House votes to eliminate mandatory life‑without‑parole for juvenile offenders

Representative Snow presented HB 405 with an amendment clarifying the change is prospective and includes parole‑board input requested by the Board of Pardons. Snow said the bill aligns state law with U.S. Supreme Court rulings (Roper, Graham, Miller and Montgomery) that limit extreme penalties for juveniles and require courts to account for developmental differences.

Snow said the bill preserves a sentence of 25 years to life for serious offenses but removes an automatic life‑without‑parole outcome, emphasizing that parole‑board review would provide a realistic opportunity for release where appropriate. Supporters described cases where youthful offenders later rehabilitated; opponents — citing victims' families — urged caution about removing a judge's discretion in the most extreme cases.

Representative Nelson said he had voted for the committee bill but changed his position after receiving an anguished call from a victim's father; Nelson said he now favored retaining life‑without‑parole in rare, heinous cases. Other members, including Representative McKiff and Representative Cox, argued for the opportunity to review sentences over time and to allow for rehabilitation. The sponsor said the change is consistent with national trends and said the parole board retains authority to keep incorrigible offenders incarcerated.

The House adopted the amendment and passed second substitute HB 405; the transcript records the vote as 64 yea, 3 nay. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate.