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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB1287 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Robert Morris
Last action
2026-01-08
Official status
Introduced House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Changing How Death Sentences Are Carried Out

This bill requires the prison warden to form an execution team from volunteers in the general assembly and makes their names public.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the prison warden to pick a group of volunteers from the state's lawmakers to be on the execution team.
  • Does not allow anyone who is not a lawmaker to join the execution team.
  • Says that executions cannot happen until all spots on the team are filled by lawmakers.
  • Makes public the names of lawmakers who volunteer or serve on the execution team.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The warden of the state prison
  • Lawmakers in the general assembly
  • People sentenced to death

Terms To Know

Execution team
A group chosen by the prison warden to carry out a death sentence.
General Assembly
The state's lawmakers who make laws for Indiana.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not say what happens if no lawmakers volunteer.
  • Does not explain how the selection process works in detail.
  • Does not mention when or how this law will start.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-08 House

    Representative Genda added as coauthor

  2. 2026-01-06 House

    Authored by Representative Morris

  3. 2026-01-06 House

    Coauthored by Representative Judy

  4. 2026-01-06 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.
Execution of death sentence.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.

Execution of death sentence.

Requires the warden of the state prison to select an execution team consisting of members of the general assembly who have volunteered to serve on the execution team. Prohibits a person who is not a member of the general assembly from serving on an execution team, and provides that an execution may not be carried out until the execution team is fully staffed. Specifies that the name of a member of the general assembly who: (1) volunteers to serve on an execution team; or (2) serves on an execution team; is a public record.