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(By State)
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This is a working document. It has been compiled from internet postings and conversations with selected activists. Additional information and corrections are welcome! Please contact Sara Klemm at 301-699-0042 or sarak@quixote.org.
States with moratorium legislation pending in 2001:
AL | AR | CT | IN | KY | LA | MD | MS | MO | NV | NJ | NC | OK | PA | TN | TX | VA | WA
| State | Bill # | Details | Sponsors | Status |
| Alabama (Senate) |
SB14 | Provides for a three year moratorium on the death penalty; provides for the implementation of certain procedures for imposing the death penalty. Bill text at the Alabama Legislature. | Senator Hank Sanders | session adjourned sine die September 19, 2001; bill dead |
| Arkansas (Senate) |
SB915 | Provides for a moratorium when "DNA is an issue." Bill text at Arkansas Legislature. | Senator Bill Walker | died in Senate Committee on Technology and Legislative Affairs with end of session |
| Connectiuct (House) |
HB7024 | Prevents the execution of the mentally retarded and calls for a moratorium on executions. Bill text at Connecticut Legislature. | Rep. Michael P Lawlor | died with vote of 71-74 |
| Connecticut (Senate) |
SB413 | Suspends executions in the state pending the completion of a study on the use of the death penalty. Bill text at the Connecticut Legislature (click on "Text Search" and enter the Bill #) | Senator Mary Ann Handley | study passed without moratorium component |
| Indiana (House) |
HB1848 | Imposes a moratorium until April 1, 2003; creates a committee to review all trials involving murders in the state of Indiana between July 1, 1976 and July 1, 2001. Bill text at Indiana Legislature. | Rep. Charlie Brown | referred to Courts and Criminal Code Committee |
| Kentucky (Senate) |
SB38 | Imposes a 5 year moratorium on executions; requires the Criminal Justice Council to make recommendations on the imposition of the death penalty to the 2003 General Assembly. Bill text at the Kentucky Legislature. | Senator G. Neal | died in committee with Session end March 23, 2001 |
| Louisiana (House) |
HB675 | Provides for a moratorium on the death penalty regardless of when the offense or conviction occurred. Bill text at the Louisiana Legislature. (Search Instrument at bottom of page) | Rep. Cedric Richmond | referred to Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice; March 23, 2001 |
| Louisiana (Senate) |
SB692 | Halts executions until September 1, 2001; establishes a Louisiana Death Sentence Study Commission to study the death penalty and how it is applied. Bill text at the Louisiana Legislature. (Search Instrument at bottom of page) | Senator Donald Crains | bill withdrawn by Senator Crains |
| Maryland (House) |
HB563 | Prohibits executions from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2003; voids execution warrants signed before July 1, 2001 pending the completion of Governor-commissioned study regarding race and the death penalty. Bill text at Maryland Legislature. | Delegate Salima Siler Marriott | passed House Floor 82-54; Saturday March 24, 2001
died with session end on April 9, 2001 |
| Maryland (Senate) |
SB316 | same as House bill. Bill text at Maryland Legislature. | Senator Clarence Blount | died with session end on April 9, 2001 |
| Mississippi (House) |
HB1127 | Enacts a moratorium on executions. Bill text at Mississippi Legislature. | Rep. John Mayo | died in Judiciary En Banc Committee January 30, 2001 |
| Missouri (House) |
HB68 | Creates a death penalty commission and imposes a 3 year moratorium on executions. Bill text at Missouri House. | Rep. Chris Liese | bill currently not on calendar |
| Missouri (Senate) |
SB55 | Establishes a death penalty study commission and imposes a 3-year moratorium in the interim. See bill at Missouri Senate. | Sen. Mary Bland | bill currently not on calendar |
| Nevada (Senate) |
SB254 | (Amended from abolition bill) Enacts a 2 year moratorium on executions while state officials study the death penalty. Bill text at Nevada Legislature. | Senator Joe Neal | passed Senate (13-8); March 18, 2001, moved to Assembly
