The bill amends the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to reform sentencing procedures for serious offenses, specifically murder and arson. A significant change is the elimination of the death penalty as a sentencing option for first-degree murder and the murder of a law enforcement officer, replacing it with a mandatory life imprisonment sentence. Additionally, the bill establishes that life imprisonment will also apply to the first-degree murder of an unborn child and introduces the possibility of a life sentence without parole for second-degree murder convictions. The bill also streamlines the processes for direct appeals from courts of common pleas and postconviction DNA testing, while removing certain provisions related to capital cases.

Moreover, the bill repeals Section 4302 of Title 61, which previously detailed the procedures for issuing execution warrants by the Governor, including timelines and directives for the Secretary of Corrections. It emphasizes that any DNA testing requested in postconviction motions must show a reasonable probability of producing exculpatory evidence to establish the applicant's actual innocence. The new provisions will apply to defendants and individuals not yet sentenced as of the act's effective date, which is set to take effect 60 days after passage, marking a significant shift in the legal framework surrounding the death penalty and execution procedures in Pennsylvania.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 960 (Mar 17, 2025): 18-1102(a), 18-3301(b)(1), P.L.233, No.64
Printer's No. 0960: 18-1102(a), 18-3301(b)(1), P.L.233, No.64