A bill to allow executions in Arkansas through nitrogen-induced hypoxia has advanced through a legislative committee to the full House during its ongoing regular legislative session in Little Rock. House Bill 1489 would expand the state’s alternatives to lethal injection which includes the electric chair. As Little Rock Public Radio reports, Arkansas Deputy Solicitor General Dylan Jacobs said the state has been seeking a re-supply of lethal injection drugs since 2017. “The lethal injection drugs are controlled substances and supply chains are obviously very restricted on who can purchase them. It’s not necessarily the case with nitrogen gas and states have thus far assessed that it’s going to be pretty available to get. I’m not aware of any troubles that Alabama’s had in securing access to supply of nitrogen.”
So far, Alabama is the only state to carry out executions using pure nitrogen gas with no oxygen. The lack of oxygen causes the person to asphyxiate, or suffocate, leading to the loss of consciousness, soon causing irreversible brain damage, followed by death. Alabama used the nitrogen suffocation method for a fourth time on February 6, 2025, in the execution of convicted killer Demetrius Frazier. Louisiana is resuming executions after 15 years, and has scheduled a March 18, 2025, execution of convicted murderer Jessie Hoffman.
Yet the method of nitrogen suffocation is banned in Louisiana to euthanize dogs. That led a group, that calls itself Veterinarian Professionals and Animal Workers Against Gassing to come together on Tuesday, February 15 in New Orleans to voice their opposition to using nitrogen gas in state executions. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals: 2020 Edition, [page 28], gas suffocation is [an] unacceptable method of euthanasia for most mammals because it induces signs of distress in many animals. The vet and animal workers group describe nitrogen suffocation as inhumane, causing fear, anxiety, stress and prolonged death.