Bill
HB 270
Expands NC death penalty to electrocution, firing squad, or lethal injection; inmates may elect method in writing, with a state death chamber and DOC drug-procurement power.
Status & sponsors
- Introduced in the North Carolina House (filed Mar 3, 2025) by Rep. Raymond Willis and co-sponsors.
- Referred to Judiciary 2 (with subsequent referral paths reported March 5, 2025). (Check the legislature’s online docket for current status.)
Purpose
- To change statutory rules governing methods of execution for persons sentenced to death in North Carolina — expanding permissible methods, setting election procedures, clarifying authority for Department of Adult Correction (DOC) officials to procure lethal drugs, and protecting medical personnel who assist with executions.
Key provisions
- Repeals G.S. 15‑187 and substantially rewrites G.S. 15‑188 (manner/place of execution).
- Permitted methods: electrocution, firing squad, or lethal injection (if available). Electrocution is retained as a method; firing squad is added as an option.
- Election by condemned person: A death‑row inmate may elect electrocution, firing squad, or lethal injection in writing no later than 14 days before an execution date. Failure to timely elect is treated as a waiver and electrocution is used by default. Elections expire if a stay or new execution date occurs and must be renewed.
- If lethal injection is unavailable or held unconstitutional — execution shall be by electrocution unless the inmate elects firing squad.
- All executions must occur in a permanent death chamber at Central Prison (Raleigh); DOC must establish execution protocols.
- The warden may obtain and employ execution drugs irrespective of conflicting provisions in Chapter 90 (drug procurement laws).
- G.S. 15‑188.1 (health‑care assistance)
- Licensed health professionals who assist with executions are shielded from disciplinary or corrective action by State licensing boards.
- The statute states that carrying out execution procedures shall not be considered the practice of medicine.
- G.S. 15‑190 (execution personnel and witnesses)
- Execution conducted under warden supervision; a licensed physician or other licensed medical professional must monitor injections or be on‑site to pronounce death.
- Certain witnesses (victim family members, counsel, clergy, others) may be present.
- The identities and contact details of witnesses and persons designated to carry out the execution are confidential and exempt from public records law, subject to limited judicial disclosure in Wake County for administration of justice.
- Defines “medical professional other than a physician” to include PAs, NPs, RNs, EMTs/paramedics, etc.
Who is affected
- People sentenced to death in North Carolina (current and future).
- North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (responsibilities for procuring drugs, protocols, and facilities).
- Medical personnel and licensing boards (who are granted immunity from disciplinary sanctions for execution assistance).
- Victims’ families and lawyers (who may be permitted to attend).
- Courts (writs, stays, litigation over availability or constitutionality of methods).
- Public records administrators (new confidentiality carve-out).
Potential impacts and considerations
- Operational: DOC may need to maintain/restore equipment/personnel and a permanent death chamber, and to procure execution drugs or arrange alternative methods.
- Legal and constitutional: Changes could prompt litigation under Eighth Amendment and other constitutional grounds (method‑of‑execution challenges). Judicial findings about “availability” of lethal injection drugs would determine fallback methods.
- Medical ethics and workforce: The statutory disciplinary immunity may not eliminate ethical objections by professionals or challenges under other law; it may affect willingness of providers to participate.
- Transparency and oversight: The public‑records exemptions reduce public visibility into who performs executions.
- Applicability: The bill treats already‑sentenced inmates similarly — electrocution mandated unless the inmate elects otherwise in writing.
Procedural / timeline notes
- The draft posted is a House bill from the 2025 session; check the NC General Assembly website for amendment history, committee reports, votes, or enactment. If enacted, implementation would require DOC rulemaking and development of execution protocols and facilities.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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