More than one hundred bills have been introduced this year in 34 states and in Congress to expand and limit use of the death penalty, abolish and reinstate the death penalty, modify execution protocols and secret the information about them, and alter aspects of capital trials. Thus far, nine bills in five states have been enacted, with Florida enacting the most legislation. Of the bills that have been signed into law, three modify execution protocols; two expand the circumstances for death eligibility; one expands aggravating circumstances; one law makes a death sentence mandatory; one modifies the process and lowers the legal standard for intellectual disability claims; and one modifies the process to determine mental competency for execution. The majority of enacted bills have been sponsored by Republican legislators.