dead in Assembly Judiciary Committee as of May 21, 2001 |
| New Jersey | A1853 | Imposes a 2 year moratorium on the death penalty; creates an interim study commission. Bill text at New Jersey Legislature. | Assemblyman Alfred Steele | awaits action in Assembly Judiciary Committee; hearings refused for February or March |
| North Carolina (Senate) |
SB172 | Provides for a moratorium until the General Assembly takes action for a fair and impartial administration of the death penalty in accordance with due process; also creates a study. Bill info at North Carolina Legislature. | Sen. Frank Balance | referred to Committee on Judiciary II |
| Oklahoma | HB1013 | Imposes a 1 year moratorium on executions; requires the Oklahoma Sentencing Commission to study the death penalty and issue a report. See Bill text at Oklahoma Legislature. (Scroll down to "1013") | Rep. Opio Toure | killed in committee by a "voice vote" |
| Pennsylvania (House) |
HB1111 | Halts executions for 2 years; creates a commission to study the death penalty in Pennsylvania. Bill text at Pennsylvania Legislature. | Rep. John D. Myers | referred to Judiciary; March 21, 2001 |
| Pennsylvania (Senate) |
SB25 | Suspends executions for a period of 2 years; creates a commission to study the death penalty and its administration in Pennsylvania. Bill text at Pennsylvania Legislature. | Sen. Edward W. Helfrick | referred to Judiciary Committee |
| Tennessee (House) |
HB1566 | Creates a committee to study equal access to justice and other implications of death penalty trials and provides for a moratorium while the study is being conducted; the committee will report its findings by April 1, 2002. Bill text at Tennessee Legislature (click on "bill search"). | Rep. Rob Briley | assigned to S/C Criminal Procedure and Practice of Judiciary; deferred until July 1, 2001 |
| Tennessee (Senate) |
SB1805 | Similar to HB1566. Bill text at Tennessee Legislature (click on "bill search"). | Sen. Roscoe Dixon | taken off notice by action of Senate Judiciary Committee |
| Texas | HB720 | Enacts a 2 year moratorium; creates a nine-member commission to study the death penalty and report to the Texas Legislature in 2003. See Bill text at Texas Legislature. | Rep. Harold Dutton | had hearing in State Affairs March 19, 2001
died with end of the session |
| Texas | HJR59 | Constitutional amendment authorizing the Governor to declare a moratorium. The amendment would have to be approved by voters in a November 2001 election. | passed favorably out of committee
died with end of the session |
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| Texas | SJR25 | Enacts a moratorium until September 1, 2003; creates an entity to study the administration of capital punishment in the state of Texas. Bill text at Texas Legislature. | Sen. Eliot Shapleigh | passed favorably out of Criminal Justice Committee (4-3) on April 10, 2001
died with end of the session |
| Virginia (Senate) |
SB1135 | Establishes a moratorium on executions; provides for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study and issue a report on the death penalty. Bill text at Virginia Legislature. | Senator Henry Marsh | killed in the Committee for Courts of Justice; vote 10-5 |
| Virginia (House) |
HB2664 | Establishes a moratorium on executions; provides for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission to study and issue a report on the death penalty. Bill text at Virginia Legislature. | Del. Harvey Morgan | incoporated into HB2764 |
| Virginia (House) |
HB2764 | Similar to above | Del. James Almand | killed in committee; vote 16-6 |
| Virginia (House) |
HB2799 | Similar to above | Del. Devolites | incorporated into HB2764 |
| Washington | HB1647 | Enacts a moratorium until July 1, 2003 and creates a death penalty task force to review the existing statutes and court rules as pertaining to capital punishment. Bill text at Washington Legislature.
Washington residents, please see also the online petition. |
Rep. Edward Murray | reintroduced April 24, 2001; retained in present status |
Send updates to sarak@quixote.org or call Sara at (301) 699-0042.