H.R. 8940House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act

Introduced May 20, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated June 2, 2026 at 9:41 AM UTC

The Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act would eliminate the death penalty for all federal crimes. It bars any new death sentences under federal law and requires that people already sentenced to death for federal offenses be given new sentences. The bill affects anyone currently on federal death row and any future federal defendants who might face capital punishment.

Key Provisions

  • No person may be sentenced to death or executed for a federal crime after the law takes effect.
  • Anyone who was sentenced to death for a federal crime before the law takes effect must be resentenced.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

May 20, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 20, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

May 20, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 20, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 8940

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 20, 2026

Ms. Pressley (for herself, Ms. Brown, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. DeGette, Mr. Frost, Mr. Garcia of California, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Mejia, Mr. Mullin, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Simon, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Pallone, and Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for any violation of Federal law, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act.

2.

Prohibition on imposition of death sentence

(a)

In General

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person may be sentenced to death or put to death on or after the date of enactment of this Act for any violation of Federal law.

(b)

Persons Sentenced Before Date of Enactment

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person sentenced to death before the date of enactment of this Act for any violation of Federal law shall be resentenced.