AN ACT RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- HOMICIDE (Prohibits the imposition of a sentence of life without parole upon any person twenty-one (21) years of age or younger.)

S2719

2026 -- S 2719
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LC005480
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- HOMICIDE

Introduced By:
Senators Bissaillon, and Quezada

Date Introduced:
February 27, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Judiciary
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 11-23-2 and 11-23-2.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-23 entitled
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"Homicide" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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11-23-2. Penalties for murder.
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Every person guilty of murder in the first degree shall be imprisoned for life. Every person
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guilty of murder in the first degree: (1) committed intentionally while engaged in the commission
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of another capital offense or other felony for which life imprisonment may be imposed; (2)
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committed in a manner creating a great risk of death to more than one person by means of a weapon
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or device or substance which would normally be hazardous to the life of more than one person; (3)
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committed at the direction of another person in return for money or any other thing of monetary
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value from that person; (4) committed in a manner involving torture or an aggravated battery to the
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victim; (5) committed against any member of the judiciary, law enforcement officer, corrections
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employee, assistant attorney general or special assistant attorney general, or firefighter arising from
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the lawful performance of his or her official duties; (6) committed by a person who at the time of
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the murder was committed to confinement in the adult correctional institutions or the state
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reformatory for women upon conviction of a felony; or (7) committed during the course of the
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perpetration or attempted perpetration of felony manufacture, sale, delivery or other distribution of
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a controlled substance otherwise prohibited by the provisions of chapter 28 of title 21; shall be
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imprisoned for life and if ordered by the court pursuant to chapter 19.2 of title 12 that person shall
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not be eligible for parole from imprisonment
; provided that, no person twenty-one (21) years of

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age or younger shall be imprisoned without the possibility of parole
. Every person guilty of murder
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in the second degree shall be imprisoned for not less than ten (10) years and may be imprisoned for
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life.
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11-23-2.1. Penalty for murder of a kidnapped person under the age of eighteen (18).
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If any person under the age of eighteen (18) who is kidnapped in violation of § 11-26-1 by
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a person other than his or her natural or adopted parent dies as a direct result of the kidnapping,
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then the person convicted of the offense shall be guilty of murder in the first degree and shall be
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punished by imprisonment for life, and the court may, pursuant to chapter 19.2 of title 12, order
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that that person not be eligible for parole
, provided, that no person twenty-one (21) years of age or
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younger shall be imprisoned without the possibility of parole
.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES -- HOMICIDE
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This act would prohibit the imposition of a sentence of life without parole upon any person
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twenty-one (21) years of age or younger.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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