SB104 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Death penalty repealed, Secs. 13A-5-39, 13A-5-43, 13A-5-44, 15-18-100 am'd; Secs. 13A-5-45 to 13A-5-53, inclusive, 13A-5-55, 13A-5-59, 15-18-80 to 15-18-86, inclusive, repealed

Summary

SB 104 would repeal Alabama's death penalty, remove death as a punishment for capital offenses, and convert existing death sentences to life without parole.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the death penalty as a possible punishment for capital offenses and removes the related sentencing and sentencing-hearing provisions. It also commutes all existing death sentences to life imprisonment without parole and applies to death sentences both before and after the act’s effective date, which is immediate. The bill also repeals several sections of law detailing capital offense procedures and related rules.

Who It Affects

• People currently sentenced to death or facing capital charges in Alabama—death penalty would be removed, and existing death sentences would be commuted to life imprisonment without parole.
• Courts, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the Board of Pardons and Paroles—these groups would see changes to capital-offense statutes, sentencing procedures, and the process around commutations.

Key Provisions

• Repeals the death penalty as a punishment for capital offenses and amends related sections (13A-5-39, 13A-5-43, 13A-5-44, 15-18-100).
• Repeals Sections 13A-5-45 through 13A-5-53, 13A-5-55, 13A-5-59, and 15-18-80 to 15-18-86, removing sentencing rules and procedures for capital cases.
• All existing death sentences are commuted to life imprisonment without parole.
• The act is effective immediately after passage and applies to death sentences imposed before and after the effective date.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Death Penalty