Bill filed to remove nitrogen hypoxia method of execution from Louisiana law

A bill that would remove nitrogen hypoxia, the gassing method of execution, from Louisiana's law was filed.

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — A bill that would remove nitrogen hypoxia, the gassing method of execution, from Louisiana law was filed Tuesday.

SB430 states that the bill "would remove nitrogen hypoxia as a permissible method of execution."

Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D-Monroe) introduced the bill as a part of the 2024 Regular Louisiana Legislative. Jackson-Andrews filed the bill at the request of Jews Against Gassing, according to an official news release.

"It is imperative that Louisiana considers all of its residents in the laws that we enact," said Jackson-Andrews in the release. "Although I am not for the death penalty by any means, it has long been the law in Louisiana. However, earlier this year, a majority of the legislature passed a law that would allow for the same methods of extermination that were used to murder those of Jewish decent."

According to the release, the group is comprised of Jewish organizations, faith leaders and individuals in the Jewish community across the state of Louisiana looking for the removal of the "gassing alternative method of execution from the law."

Gov. Jeff Landry signed HB6 into law in March. The bill adds nitrogen hypoxia and the electric chair to the list of ways that the state could execute death row inmates. The last execution in Louisiana was in 2010. There are about 52 people on the state's death row and there are no scheduled executions as of the publishing of this article despite the new law being signed.

"At this time, I believe that Louisiana must remain sensitive to the oppression that certain communities have suffered in the past and not promote methods that were used in an effort to eradicate an entire group of citizens," said Jackson-Andrews.

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