty and resentence death-row prisoners to lifeIntroduced January 11, 2023 by Sen. Terrell McKinney (D). On March 9, notice of hearing for March 16 provided.
NEW YORK (Session dates: 01/04/2023 - 01/02/2025)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
S01271Relates to commission of murder in the first degree; provides that sentence for commission of certain provisions of murder in the first degree is death or life without parole.Introduced by Sen. Robert G. Ortt (R) and referred to codes on January 11, 2023.
A00854/S01922Requires that all felony offenders shall be eligible for parole after serving no more than twenty-five years of their sentence; eliminates the possibility of serving consecutive terms of imprisonment which exceed a twenty-five year sentence.A00854 sponsored by Assembly Member Robert Carroll (D), along with 5 other Democrats, and referred to codes on January 11, 2023. S01922 Introduced by Sen. Luis Sepulveda (D) and referred to codes on January 17, 2023
NEW JERSEY (Session dates: 1/11/2022 - 01/09/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
ACR86Would reinstate the death penalty, which was abolished in 2007Introduced by Assembly Member Parker Space (R) and Harold Wirths (R) on February 7, 2022 and referred to the judiciary committee.
A2435 / S1672Would reinstate the death penalty for certain murders.A2435 was introduced by Assembly Member Parker Space (R) and Harold Wirths (R) on February 14, 2022 and referred to the judiciary committee. S1672 was introduced by Sen. Steven Oroho (R) on February 14, 2022 and referred to the judiciary committee.
A3046Would reinstate the death penalty for certain murders.Introduced by Assembly Member Alex Sauickie (R) on February 28, 2022 and referred to the judiciary committee.
NORTH CAROLINA* (Session dates: 1/11/2023 - 06/30/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
SB 109Would repeal the death penalty and resentence those with death sentences to life without parole.Filed by Sen. Mayfield (D) and Sen. Murdock (D) on February 15, 2023 and referred to rules and operations on February 16.
OHIO* (Session dates: 01/02/2023 - 12/31/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
SB 101Would abolish the death penaltyIntroduced on March 29, 2023 by Sen. Antonio (D) and Sen. Huffman (R), as well as 10 co-sponsors. Referred to Judiciary Committee on April 19. First hearing in the Judiciary Committee on May 9 and second hearing on November 15.
OKLAHOMA (Session dates: 02/06/2023 - 05/25/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
OREGON* (Session dates: 01/17/2023 - 06/17/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
SJR27 / HJR28Proposes abolishing the death penalty as an issues for voters to vote on in the next general election.SJR27 is sponsored by Sen. Lew Frederick (D) and referred to judiciary committee on January 23, 2023. HJR28 is primarily sponsored by Rep. Farrah Chaichi (D) and Rep. Tom Anderson (D) and referred to the judiciary committee on March 7, 2023. Died in committee upon adjournment on June 25.
SB 782 / HB3557Would remove death penalty laws if SJR 27 is approved by the people in the November 2024 general election.SB 782 is sponsored by Sen. Frederick (D) and referred to judiciary committee on January 23, 2023. HB 3557 is sponsored by Rep. Anderson (D) and Chaichi (D) and referred to the judiciary on March 7, 2023. Died in committee upon adjournment on June 25.
HB3439Directs the Department of Corrections to study the facilities used for executions at Oregon State Penitentiary.Sponsored by Rep. Paul Evans (D) and referred to judiciary committee on March 3, 2023. Died in committee upon adjournment on June 25.
PENNSYLVANIA* (Session dates: 01/03/2023 - 11/30/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 999Would repeal the death penalty.Introduced by Rep. Chris Rabb (D), HB999 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on April 17, 2023. The Judiciary Committee voted 15-10 in favor of the bill on October 31.
HB 751Would require jurors to unanimously find that aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt in order for a death sentence to be imposed.Introduced by Rep. Timothy Bonner (R), HB 751 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on March 28, 2023. The Judiciary Committee unanimously voted in favor of the bill on October 31.
HB 1470Would provide compensation and services to those wrongfully to victims of wrongful conviction and imprisonment in Pennsylvania.Introduced by Rep. Regina Young (D), HB 1470 was referred to the Judiciary Committee on June 21, 2023. The bill was amended and passed first consideration on October 3, 2023.
SOUTH CAROLINA* (Session dates: 01/10/2023 - 06/30/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
S 71Would abolish the death penalty and all laws related to death-penalty procedurePrefiled by Sen. Gerald Malloy (D) and referred to Committee on Judiciary, November 30, 2022. Referred to Judiciary Committe on January 10.
 
