HB 1119 Indiana House · 2026 Regular Session

Execution methods.

Summary

Authorizes the death penalty to be carried out by firing squad. Removes the requirement that an execution be carried out: (1) at the Indiana state prison; and (2) before sunrise. Adds a pooled media witness to the list of persons authorized to witness an execution. Exempts certain persons from being required to participate in an execution, and requires the department of correction to contract with a psychologist or psychiatrist to make available treatment services to a member of an execution team. Makes conforming amendments and technical corrections.

Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jan 2026

House Passage

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Last action Jan 28, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Bill (H) → Engrossed House Bill (H) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reprinted with an updated date and digest to reflect amendments made on January 27, 2026. The most significant substantive change is the removal of nitrogen hypoxia as an authorized execution method, leaving only firing squad and lethal injection. Additionally, the bill now requires the Department of Correction to contract with a mental health professional to provide treatment services to members of the execution team.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding execution methods was narrowed by removing nitrogen hypoxia as an option, while new requirements were added for mental health support for execution team members.

REQUIREMENT

Removed nitrogen hypoxia as an authorized method for carrying out the death penalty, restricting execution methods to firing squad and lethal injection.

Added a requirement for the Department of Correction to contract with a psychologist or psychiatrist to provide treatment services to members of the execution team.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill's reprint date from January 22, 2026, to January 28, 2026, and the digest update date to January 27, 2026, to reflect recent amendments.

Floor votes · House Jan 27, 2026

How they voted

86–6

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 99

Jan 27, 2026

D Democratic29

27 Yea 2

93% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican69

58 Yea 6 Nay 5

84% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 27, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (86-6-7)

house

Jan 27, 2026

Amended

Amendment #4 (Pierce M) failed; voice vote

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amendment #1 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Amended

Amendment #9 (Morris) failed; voice vote

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amendment #6 (Garcia Wilburn) prevailed; Roll Call 101: yeas 87, nays 6

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amendment #2 (Zimmerman) prevailed; Division of the House: yeas 58, nays 32

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors