This bill proposes the reinstitution of the death penalty as a potential sentence for individuals convicted of capital murder. The current law, which mandates that a person convicted of capital murder "shall be sentenced to imprisonment for life without the possibility for parole," will be amended to allow for the possibility of the death penalty, as indicated by the insertion of the phrase "may be punished by death." The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.

The fiscal impact of this legislation is significant, with estimated expenditures ranging from $0 to more than $3.5 million annually, depending on the number of capital cases prosecuted. The Department of Justice has noted that capital murder prosecutions are resource-intensive, with historical costs exceeding $2.5 million per case. Additionally, the Judicial Branch anticipates the need for additional judicial resources, which could lead to further expenditures between $100,000 and $500,000 per case. Overall, the bill's implementation may have substantial implications for the judicial and correctional systems, affecting costs related to prosecution, incarceration, and legal representation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 630:1
HB1413 text: 630:1