MONTGOMERY — As the 2026 legislative session kicks off, State Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) is working to ensure Alabama's youngest are adequately protected from sexual predators with a transformative piece of legislation.
On Tuesday evening in Montgomery, Simpson spoke to 1819 News about the legislation he and State Sen. April Weaver (R-Brierfield) have been working to get passed since the last session that would extend the death penalty to child rapists.
"I've done these cases in my career as a prosecutor. I've prosecuted cases where children are the victims of rape, sodomy and sexual torture," Simpson noted. "I've seen what it's like to have a 3,4, 5, 5-year-old child be the subject or the victim of this. It's the worst of the worst crimes, and it deserves the worst of the worst punishment."
According to Simpson, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2008 against such capital punishment, labeling it "cruel and unusual" because "only five states were doing it at that time."
"Since then, in 2023, Florida passed something very similar to this bill," Simpson said. "In 2024, Tennessee passed it. In 2025, Idaho, Oklahoma and Arkansas passed this bill."
"What we're trying to do is show that there are a number of states that are pushing to have this. And so, it is not unusual, and that overturns the rational from the Supreme Court so that way we can overturn that Kennedy decision."
"The more states that get on board with this, the more likely that's going to happen," Simpson added.
The legislation has notably gained significant support from the Trump Administration.
"We had a chance to go to D.C. and meet with the Trump administration," stated Simpson. "They highlighted this bill and said it was a priority that they would like to see passed. We had all the leaders from the Alabama legislature go up for that trip."
"So anytime, the White House is telling you we want to see this bill passed, I feel good about where we stand."
Simpson and Weaver's bill would require that a person 18 or older convicted of rape in the first degree or sodomy in the first degree, when the victim is under 12, be given a death sentence or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. If the offender is under 18, the sentence is life imprisonment without parole or life.
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