Bill > HB994

This bill abolishes the death penalty in Missouri and mandates that any person previously sentenced to death must now be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of probation, parole, or release except by an act of the governor. The legislation repeals multiple existing sections of Missouri law related to capital punishment and modifies several statutes concerning first-degree murder sentencing. Specifically, the bill eliminates all references to the death penalty in the state's criminal code, changing the punishment for first-degree murder to mandatory life imprisonment without eligibility for release. For individuals 18 years or older convicted of first-degree murder, the sentence will now be life imprisonment without probation, parole, or release, except through an act of the governor. The bill also removes the two-stage trial process previously used in death penalty cases and simplifies the sentencing procedures for first-degree murder. Additionally, the legislation removes detailed provisions about execution protocols, witness requirements for executions, and other administrative processes related to capital punishment. This change represents a significant reform of Missouri's criminal justice system by eliminating capital punishment as a sentencing option.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB994&year=2025&code=R