H.B. No. 2237 seeks to abolish the death penalty in Texas by amending various sections of the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure. The bill proposes to eliminate provisions that allow for the death penalty as a punishment for capital felonies, replacing it with life imprisonment or life imprisonment without parole, depending on the offender's age at the time of the crime. It also modifies jury instructions to ensure jurors understand that life sentences are the only possible outcomes in capital felony trials. Additionally, the bill revises the rights of defendants, allowing them to waive their right to a jury trial under certain conditions and removing specific requirements related to the appointment of counsel in capital cases.

Moreover, the bill includes changes to the handling of restitution payments to victims, requiring the court to provide necessary information about payment forwarding. It modifies the punishment structure for certain offenses by removing the death penalty and allowing for life imprisonment or a minimum of two years of confinement instead. The bill also repeals several provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, indicating a significant overhaul of related legal processes. These changes will apply to all criminal actions pending or commenced after the effective date of the Act, while not affecting any final convictions existing at that time. The Act will take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote from both houses or on September 1, 2025, if such a vote is not achieved.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 12.31, Government Code 557.012 (Government Code 557, Penal Code 12)