A Maryland House of Delegates committee approved Gov. Martin O'Malley's bill to repeal the death penalty on Friday after voting down a number amendments to retain capital punishment for certain criminals.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 14-8 to move the legislation to the full House. The Senate passed the repeal bill on Wednesday.
The committee killed a number of amendments that would have continued to allow the execution of serial killers, multiple murderers and terrorists.
The death penalty repeal has been a priority of O'Malley's and is expected to pass on the House floor.
However, Maryland hasn't executed anybody since 2005 and has put to death five inmates since 1978. O'Malley's administration has refused to put into place protocols that would allow the state to move forward with the executions of the five inmates currently on death row.
