COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – An Ohio bill that supporters say is needed to restart executions in the state has passed the Senate.
The 20-10 vote Thursday comes as a prosecutor says he expects the bill to spur lawsuits, making it impossible to carry out the Feb. 11 execution of a condemned killer as planned.
The legislation would shield the names of companies that provide lethal injection drugs to Ohio, a provision that backers say is necessary to obtain supplies of the drugs.
The bill goes back to the House for approval.
Brad Gessner of the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office says that regardless of what happens with the pending legislation, death-penalty opponents will do whatever they can to stop Ronald Phillips’ execution.
Gessner says his office is not counting on the execution taking place.