Modifies provisions relating to trial procedures for murder in the first degree

HB 894 changes the trial process for defendants charged with first-degree murder when the death penalty is sought. It requires a two-stage trial: first, a guilt determination, followed by a separate punishment phase if the defendant is found guilty. During the punishment phase, a jury or judge must impose life imprisonment without parole (instead of the death penalty) if any of four specific conditions are met: the defendant is intellectually disabled, no aggravating circumstances are found, mitigating evidence outweighs aggravation, or the jury cannot unanimously agree on death. The bill applies only to first-degree murder cases where the death penalty was not waived and affects defendants in such trials, not all criminal cases.