HB 1281: Homicide Criminal Offenses

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Under current law, if a person engages in conduct that creates a grave risk to human life with an extreme indifference to the value of human life and causes the death of another person, the person commits first degree murder. The bill requires that the person:Cause the death of more than one person;Cause the death of one person and cause serious bodily injury to 2 or more persons by means of a deadly weapon;Cause the death of a child who is under 12 years old; orCause the death of a peace officer, emergency medical service provider, emergency medical care provider, or firefighter engaged in the performance of their duties.     The bill creates a new charge of murder in the second degree if a person engages in conduct that creates a grave risk to human life with an extreme indifference to the value of human life and causes the death of only one other person.      The bill expands the conduct by which a person can commit criminally negligent homicide to include proximately causing the death of another person while operating or driving a motor vehicle with criminal negligence.     The bill creates the offense of aggravated vehicular homicide by operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner or while under the influence of or impaired by alcohol or other drugs and causing the death of another person when the person also:Has been convicted twice of driving under the influence or driving while ability impaired;Has been convicted of vehicular homicide or vehicular assault;Commits the offense while eluding or attempting to elude law enforcement;Commits the offense while in flight from the commission of another felony offense, not including a traffic offense; orCommits the offense while driving at a high rate of speed, creating an imminent risk of death or serious bodily injury to another person.      The bill creates the new offense of negligent vehicular homicide if a person drives a motor vehicle with criminal negligence and causes the death of another person. Negligent vehicular homicide is a class 5 felony.(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 10

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. May 12, 2026Senate Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over to 05/14/2026 - No Amendments
2. May 11, 2026Senate Second Reading Special Order - Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
3. May 6, 2026Senate Committee on Judiciary Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole
4. April 30, 2026Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Judiciary
5. April 30, 2026Introduced In Senate - Assigned to
6. April 29, 2026House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
7. April 27, 2026House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
8. April 24, 2026House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
9. April 17, 2026House Second Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments
10. April 14, 2026House Committee on Judiciary Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole
11. February 20, 2026Introduced In House - Assigned to Judiciary