19-03-2025
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs nitrogen gas execution into law with additional bills
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed multiple bills, including one allowing nitrogen gas executions, into law on Tuesday.
House Bill 1489, now Act 302, allows the state to use nitrogen gas hypoxia as a method of execution for condemned prisoners. The state can also choose to use lethal injection if the drugs are available.
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The act requires the Division of Corrections to develop a method to induce nitrogen hypoxia. It also states that a death sentence will not be overturned if the method of execution is declared unconstitutional, adding that death will be caused by electrocution if a court order forbids lethal injection or nitrogen hypoxia.
The last executions in Arkansas were of four men over eight days in 2017 by lethal injection. The state scheduled the executions back-to-back due to the pending expiration of the difficult-to-obtain drugs. Eight executions were initially planned, but four of the executions were stayed by the court.
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The state currently has 25 inmates on death row.
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