# Indiana HB 1303: Sex crimes and child safety. Indiana HB 1303, Sex crimes and child safety., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) House bill sponsored by Wendy McNamara (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-04 (Signed by the Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1303-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Indiana HB 1303 - State: Indiana - Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) - Title: Sex crimes and child safety. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-06 - Last action: 2026-03-04, Signed by the Governor - Sponsor: Wendy McNamara (Republican) - Cosponsors: 8 - Subjects: courts and criminal code, the senate, corrections and criminal law, appropriations - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 3 (231 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 15 ## 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. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Older education credits can shorten imprisonment: benefit, medium. 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 r… - Registrants gain a timed review process: benefit, medium. 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 re… - Broader alerts for high-risk missing children: benefit, low. 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… - Courts must safeguard child abuse evidence: benefit, low. 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. - Child-facing workers face broader employment consequences: cost, high. 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… - More parents face supervised visitation rules: cost, medium. 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… - Victim assistance fees cover more convictions: cost, medium. 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: cost, medium. 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… - Felony penalties cover more abuse images: cost, medium. 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 rai… - Felony penalties target sharing abuse images: cost, medium. 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, financia… - More people face offender registration requirements: cost, medium. 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 Depart… - Tougher sentencing rules for exploitation convictions: cost, medium. 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… - More offenders face school and internet limits: cost, low. 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 a… - Broader trafficking protections and criminal penalties: mixed, low. 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 reco… - More conviction records available for screening: mixed, low. 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 l… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Wendy McNamara (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brett Clark (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Cyndi Carrasco (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Fady Qaddoura (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Jennifer Meltzer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Jim Pressel (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Liz Brown (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Lonnie Randolph (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Michael Karickhoff (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-25 | House | House concurred with Senate amendments | pass | 96 | 0 | | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 46 | 0 | | | 2026-01-22 | House | Third reading: passed | pass | 89 | 0 | | ## Actions (27) - 2026-03-04: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2026-03-04: Public Law 92 (House) - 2026-02-27: Signed by the President Pro Tempore (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-26: Signed by the Speaker (House) - 2026-02-25: House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 377: yeas 96, nays 0 (House) - 2026-02-25: Motion to concur filed (House) - 2026-02-25: Returned to the House with amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 253: yeas 46, nays 0 (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #1 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Senator Qaddoura added as cosponsor (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Senator Randolph added as cosponsor (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations (Senate) - 2026-01-27: Senator Brown L added as cosponsor (Senate) - 2026-01-27: First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law (Senate) - 2026-01-23: Referred to the Senate (House) - 2026-01-22: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 79: yeas 89, nays 0 (House) - 2026-01-22: Senate sponsors: Senators Clark, Carrasco (House) - 2026-01-20: Amendment #1 (Bascom) prevailed; voice vote (House) - 2026-01-20: Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed (House) - 2026-01-20: Amendment #3 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote (House) - 2026-01-14: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (House) - 2026-01-06: Authored by Representative McNamara (House) - 2026-01-06: Coauthored by Representatives Karickhoff, Meltzer, Pressel (House) - 2026-01-06: First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code (House) ## Bill text - Engrossed House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.06.ENGS?format=pdf) - Engrossed House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.03.ENGH?format=pdf) - Enrolled House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.07.ENRS?format=pdf) - House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.02.COMH?format=pdf) - House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.04.COMS?format=pdf), [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.05.COMS?format=pdf) - Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related bills - HB 1266: Department of education and education matters. (signed) - HB 1277: Health and human services matters. (signed) - HB 1210: Department of local government finance. (signed) - HB 1249: Various criminal law matters. (signed) - HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles. (signed) - HB 1115: Homeowners association governance. (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.06.ENGS?format=pdf) - [Engrossed House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.03.ENGH?format=pdf) - [Enrolled House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.07.ENRS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.02.COMH?format=pdf) - [House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.04.COMS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.05.COMS?format=pdf) - [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1303/versions/HB1303.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related - [HB 1266: Department of education and education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1266-2026) - [HB 1277: Health and human services matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1277-2026) - [HB 1210: Department of local government finance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1210-2026) - [HB 1249: Various criminal law matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1249-2026) - [HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1200-2026) - [HB 1115: Homeowners association governance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1115-2026) - [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills) - [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1303-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).