Bill > HB843

This bill abolishes the death penalty in Missouri and mandates that anyone previously sentenced to death must instead be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of probation, parole, or release except by an act of the governor. The legislation repeals numerous existing statutes related to capital punishment and modifies several criminal sentencing provisions. Specifically, the bill removes all references to the death penalty from Missouri's criminal code, changing first-degree murder sentencing for adults to automatically mean life imprisonment without potential release. For individuals under 18 at the time of the offense, sentencing will follow existing juvenile justice guidelines. The bill also eliminates the two-stage trial process previously used in death penalty cases, streamlining murder trials to follow standard criminal trial procedures. Additionally, the legislation removes detailed provisions about execution protocols, witness requirements, and special procedures for pregnant female defendants facing capital punishment. The changes effectively end capital punishment in Missouri, replacing it with the most severe potential sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of release.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB843&year=2025&code=R