HB 651 abolishes the death penalty in Texas. The bill amends Section 12.31 of the Penal Code, eliminating the option of capital punishment for individuals convicted of capital felonies. Instead, such individuals would face life imprisonment without parole if they were 18 years or older at the time of the offense, or life imprisonment with the possibility of parole if younger than 18. The bill also removes various procedural provisions related to death penalty trials, such as jury selection processes specific to death penalty cases. The legislation applies retroactively to cases pending or on appeal as of its effective date, though it does not affect final convictions prior to that date​.