Relating to abolishing the death penalty.

HB 454 would abolish the death penalty in Texas by amending the Penal Code to replace it as a sentencing option for capital felonies with life imprisonment (for offenders under 18 at the time of the offense) or life without parole (for offenders 18 or older). The bill also revises jury instructions and trial procedures to remove references to the death penalty and update mandatory sentencing rules. This change directly affects all individuals convicted of capital felonies in Texas, eliminating the death penalty from their potential sentences. The bill does not alter the definition of capital felonies but removes the death penalty as a sentencing alternative.