Sponsors (28)
The bill abolishes federal capital punishment and resentences those on federal death row—securing a major rights/justice change and modest cost savings—while creating substantial administrative burdens, potential increases in prison management costs, and renewed hardship for victims' families.
People previously under federal death sentences will be resentenced, ending the prospect of federal executions for those individuals.
Prevents future federal death sentences and executions, removing the risk that the federal government will impose capital punishment going forward.
Reduces federal costs tied to maintaining death row and carrying out executions, producing savings for the government and taxpayers.
Requires widespread resentencing hearings and related proceedings, substantially increasing workload for federal courts and likely causing case delays.
Victims' families may face renewed legal proceedings and lengthy delays, creating emotional hardship and procedural uncertainty for those individuals.
Could lengthen incarceration or change security classifications for some inmates, increasing Bureau of Prisons management needs and raising costs for taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Ends federal capital punishment and requires resentencing of everyone previously sentenced to death under federal law.
Official title: To prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for any violation of Federal law, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 20, 2026 by Ayanna Pressley · Last progress May 20, 2026
Bans the federal government from imposing or carrying out the death penalty going forward and requires that anyone previously sentenced to death under federal law be resentenced. The law replaces federal capital sentences with a non‑death sentence through a resentencing process triggered upon enactment.