STATEHOUSE (Jan. 14, 2026) – State Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne) recently introduced legislation that would establish new procedures for carrying out the death penalty in Indiana.
House Bill 1287 would require the warden of the state prison to select an execution team from members of the Indiana General Assembly who voluntarily offer their names in writing. This legislation prohibits anyone outside of the General Assembly from serving on the execution team and states that an execution cannot proceed until the team is fully staffed and trained. Members of the execution team would be public record.
Morris, who is a staunch death penalty opponent, said he authored this bill to add accountability and legislative oversight of death penalty executions in Indiana.
"I'm a pro-life legislator from conception until the final breath, and I do not believe that another human being should be taking a human life," Morris said. "But the reality is Indiana is a death penalty state. If lawmakers are going to advance and uphold laws that take a life, it's those same lawmakers who should be responsible for committing the act. Don't give anyone a job that you wouldn't want to do yourself."
Morris said that the bill emphasizes volunteer participation and public record status to reinforce legislative oversight and public transparency.
The legislation is part of a broader discussion at the Statehouse on how Indiana handles capital punishment. During the 2025 legislative session, Morris introduced House Bill 1030, which would have repealed the death penalty law. The bill was referred to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee but did not receive a hearing.
House Bill 1287 was also referred to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. If passed by committee the bill would move to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
To learn more about the bill and follow session, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne) represents House
District 84, which includes a portion of Allen County
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