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IndianaSB 246Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)Senate

Redaction of court records.

Sponsored By: Aaron Freeman (Republican)

Signed by Governor

corrections and criminal lawthe housecourts and criminal code

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Wider protections for child sex victims

Beginning July 1, 2026, special deposition protections in sex‑offense cases apply to child victims under 17, instead of under 16. Courts use this process to protect the child’s privacy while respecting the accused’s constitutional rights.

New rules after warrantless arrests

Beginning July 1, 2026, at or before the first hearing after a warrantless arrest, the arrest facts are given to the judge in a probable‑cause affidavit. If the facts are given under oath by voice, a court reporter records it, and any party can ask for a transcript. The requester may have to pay for transcription. The person giving the facts must disclose any personal, money, or family ties that could affect their objectivity.

Stronger privacy for child victims

Beginning July 1, 2026, criminal case filings must hide the names of child victims and child witnesses. They must also hide any details that could identify the child, and must remove addresses, emails, birthdates, and phone numbers of victims and witnesses. Hidden names are replaced with a plain label like “Child Witness No. 1,” not initials or family terms. If a judge needs full names or details, that paper is filed separately as a confidential document under Rule 5. Court reporters follow these redaction rules in criminal transcripts and can require payment or security before producing a transcript. These rules cover prosecutions, criminal appeals, postconviction cases, and some police papers sent to a judge, and they replace the old affidavit‑redaction statute that is repealed on July 1, 2026.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Aaron Freeman

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Alex Zimmerman

    Republican • House

  • Andrew Ireland

    Republican • House

  • Brett Clark

    Republican • Senate

  • Cyndi Carrasco

    Republican • Senate

  • Eric Koch

    Republican • Senate

  • Garrett Bascom

    Republican • House

  • Rodney Pol

    Democratic • Senate

  • Scott Baldwin

    Republican • Senate

  • Susan Glick

    Republican • Senate

  • Tony Isa

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 181 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/25/2026

Roll Call 286 on SB0246.04.ENGH.CON01

Yes: 47 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 2/17/2026

Roll Call 269 on SB0246.03.COMH

Yes: 88 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 1/20/2026

Roll Call 39 on SB0246.02.COMS

Yes: 46 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    3/5/2026Senate

  2. Public Law 129

    3/5/2026Senate

  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

    2/27/2026House

  6. Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 286: yeas 47, nays 0

    2/25/2026Senate

  7. Motion to concur filed

    2/23/2026Senate

  8. Returned to the Senate with amendments

    2/18/2026House

  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 269: yeas 88, nays 0

    2/17/2026House

  10. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    2/16/2026House

  11. Amendment #1 (Bascom) prevailed; voice vote

    2/16/2026House

  12. Representative Isa added as cosponsor

    2/9/2026House

  13. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/5/2026House

  14. Representatives Ireland, Zimmerman added as cosponsors

    1/29/2026House

  15. First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

    1/28/2026House

  16. Referred to the House

    1/22/2026Senate

  17. Senator Baldwin added as coauthor

    1/22/2026Senate

  18. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 39: yeas 46, nays 0

    1/20/2026Senate

  19. House sponsor: Representative Bascom

    1/20/2026Senate

  20. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    1/15/2026Senate

  21. Senators Pol, Koch, Clark, Glick added as coauthors

    1/15/2026Senate

  22. Senator Carrasco added as second author

    1/14/2026Senate

  23. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    1/13/2026Senate

  24. First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

    1/8/2026Senate

  25. Authored by Senator Freeman

    1/8/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (S)

    PDF

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

    PDF

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

    PDF

  • Senate Bill (H)

    PDFPDF

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