S 120Would conceal the identities of members of the execution team, including suppliers of lethal-injection drugsPrefiled by Sen. Greg Hembree (R) and referred to Committee on Corrections and Penology on November 30, 2022. Introduced in Senate committee on January 10, 2023. On February 2, passed committee and on February 23 passed roll call 39-5. Referred to House on February 28 and passed House roll call 80-22 on April 20. Passed Senate roll call 32-6 on May 4. Signed by Governor on May 12.
SOUTH DAKOTA (Session dates: 01/10/2023 - 03/27/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
TENNESSEE (Session dates: 01/10/2023 - 04/26/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 0289/SB1112Would require a sentence of death to be carried out within 30 business days of the conclusion of any appeals or post-conviction relief, if the jury unanimously determines that certain circumstances are metHB 0289 introduced on January 20, 2023 by Rep. Lowell Russell (R), passed the house on March 13 (74-22), and signed by House speaker on April 28. HB 0289 passed the senate on April 19 (25-7) and signed by Senate speaker on May 3; HB 0289 was signed by the Governor on May 11; goes into effect July 1. SB1112 filed on January 31, 2023 and substituted with companion HB0289 on April 19.
HB1245/SB1152Would provide firing squad as a method of execution.SB1152 was introduced on February 2 by Sen. Nicely (R); placed on calendar for Finance, Ways and Means Committee for April 20. HB1245 was introduced on February 1 by Rep. Powers (R); taken off calendar for Finance, Ways and Means Subcommittee on April 18.
HB0870/SB0977Would make the identities of the entity that compounds, distributes, or manufactures lethal injection drugs or the individuals who carry out the execution public record.HB0870 was introduced on February 1, 2023 by Rep. Lafferty (R), referred to State Government Committee on February 14, and taken off the calendar on March 8. SB0977 was introduced on February 2, 2023 by Sen. Pody (R), referred to Senate State and Local Government Committee on February 6, and deferred to first calendar of 2024 on March 14.
TEXAS* (Session dates: 01/10/2023 - 05/29/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 918/HB 142Would abolish the death penaltyHB 918 filed December 8, 2022 by Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr. (D); referred to Criminal Jurisprudence on March 2. HB 142 filed November 14, 2022 by Rep. Joe Moody (D); referred to Criminal Jurisprudence on February 23.
HB 727Would prohibit the death penalty for defendants with severe mental illnessFiled November 16, 2022 by Rep. Toni Rose (D). Passed the house on April 5, 2023. Received in the Senate on April 6.
HB 381Would change the procedure for determining intellectual disability in capital cases, and align the state’s definition of intellectual disability with clinical standardsFiled November 14, 2022 by Rep. Senfronia Thompson (D). Passed the House on May 9, 2023. Receive in the Senate on May 10, and referred to State Affairs on May 15.
HB 314Would prohibit the death penalty in cases that rely solely on the testimony of a single eyewitnessFiled November 14, 2022 by Rep. Steve Toth (R). Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence on February 23. No action taken in committee on March 7.
HB 180Would require a court to withdraw an execution date if requested by the prosecutorFiled November 14, 2022 by Rep. Joe Moody (D). Passed the House on April 13, and received in the Senate on April 13.
HB 1736Would limit the use of the death penalty in “law of parties” cases, limiting them to instances where the individual is a “major participant” in a capital murder and behave with “reckless indifference to human life”Filed by Rep. Leach (R) on January 26, 2023. Passed the House on April 20 with 133 in favor, 11 against, 1 abstaining. Received in the Senate on April 24.
UTAH (Session dates: 01/17/2023 - 03/03/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
VIRGINIA (Session dates: 01/11/2023 - 02/11/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
WASHINGTON (Session dates: 01/09/2023 - 03/08/2024)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
SB 5149Would reinstate the death penalty for prisoners who commit murder. The Washington Supreme Court struck down the state’s death penalty in 2018.Prefiled on January 4, 2023 by Sen. Keith Wagoner (R), Sen. Jim McCune (R), and Sen. Kevin Van de Wege (D), and referred to Law & Justice Committee on January 9, 2023.
SB 5087Would update the constitution to align with the Washington Supreme Court ruling that abolished the state’s death penalty.Primarily sponsored by Sen. Jamie Pederson. Senate President signed on April 8, 2023. House Speaker signed on April 10. Governor signed on April 21.
WEST VIRGINIA (Session dates: 01/11/2023 - 03/11/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
HB 2555Would reinstate the death penalty for some first-degree murder casesIntroduced by Rep. Geoff Foster (R) to House Judiciary on January 13, 2023. Co-sponsored by Rep. Brandon Steele and Rep. William Ridenour (R).
WYOMING (Session dates: 01/10/2023 - 03/10/2023)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   
U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (Session dates: 01/03/2023 - 10/30/2024 est.)
Bill numberBill DescriptionStatus
   

