All Roll Calls
Yes: 259 • No: 22
IndianaHB 1249Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)HouseWALLET
Various criminal law matters.
Sponsored By: Alex Zimmerman (Republican)
Signed by Governor
courts and criminal codethe senatecorrections and criminal law
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.
Stricter checks for adoption and placements
Beginning July 1, 2026, courts cannot approve an adoption or many child placements if someone in the home has a substantiated abuse or neglect finding, certain juvenile adjudications, or a conviction for a listed nonwaivable offense. Agencies and probation officers must run criminal history checks for proposed homes and permanency plans. Courts may approve a placement or adoption only in narrow cases, such as some older convictions that are not relevant to caregiving and are more than five years old. The law expands which crimes are nonwaivable and defines which crimes count as child abuse for the state registry.
Stronger battery penalties and definitions
Starting July 1, 2026, simple battery is a Class B misdemeanor, with higher penalties in listed cases. Battery against health care or school workers in certain work or retaliation situations is a Class A misdemeanor. Felony levels rise for injuries, weapons, pregnancy, protected victims, and prior convictions. The law also clarifies who counts as a school, school employee, and relative under the battery rules.
Tougher penalties for kids with guns
Beginning July 1, 2026, a child who knowingly has a gun for an unauthorized purpose commits a Class A misdemeanor. It becomes a Level 5 felony for repeat offenses or if it happens on school property, within 500 feet of a school, or on a school bus. Giving a gun to an ineligible child or one planning a crime is a Level 5 felony, or Level 3 if the gun is used to commit murder.
New rules and fees for bail charities
Beginning July 1, 2026, a charitable bail group that pays bail for more than three people in 180 days must be certified before asking for donations. Certification costs $300 and lasts two years; renewal is $300. These groups cannot pay bail for violent charges or certain felons with prior violent convictions, execute surety bonds, or charge premiums. Only authorized employees may deposit bail, and forfeiture rules apply if a defendant misses court.
Stricter impaired-driving and license rules
Beginning July 1, 2026, officers must offer breath or chemical tests after crashes with death or serious injury, and blood tests after fatal crashes. If a judge finds probable cause at the first hearing, the court must recommend immediate license suspension and send papers to the BMV. A court may instead require you to drive only with an ignition interlock until the case ends; driving without it brings fines or a misdemeanor. If you say you will seek specialized driving privileges, the court must pause the suspension and set a hearing within 30 days, but the pause ends if you do not file in 10 days. Some people are ineligible for specialized driving privileges, and the law sets new thresholds for habitual violators. You may waive the first hearing for certain boating misdemeanors. The separate motorboat OUI chapter is repealed on July 1, 2026.
Medical samples shared with police, with limits
Beginning July 1, 2026, doctors and trained medical staff must give requested samples, contraband, or test results to police during a criminal investigation, even without patient consent. In criminal cases, doctor‑patient privilege does not block these items or related testimony. Police may use reasonable force to help get a sample if a person refuses and resists. Providers who act in good faith have civil and criminal immunity, except for gross negligence or willful misconduct. Only prosecutors may receive the samples or results for court use, and only trained staff may collect them using medically accepted methods.
More serious juvenile cases in adult court
As of July 1, 2026, many serious crimes by 16‑ or 17‑year‑olds go to adult court. Prosecutors can seek waiver after a hearing if there is probable cause and it serves public safety and the child’s interests. The change covers crimes like murder, serious sex offenses, certain robberies, and some firearms crimes.
Clearer first-hearing rights and diversion
Starting July 1, 2026, judges must tell you at the first hearing about counsel, a lawyer if indigent, speedy trial, bail, and the charge. If your charge involves driving, you can ask for a specialized driving-privileges hearing. A judge may refer a qualified pregnant woman charged with a drug crime to a diversion program or drug court after talking with the prosecutor.
Clearer roles in sexual assault care
Starting July 1, 2026, the law clarifies terms used in sexual assault forensic rules. It includes school resource officers and campus police in the definition of law enforcement and aligns terms for providers, victims, and advocates. This helps agencies and service providers coordinate care for victims.
Juvenile victims’ police logs kept private
Starting July 1, 2026, police daily logs about victims under 18 are not public. A parent, guardian, or custodian must give written consent to release them, and that person cannot be charged with or convicted of a crime against the victim. The Department of Child Services may still receive records as allowed.
New crime for drone harassment
Starting July 1, 2026, it is a crime to use a drone to harass someone, to fly over private property to harass or harm, to spray substances without consent, or to endanger other aircraft. The first offense is a Class A misdemeanor. Repeat offenses can be a Level 6 felony. Defenses include mechanical failure, acting to avoid greater harm, and accidental overspray with reasonable precautions.
No county residency rule for many staff
The law bans counties from requiring many justice system and EMS employees to live in the county to keep their jobs. It covers public defenders and their staff, court employees, deputy prosecutors and their staff, and EMS providers and agency employees. The ban does not apply to a chief public defender.
Battery incident reporting by employers
Beginning July 1, 2027, health care and school employers must file battery reports twice a year. Reports due by August 1 cover January–June; reports due by February 1 cover July–December. Employers must use the state form and report counts, job titles, dates, locations, and whether police or charges were involved, even if no charges were filed.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Alex Zimmerman
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Aaron Freeman
Republican • Senate
Garrett Bascom
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/27/2026
Roll Call 327 on HB1249.03.COMS.CCS001
Yes: 43 • No: 4 • Other: 3
House vote • 2/27/2026
Roll Call 424 on HB1249.03.COMS.CCH001
Yes: 96 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/19/2026
Roll Call 207 on HB1249.03.COMS
Yes: 46 • No: 0 • Other: 3
House vote • 1/28/2026
Roll Call 135 on HB1249.02.COMH
Yes: 74 • No: 18 • Other: 4
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor
3/12/2026HousePublic Law 158
3/12/2026HouseSigned by the President Pro Tempore
3/5/2026SenateSigned by the Speaker
3/3/2026HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
3/2/2026SenateCCR # 1 filed in the Senate
2/27/2026SenateRules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 327: yeas 43, nays 4
2/27/2026SenateRules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 424: yeas 96, nays 0
2/27/2026HouseCCR # 1 filed in the House
2/27/2026HouseHouse conferees appointed: Zimmerman, Gore
2/23/2026HouseHouse dissented from Senate amendments
2/23/2026HouseMotion to dissent filed
2/23/2026HouseSenate advisors appointed: Pol, Clark
2/23/2026SenateSenate conferees appointed: Freeman, Taylor G
2/23/2026SenateHouse advisors appointed: McNamara, Bascom, Pierce M
2/23/2026HouseReturned to the House with amendments
2/20/2026SenateThird reading: passed; Roll Call 207: yeas 46, nays 0
2/19/2026SenateSecond reading: ordered engrossed
2/17/2026SenateCommittee report: amend do pass, adopted
2/12/2026SenateFirst reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law
2/2/2026SenateReferred to the Senate
1/29/2026HouseSenate sponsor: Senator Freeman
1/28/2026HouseThird reading: passed; Roll Call 135: yeas 74, nays 18
1/28/2026HouseSecond reading: ordered engrossed
1/20/2026HouseCommittee report: do pass, adopted
1/14/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled House Bill (H)
House Bill (H)
House Bill (S)
Introduced House Bill (H)