IndianaHB 1303Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)HouseWALLET

Sex crimes and child safety.

Sponsored By: Wendy McNamara (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Specifies the sex offender reporting requirements for persons who are sex offenders or required to register in other jurisdictions. Adds "high risk missing person" to the definition of "missing child". Specifies that the silver alert program applies to missing children. Removes provisions concerning possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM) from the statute containing the offense of child exploitation, and makes a new section for CSAM offenses. Creates a new crime for distribution of CSAM, and generally conforms the sentencing enhancements for possession of CSAM, distribution of CSAM, and child exploitation. Specifies that certain restrictions on CSAM in discovery also apply in civil proceedings (under current law, they only apply in criminal proceedings). Provides a defense in specified circumstances. Removes certain duplicative provisions and makes conforming amendments and technical corrections.

courts and criminal codethe senatecorrections and criminal lawappropriations

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

15 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 9 costs, 2 mixed.

Child-facing workers face broader employment consequences

Beginning July 1, 2026, state agencies must dismiss child-facing employees, appointees, or contractors with covered convictions after required procedures. Covered convictions include child exploitation and incest involving a victim under 18, regardless of when the conviction occurred. Employers may also cancel contracts of workers who work with children and have child exploitation convictions; cancellation is optional. Prosecutors must notify employers about child exploitation charges unless they determine the person does not work with children. A charge is not a conviction, and notice alone does not require employer action.

Older education credits can shorten imprisonment

Beginning July 1, 2026, more child exploitation convictions fall under a special rule for older educational credits. The credits must come from a diploma or degree completed before July 1, 1999. For qualifying people, the credit reduces the prison term imposed rather than the otherwise applicable release date. This can reduce time served.

Registrants gain a timed review process

People subject to the specified registration determinations can ask Indiana's Department of Correction to reconsider. They must submit a written, verified request explaining why registration is not required and may include evidence. The department must issue a written ruling within 30 days after receiving the request. It must grant appropriate relief when the person shows it is more likely than not that registration is not required.

More parents face supervised visitation rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, parenting-time rules cover convictions for all child exploitation offenses. In specified paternity and custody cases, a conviction within the previous five years requires supervised visits. In paternity cases, courts presume parenting time may endanger the child or seriously harm the child's emotional development. Courts also presume any visits granted should be supervised. Those presumptions can be challenged with evidence.

Victim assistance fees cover more convictions

Beginning July 1, 2026, courts must charge a sexual assault victims assistance fee for covered convictions. Coverage includes all child exploitation offenses under the expanded rule. The court sets the fee between $500 and $5,000.

More offenders face strict housing limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, the offender-against-children definition covers all child exploitation convictions, not just selected offenses. Covered registrants face a Level 6 felony for knowingly living within 1,000 feet of schools, youth centers, parks, or licensed child care centers. The felony also covers establishing a home within one mile of the victim or living where a child care provider operates. Residing means spending more than three nights at a location within 30 days. Separately, the law updates which sex offenses trigger the one-mile victim-residence restriction during probation or parole. A court waiver requires a hearing, completed treatment, compliance, and good cause; sexually violent predators and offenders against children cannot qualify.

Felony penalties cover more abuse images

Beginning July 1, 2026, knowingly possessing or accessing covered child sexual abuse images to view them is a Level 6 felony. Coverage includes specified obscene images showing someone appearing under 18, including simulated conduct without a real child. A prior unrelated sex-offense conviction raises the offense to Level 4. So do images involving bestiality, children under or appearing under 12, violence against children, or child molesting. Exceptions and defenses cover specified work, scientific or educational uses, close-in-age conduct, and conduct involving people under 18. Prompt, good-faith destruction or reporting after possessing fewer than three prohibited images can also provide a defense.

Felony penalties target sharing abuse images

Beginning July 1, 2026, knowingly distributing covered child sexual abuse images is a Level 5 felony. Coverage includes specified obscene depictions of people appearing under 18, including simulated conduct without a real child. Level 3 applies for a prior unrelated sex-offense conviction, financial gain, or sharing with a minor to induce a crime. It also applies to images involving bestiality, children under or appearing under 12, violence against children, or child molesting. Exceptions and defenses cover specified work, scientific or educational uses, close-in-age conduct, and conduct involving people under 18.

