USA - Nebraska. The Judiciary Committee voted to advance LB 276 to repeal the state's death penalty

The Judiciary Committee voted 6-1 to advance LB 276, a proposal to repeal the state's death penalty, but the measure isn't expected to be debated until next year. The bill was introduced by Omaha Sen. Brenda Council, the leading opponent of capital punishment in the Legislature. LB 276 would replace the death penalty with a sentence of life in prison “without the possibility of parole." The bill also would authorize judges to order inmates to provide restitution to the victim's estate for “any pain and suffering” caused by a murder. Currently, restitution is allowed only to pay funeral costs and any medical expenses. Council said advancing the bill would make it available for debate next year. Because LB 276 is not a priority bill (the last execution was in 1997), it is unlikely to see discussion this year.