During a press conference Tuesday morning, state leaders announced their next steps to kick-start the state's stalled capital-punishment system.

The state has not carried out an execution since 2018 and now they want to start the process back up again with a new and controversial method: nitrogen hypoxia.

A technique that will  require inmates on death row to wear a respirator mask while breathing in pure gas.

Alabama was the first to use this method in an execution last week.

If passed, this bill would give inmates the option to pick their preferred method of death, but only if the chemicals used for injections are available.

Organizations against the death penalty like, Ohioans to Stop Executions (OSE)  and Death Penalty Action (DPA), are raising a red flag on the proposed bill. 

"We have to ask ourselves as Ohioans 'Do we want that to be our standard for criminal justice?'" Allison Cohen, executive director of OSE said. 

A new poll from Republican pollsters, the Tarrance Group shows 56% of Ohioans favor abolishing the death penalty and replacing it with life without parole.

In a press release, the executive director of DPA, Abe Bonowitz condemned Attorney General Dave Yost for his supporting of the legislation.

"Grandstanding on the pain of murder victim's families rather than actually doing something to help them, sounds like Yost is preparing to run for Governor.” Bonowitz said. 

Cohen said her group is lobbying for two bills to ban the death penalty and they have been introduced in the Ohio legislature with bipartisan support.

118 men and one women are currently on death row.