USA - At least eight states have recently introduced legislation to abolish or limit the death penalty.

Several states have recently introduced legislation to abolish or limit the death penalty.  Bills to end capital punishment have been introduced in at least eight states: Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, New Hampshire, Maryland, Washington, and Kansas.  For some of these states, the high costs of the death penalty has been an important factor in the legislative debates.  Other states, such as Virginia and Georgia, have proposed legislation that would expand the use of capital punishment.