SB182 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kirk HatcherSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Capital Murder; sentence further provided for; resentence in certain circumstances

Summary

SB182 would require a unanimous jury vote for death in capital murder cases, a majority vote for life without parole, and introduce new resentencing rules for defendants sentenced under older laws, effective June 1, 2024.

What This Bill Does

Death sentences would require unanimous agreement by the jurors; life without parole would be decided by a majority vote. If a judge previously sentenced a defendant differently from the jury’s advisory verdict and the death sentence was not unanimous, the defendant must be resentenced. The bill creates new resentencing provisions for defendants sentenced before June 1, 2024, repeals the old resentencing provision, and updates sentencing procedures, including how hearings handle potential mistrials and jury participation.

Who It Affects

• Defendants in capital murder cases, who could see death sentences require unanimity and may be subject to resentencing under the new rules, including those whose cases involve advisory verdicts from before 2017.
• Judges, juries, and the court system, which would follow new sentencing procedures, hearing formats, and the requirement to resent certain pre-June 1, 2024 sentences, with an effective date of June 1, 2024.

Key Provisions

• Unanimous juror vote required to impose death; majority vote required for life without parole; written verdict must specify the vote.
• Creation of new resentencing provisions (Sections 13A-5-46.1 and 13A-5-47.2) for defendants sentenced prior to June 1, 2024, repeal of the prior resentencing section (13A-5-47.1), and effective date of June 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

Criminal Procedure