The state Justice Cabinet on Thursday sent its proposed changes to the state's lethal injection process to the legislature. A state judge more than a year ago ordered Kentucky to halt executions until it switches from using three drugs to just one drug for lethal injections.
The proposal makes some changes based on input from a public hearing in September. Among them is that inmates will no longer be limited to two minutes to speak before dying.
The regulations governing lethal injection now go to legislative committees for review.
If the proposal is approved, state officials expect to ask Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd in February or March to lift his order barring inmates from being put to death.
