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HB 2153

Abolishes the death penalty and specifies that any person sentenced to death must be sentenced to life imprisonment without parole

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Boyko and 4 co-sponsors

Missouri bill abolishes capital punishment and mandates life imprisonment without parole for all death-sentenced individuals, eliminating executions statewide.

Motion to Do Pass Failed (H)
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Bill Summary · HB 2153

Legislative bill overview

HB 2153 would eliminate capital punishment in Missouri by abolishing the death penalty and replacing all death sentences with mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This represents a fundamental shift in Missouri's criminal justice system, as the state has carried out executions and maintained capital punishment statutes for decades.

Why is this important

Missouri is among the states that actively uses capital punishment and has executed numerous individuals in recent years. This bill directly addresses ongoing debates about whether the death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, whether it deters crime, and whether irreversible sentences should exist given the risk of wrongful conviction. The outcome affects both criminal defendants facing the most severe charges and broader questions about state power and criminal justice philosophy.

Potential points of contention

  • Constitutional and moral grounds: Supporters argue capital punishment is inherently cruel and unjust; opponents contend it serves justice for the most heinous crimes and reflects community values
  • Victim and family impact: Families of murder victims may view abolition as dismissive of their loss, while death penalty opponents cite cases of exonerations from death row
  • Fiscal implications: While life imprisonment has ongoing costs, opponents argue abolition wastes resources already invested in capital cases; supporters counter that death penalty cases are extraordinarily expensive to litigate
  • Application to existing sentences: The bill requires resentencing of current death row inmates, raising questions about retroactivity and timeline

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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