News & Developments


News

Feb 05, 2021

Virginia Legislature Votes to Abolish the Death Penalty

With two his­toric votes, the Virginia General Assembly has moved the com­mon­wealth to the cusp of becom­ing the first Southern state to abol­ish cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment, approv­ing sep­a­rate bills that would end the state’s death penal­ty and resen­tence the two men on death row to life with­out parole. On February 3, 2021, the Virginia State Senate vot­ed along par­ty lines, 21 – 17, in favor of abol­ish­ing cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment. Two days lat­er, three Republicans joined all but one Democrat in the Virginia House of Delegates in a 57 – 41 vote to repeal the death…

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News

Nov 17, 2023

Victims’ Families, Retired Judge, and Former Correctional Director Publicly Express Support for Ohio Abolition Bill

Victims’ fam­i­lies, retired Judge James Brogan, and for­mer Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Gary Mohr have pub­licly expressed sup­port for leg­is­la­tion pend­ing in both the state Senate and House that would abol­ish the death penal­ty in Ohio. 

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News

Nov 07, 2023

Pennsylvania House Committee Passes Death Penalty Repeal Bill

A bill to repeal the death penal­ty in Pennsylvania has passed a com­mit­tee in the commonwealth’s House of Representatives. The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee vot­ed 15 – 10 in favor of HB 999 on October 31, 2023. That vote is the first step toward abol­ish­ing the death penal­ty in Pennsylvania, which has had a for­mal mora­to­ri­um on exe­cu­tions since 2015 and has not exe­cut­ed any­one since 1999.

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News

Nov 02, 2023

Under Recent State Legislation, Courts in Ohio and Kentucky Rule Four Men Ineligible for Execution Due to Serious Mental Illness

Though the Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution for­bids the death penal­ty for a per­son who is ​“insane” at the time of exe­cu­tion, it has nev­er held that the exe­cu­tion of peo­ple with seri­ous men­tal ill­ness is uncon­sti­tu­tion­al. Experts have found that two in five peo­ple exe­cut­ed between 2000 and 2015 had a men­tal ill­ness diag­no­sis such as bipo­lar dis­or­der, schiz­o­phre­nia, or PTSD. Since 2017, at least eleven states have attempt­ed to strength­en pro­tec­tions for vul­ner­a­ble pris­on­ers by intro­duc­ing bills bar­ring the exe­cu­tion of those with seri­ous men­tal illness…

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News

Sep 12, 2023

Ohio General Assembly Resumes Bipartisan Efforts to Abolish the Death Penalty

On September 6, 2023, a bipar­ti­san group of Ohio state rep­re­sen­ta­tives rein­tro­duced a bill that would abol­ish the death penal­ty and replace the pun­ish­ment with life in prison with­out parole. Legislators in Ohio have debat­ed the use of cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment for near­ly a decade, but this renewed effort comes after state sen­a­tors intro­duced Senate Bill 101 ear­li­er in the year, which would also abol­ish the use of cap­i­tal pun­ish­ment. Among the pri­ma­ry spon­sors of these bills is Representative Jean Schmidt (R‑Loveland). Representative Schmidt cit­ed her pro-life val­ues in her support…

