MO HB644

Repeals Missouri's death penalty statutes and replaces them with life imprisonment without parole as the sole punishment for murder in the first degree.

Changes the punishment for murder in the first degree from "death or life imprisonment without parole" to "life imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole, or release except by act of the governor."

Eliminates all procedural statutes governing death penalty cases, including provisions for execution warrants, execution methods (lethal gas or injection), and execution protocols.

Applies retroactively to persons convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to death prior to August 28, 2013, requiring their sentences to be converted to life imprisonment without parole.

Removes aggravating and mitigating circumstance provisions previously used in capital sentencing proceedings and eliminates the two-stage trial process for death penalty cases.