HB27 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Death penalty, resentencing if not a unanimous verdict

Summary

HB27 would let certain capital murder defendants be resentenced if the judge did not follow the jury's advisory sentence, by creating a new petition-based process and repealing an older rule, with an effective date of June 1, 2024.

What This Bill Does

HB27 creates a new resentencing pathway for capital murder defendants by adding Section 13A-5-46.1, requiring resentencing for defendants sentenced before June 1, 2024, upon petition to the sentencing court. Petitions are treated as authorized motions for modifications, filed on forms prescribed by the Administrative Office of Courts, with a unique identifier assigned and no filing fee. The bill repeals the existing Section 13A-5-47.1 that governs resentencing for certain capital murder defendants and makes a few nonsubstantive language updates. It becomes effective June 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Capital murder defendants who were sentenced before June 1, 2024: may petition for resentencing under the new process, potentially changing their sentence.
• The sentencing courts and the Administrative Office of Courts: will administer the petition process (forms, filing, unique identifiers, rules) and carry out resentencing when directed.

Key Provisions

• Adds 13A-5-46.1 to require resentencing for defendants sentenced prior to June 1, 2024, upon petition to the sentencing court; petitions treated as authorized motions for modifications; filed on forms prescribed by AOC; a unique identifier will be assigned; no filing fee.
• Repeals 13A-5-47.1, the existing provision relating to resentencing for certain capital murder defendants.
• Effective date of June 1, 2024.
• Includes nonsubstantive, technical updates to modernize the code language.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Incarceration