More people face offender registration requirements

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana's offender registration definitions cover all child exploitation convictions. They also cover child sexual abuse material offenses committed after June 30, 2026, and convictions for failing to register anywhere. Out-of-state designations qualify when Indiana's Department of Correction determines the person would face reporting duties there based on residence, work, volunteering, school, or property ownership. The law also updates one sexually violent predator classification path involving a later sex offense after an unrelated juvenile sex-offense adjudication. That path now uses registration reference IC 11-8-8-5(b)(4), replacing IC 11-8-8-5(b)(2).

Tougher sentencing rules for exploitation convictions

Beginning July 1, 2026, child exploitation and child sexual abuse material offenses count as crimes of violence. The cap on consecutive sentences for crimes from one episode does not apply to those offenses. This can increase possible prison time. For child sexual abuse material offenses committed after June 30, 2026, courts cannot use the applicable misdemeanor-reduction rule. Covered Level 6 convictions must remain felony judgments.

Broader alerts for high-risk missing children

Indiana's missing-child alert coverage includes children under 18 who are, or are believed to be, high-risk missing people. Participating broadcasters and electronic billboard operators must immediately broadcast or display alerts they receive under their agreements. Billboards receive alerts only during agreed periods with staff available. Participating operators have civil immunity for sharing covered state-issued missing-child information through Amber, green, or silver alerts.

Courts must safeguard child abuse evidence

Beginning July 1, 2026, child sexual abuse material in criminal or civil proceedings must remain with the State or court. The rule covers material defined under Indiana's child sexual abuse material law and the federal child pornography definition.

More offenders face school and internet limits

Beginning July 1, 2026, school-entry restrictions cover more registered offenders with qualifying convictions or sexually violent predator status. Knowingly entering school property is a Level 6 felony for covered people. Added coverage includes all child exploitation convictions and child sexual abuse material offenses committed after June 30, 2026. The law also expands which child-related convictions trigger online restrictions for sexually violent predators on lifetime parole. Those parolees face specified online activity limits and cannot delete, erase, or tamper with personal computer data.

Broader trafficking protections and criminal penalties

The law expands a Level 3 felony covering knowingly recruiting, enticing, harboring, or transporting a child under 18. It requires intent to involve the child in prostitution, juvenile prostitution, or an unlawful performance or incident involving sexual conduct. Separately, child-services law recognizes children recruited, harbored, transported, or involved in child exploitation as trafficking victims. That recognition applies when assessing whether a child needs services and protection.

More conviction records available for screening

Beginning July 1, 2026, law enforcement may release limited criminal histories to requesting noncriminal justice organizations or individuals. Coverage includes child exploitation and incest involving a victim under 18. It also includes specified child sexual abuse material offenses under the old law before July 1, 2026, and the new law afterward. Requesters gain access for screening, while affected people face wider disclosure of their convictions. Federal limits still control release of National Crime Information Center data.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Wendy McNamara

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Brett Clark

    Republican • Senate

  • Cyndi Carrasco

    Republican • Senate

  • Fady Qaddoura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Jennifer Meltzer

    Republican • House

  • Jim Pressel

    Republican • House

  • Liz Brown

    Republican • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Michael Karickhoff

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 231 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2026

House concurred with Senate amendments

Yes: 96 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 46 • No: 0

House vote • 1/22/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 89 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    3/4/2026House
  2. Public Law 92

    3/4/2026House
  3. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/27/2026Senate
  4. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/27/2026Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    2/26/2026House
  6. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 377: yeas 96, nays 0

    2/25/2026House
  7. Motion to concur filed

    2/25/2026House
  8. Returned to the House with amendments

    2/25/2026Senate
  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 253: yeas 46, nays 0

    2/24/2026Senate
  10. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    2/23/2026Senate
  11. Amendment #1 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote

    2/23/2026Senate
  12. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/19/2026Senate
  13. Senator Qaddoura added as cosponsor

    2/19/2026Senate
  14. Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

    2/19/2026Senate
  15. Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

    2/12/2026Senate
  16. Senator Brown L added as cosponsor

    1/27/2026Senate
  17. First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

    1/27/2026Senate
  18. Referred to the Senate

    1/23/2026House
  19. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 79: yeas 89, nays 0

    1/22/2026House
  20. Senate sponsors: Senators Clark, Carrasco

    1/22/2026House
  21. Amendment #1 (Bascom) prevailed; voice vote

    1/20/2026House
  22. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    1/20/2026House
  23. Amendment #3 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote

    1/20/2026House
  24. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/14/2026House
  25. Authored by Representative McNamara

    1/6/2026House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed House Bill (H)

  • Engrossed House Bill (S)

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation