This bill seeks to reintroduce the death penalty for capital offenses in Minnesota, establishing a detailed legal framework that includes specific procedures and criteria for its application. Key provisions require the prosecuting attorney to file a notice of intent to seek the death penalty and mandate the appointment of qualified attorneys for defendants. The bill specifies eligible capital offenses, such as certain first-degree murders, and prohibits the imposition of the death penalty on individuals under 18 years of age at the time of the crime. It also includes considerations for DNA evidence and excludes developmentally disabled individuals from facing the death penalty. The legislation outlines the method of execution, the timeline for setting execution dates, and the necessity for a unanimous jury decision for a death sentence.

Additionally, the bill introduces significant amendments to the procedures surrounding the death penalty, including the establishment of a unified review process for capital cases by the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is tasked with determining the sufficiency of evidence or reversible errors before affirming, reforming, or setting aside a death sentence. The Governor is required to notify the court regarding execution status and must stay execution if an inmate is found mentally ill or pregnant. The Board of Pardons is given the authority to hear petitions for commutation of death sentences, with specific procedures for filing and conducting hearings. The effective date for these changes is set for August 1, 2026, applying to crimes committed on or after that date, and the bill clarifies that individuals sentenced to death are not eligible for supervised release or discharge at any time.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 243.05, 609.10, 609.106, 609.12, 609.135, 609.185