WA People
BILL · 2019–20 SESSION

SB 5339: Death penalty elimination

Reducing criminal justice expenses by eliminating the death penalty and instead requiring life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole as the sentence for aggravated first degree murder.

Summary

  • Repeals statutes pertaining to the death penalty.

From the House Bill Report (SB 5339), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 17, 2019
  2. Out of committeeFeb 8, 2019
  3. Passed SenateFeb 15, 2019
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Senator (D-36)
Introduced
January 17, 2019 in the Senate
Last action
March 12, 2020
Requested by
State agency
Companion bill
HB 1488

AN ACT Relating to reducing criminal justice expenses by eliminating the death penalty and instead requiring life imprisonment without possibility of release or parole as the sentence for aggravated first degree murder;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Senator (D-36)

9 co-sponsors (8 Democrats, 1 Republican)

Maureen Walsh R-16Jamie Pedersen D-43Lisa Wellman D-41Karen Keiser D-33Marko Liias D-21Senator D-22Patty Kuderer D-48Joe Nguyen D-34Rebecca Saldaña D-37

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 15, 2019
Version voted on: SB 5339
28 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 2 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat25400
Republican31502
How each member voted

Excused (2)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed January 31, 2020
Version voted on: SB 5339
28 Yea 18 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat24401
Republican41402
How each member voted

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Returned to Senate Rules 3.
  2. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  3. Minority; without recommendation.
  4. Minority; do not pass.
  5. PS - Majority; do pass.
  6. First reading, referred to Public Safety.
  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 3.
  8. Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.
  9. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  10. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
  11. Referred to Rules 2 Consideration.
  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  14. Minority; do not pass.
  15. PS - Majority; do pass.
  16. First reading, referred to Public Safety.
  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 2.
  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
  19. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  20. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  21. Minority; do not pass.
  22. LAW - Majority; do pass.
  23. Minority; without recommendation.
  24. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

SB 5339 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

Report wrong or missing information on this page