Recent Legislative Activity

Posted: January 06, 2003
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Below are examples of death penalty legislation that have recently passed or are currenty being considered. DPIC welcomes additions and suggestions.
Results of the New Jersey Assembly vote on December 13, 2007.
On third reading, abolition of death penalty was passed 44-36.
Legislative News - Current Year
Legislative News - 2011   2010   2009  2008
Legislative News - Earlier Years, by state
 
Death Penalty in Flux - Where executions are on hold and other developments

2012 - Proposed or passed legislation (* indicates states with bills to abolish death penalty)

State
 Description
 Status
California* A coalition called Taxpayers for Justice has begun collecting signatures to place a death penalty repeal initiative on the ballot in November 2012.  The initiative calls for using money saved by abolition for solving cold cases and assisting victims families. Over 300,000 signatures have been collected as of Jan. 2012.
Connecticut* Abolition bill likely to be voted on in 2012  
Florida* 1. SB 772, SB 352, and HB 29 would require unanimity for a jury to recommend a death sentence
2. HB 4051 would repeal the death penalty		  
Georgia* SB 342 would repeal the death penalty  
Kansas* HB 2323 would repeal the death penalty In House Com. on Federal & State Affairs
Kentucky Legislative proposal to form a death penalty study task force Could result in a hold on executions
Maryland* Abolition bill likely to be offered in 2012.  Key vote will be in Senate Judicial Proceedings Com.  
Nebraska* LB 276 would repeal the death penalty Measure pulled after debate on Jan. 26.  Might be reconsidered later in session
New Hampshire 1. A bill to expand the death penalty for all murders (HB 162).  Sponsor would recommend repealing death penalty if it is too restricted. 1.Passed Crim. Justice & Pub. Safety Com., (Oct. 2011) recommending passage in Jan. 2012.  Same Committee voted unanimously to kill the bill in January, making passage unlikely.
New Mexico Rep. Dennis Kintigh proposed a constitutional amendment to restore the death penalty Amendment would have to be approved by voters.
North Carolina HB 615 would effectively repeal the state's Racial Justice Act by requiring proof of intentional discrimination

Defeated.  Repeal of RJA passed by both Houses in a special session. Vetoed by the governor on Dec. 14.  Legislature had an opportunity to override veto on Jan. 4. 2012, but override failed.  RJA remains the law.

House Select Com. on Racial Discrimination in Capital Cases meets Feb. 10 to discuss changes to RJA.
Ohio Chief Justice of Sup. Ct. established a blue-ribbon commission to study all aspects of the death penalty.  
Oregon Governor declared a moratorium on all executions for remainder of his term.  
Pennsylvania* 1. SB 6 Resolution to initiate a study of death penalty. 1. Passed in Senate in 2011.  To be implemented in 2012.
Rhode Island Sen. John Tassoni proposed bill to restore the death penalty. Passage unlikely; and if passed, likely to be vetoed by governor.
South Dakota SB 42 aimed at speeding up and restricting appeals in criminal cases, including capital cases  
Washington* Sen. Debbie Regala has introduced a bill to repeal the death penalty: SB 6283; HB 2468 Hearing in Sen. Judiciary Com. on Jan. 25.

 

Legislative News and Developments - Previous Years:

 

Alabama Iowa New Hampshire Texas
Alaska Kansas New Jersey Utah
Arizona Kentucky New Mexico Vermont
Arkansas Louisiana New York Virginia
California Maine North Carolina Washington
Colorado Maryland North Dakota West Virginia
Connecticut Massachusetts Ohio Wisconsin
Delaware Michigan Oklahoma Wyoming
Florida Minnesota Oregon  
Georgia Mississippi Pennsylvania  
Hawaii Missouri Rhode Island  
Idaho Montana South Carolina  
Illinois Nebraska South Dakota  
Indiana Nevada Tennessee *Federal


Other Sources:

2008 Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment

For information on legislative changes proposed or enacted as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Ring v. Arizona, see DPIC's Web page, U.S. Supreme Court: Ring v. Arizona

 

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