SB 1186 — Modifies provisions relating to jury instructions for the offense of murder in the first degree
Last action — Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee
-
✓Introduced
-
2In Committee
-
3Passed Senate
-
4Passed House
-
5To Executive
-
6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
Low chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
-
In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
-
1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
SB 1186 - Under current law, if a jury is unable to agree upon the punishment for the offense of murder in the first degree, the court is to instruct the jury that the judge may decide upon a punishment of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole or a sentence of death. This act repeals the provision that a judge may decide upon a punishment of death if the jury is unable to agree. This act is identical to HB 2141 (2026), HB 2186 (2026), HB 2348 (2026), SB 225 (2025), HB 452 (2025), SB 1169 (2024), SB 687 (2023), SB 825 (2022), HB 1746 (2022), HB 2700 (2022), SB 341 (2021), SB 920 (2020), SB 288 (2019), and SB 996 (2018). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.
Bill Text
- Introduced 4688S.01I - Introduced Current pdf
Action History
-
Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee
-
S First Read
-
Prefiled
Sponsors
- Mary Elizabeth Coleman · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 198 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (198)
198 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 198 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does SB 1186 do?
- SB 1186 - Under current law, if a jury is unable to agree upon the punishment for the offense of murder in the first degree, the court is to instruct the jury that the judge may decide upon a punishment of life imprisonment without eligibility for parole or a sentence of death. This act repeals the provision that a judge may decide upon a punishment of death if the jury is unable to agree. This act is identical to HB 2141 (2026), HB 2186 (2026), HB 2348 (2026), SB 225 (2025), HB 452 (2025), SB 1169 (2024), SB 687 (2023), SB 825 (2022), HB 1746 (2022), HB 2700 (2022), SB 341 (2021), SB 920 (2020), SB 288 (2019), and SB 996 (2018). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.
- Who sponsors SB 1186?
- SB 1186 is sponsored by Mary Elizabeth Coleman.
- What is the current status of SB 1186?
- This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced December 01, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track SB 1186?
- Track SB 1186 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
Make your voice heard on SB 1186
Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.
Stay ahead of SB 1186
Last checked for changes about 2 months ago · updated continuously
One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.
Track this bill →