HB 2272, by Representatives Schreiber, Ballard, Carmichael, Osman, Sutton and Wasinger, was introduced on February 5th. It has been referred to House Judiciary.
SB 245 was introduced through Senate Judiciary Committee. It has been referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
Both bills would end the death penalty for aggravated murders happening on or after July 1, 2025. The sentence would be life without parole.
Why repeal?
Many Kansans oppose the death penalty because it violates their moral principles.
Other Kansans want to end it because of its many practical problems.
- The death penalty puts extra burdens on taxpayers.
In 2014, the Kansas Judicial Council found that defense and district court costs are 3 to 4 x higher in trials where the death penalty is sought than for those when the death penalty is not being considered.
- The death penalty fails victim families.
By keeping the death penalty in place, Kansas forces some murder victims’ families to endure years of additional legal proceedings and uncertainty, which can inflict additional pain and delay the healing process.
- Mistakes happen in the courts. There is the risk of someone being sentenced to death who actually is innocent.
If the death penalty remains in place, there remains the real risk of executing an innocent person, recently illustrated by wrongful first degree murder convictions here in Kansas.
To learn more about the many ways the death penalty fails the people of Kansas, see our fact sheet page.
Here is a link to contact your legislators and let them know what you think on this issue: Representatives and Senators.