Bill > SB245

This bill eliminates the death penalty in Kansas for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, and creates a new crime called "aggravated murder" to replace capital murder. The bill establishes that any person convicted of aggravated murder will be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Specifically, the bill defines aggravated murder as intentional and premeditated killing under various circumstances, such as killing during a kidnapping, killing pursuant to a contract, killing while in custody, killing in conjunction with certain sexual crimes, killing a law enforcement officer, killing multiple people, or killing a child under 14 during a kidnapping with sexual intent. The legislation makes several important changes: 1. No person can be sentenced to death for crimes committed after July 1, 2025 2. Persons already sentenced to death for crimes committed before that date may still be executed 3. Aggravated murder becomes an off-grid person felony with mandatory life imprisonment without parole 4. Numerous existing statutes are amended to replace references to "capital murder" with "aggravated murder" 5. The bill modifies various provisions related to sentencing, criminal records, and offender registration to reflect these changes The bill aims to eliminate capital punishment while ensuring that the most serious murders still result in the most severe punishment available - life imprisonment without the possibility of release.

Justice

Judiciary (Senate)

https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb245/