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News

Jul 20, 2023

Judge Rules Tennessee Statute Which Expands Attorney General Authority in Death Penalty Cases is Unconstitutional

On July 17, 2023, a Shelby County Criminal Court judge struck down a new statute, passed by the Tennessee Legislature in April 2023, to expand author­i­ty of the appoint­ed state attor­ney gen­er­al in death penal­ty cas­es. Judge Paula Skahan ruled that the law uncon­sti­tu­tion­al­ly removes the pow­er of the local­ly elect­ed dis­trict attor­ney. Some attor­neys and law­mak­ers who dis­agreed with the new statute ear­li­er expressed con­cerns that the new law tar­get­ed pro­gres­sive dis­trict attor­neys who were reluc­tant to pur­sue the death penalty.

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News

Jun 05, 2023

Black-Led Organizations Oppose New Death Penalty Legislation, Citing Disproportionate Effect on Communities of Color

Black-led orga­ni­za­tions are oppos­ing leg­isla­tive efforts in sev­er­al states to rein­tro­duce or expand use of the death penal­ty. Lawmakers in Illinois and New Jersey have intro­duced leg­is­la­tion to rein­state the death penal­ty, while oth­er leg­is­la­tors in Tennessee and Florida have pro­posed bills which would increase its use. Tennessee Senate Bill 1112 would require an exe­cu­tion to be car­ried out with­in 30 days of sen­tenc­ing. Governor DeSantis recent­ly signed leg­is­la­tion that nul­li­fied jury una­nim­i­ty by requir­ing only eight jurors to rec­om­mend a death sen­tence, and Senate Bill 1342 would pre­vent a Florida judge…

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News

Jun 02, 2023

Conservative Commentator Warns of Dangers of Non-Unanimous Death Sentences

Florida’s recent deci­sion to allow death sen­tences with­out a unan­i­mous jury rec­om­men­da­tion increas­es the risk of exe­cut­ing an inno­cent per­son, accord­ing to con­ser­v­a­tive com­men­ta­tor Christian Schneider (pic­tured). In a May 25, 2023 col­umn for The National Review, Schneider argues that con­ser­v­a­tives should oppose the law that allows a death sen­tence to be imposed when only eight jurors agree.

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News

May 11, 2023

First Hearing Held on Ohio Legislation to Abolish the Death Penalty

On May 9, 2023, the Ohio Senate Judiciary Committee held its first hear­ing on Senate Bill 101 that would abol­ish the state’s death penal­ty. The co-spon­sors of the bill, Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio (D‑Lakewood) and Senator Stephen Huffman (R‑Tipp City), argued in favor of the bill’s pas­sage and not­ed that more than one-third of Ohio’s sen­a­tors have signed on as sponsors.

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News

May 02, 2023

As Tennessee Legislature Ends, Two Death-Penalty Bills Fail and One Passes

Bills to alter the state’s method of exe­cu­tion and to make the exe­cu­tion process more trans­par­ent failed in Tennessee’s leg­is­la­ture this year as its ses­sion con­clud­ed. In an effort to facil­i­tate exe­cu­tions bogged down by the state’s prob­lems with lethal injec­tion, a bill was pro­posed to give pris­on­ers the option of the fir­ing squad for their exe­cu­tion. Following an inde­pen­dent inves­ti­ga­tion into Tennessee’s lethal injec­tion pro­to­cols, Governor Bill Lee ® had sus­pend­ed exe­cu­tions on January 5, 2023.

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News

Apr 28, 2023

South Carolina Advances Legislation to Keep Execution Details Secret

Bills to hide the iden­ti­ties of lethal-injec­tion drug sup­pli­ers and exe­cu­tion team mem­bers from the pub­lic have passed both cham­bers of the South Carolina leg­is­la­ture. The bills face a rec­on­cil­i­a­tion process before one can move to the governor’s desk for sig­na­ture. Proponents of the law say it is nec­es­sary because reveal­ing such infor­ma­tion might make exe­cu­tions dif­fi­cult or impos­si­ble. South Carolina has not car­ried out an exe­cu­tion in 12 years. Opponents say the pub­lic has the right to know about gov­ern­ment actions.

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