# Indiana SB 251: OWI penalties. Indiana SB 251, OWI penalties., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) Senate bill sponsored by Aaron Freeman (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-02-12 (Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB251-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Indiana SB 251 - State: Indiana - Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) - Title: OWI penalties. - Status: failed - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-01-08 - Last action: 2026-02-12, Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3 - Sponsor: Aaron Freeman (Republican) - Cosponsors: 4 - Subjects: corrections and criminal law, appropriations, the house, courts and criminal code - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 1 (47 yes, 1 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 0 ## Summary Provides that if a person has one prior OWI conviction, the court shall order that the person be imprisoned for at least 10 days or perform community service, and if a person has two prior OWI convictions, the court shall order that the person be imprisoned for at least 20 days or perform community service. Provides that a person receives good time credit while serving a sentence imposed under this statute (under current law, a person does not receive good time credit).Provides that this statute does not increase the maximum sentence for the offense as provided by either IC 35-50-2 or IC 35-50-3. Specifies that "vehicle", for purposes of the crime of operating while intoxicated, includes a watercraft, and repeals the separate crime of operating a motorboat while intoxicated. Provides that an initial hearing may be waived and allows a person to apply for a specialized driving privilege after an initial hearing. Adds operating while intoxicated due to use of a controlled substance to the habitual traffic violator statute. Authorizes the use of a roadside chemical test under certain circumstances. Specifies that ignition interlock devices may only be used when the underlying offense is operating while intoxicated resulting from the use of alcohol. Makes certain provisions concerning pretrial administrative suspension of driving privileges discretionary with the court.Provides that the budget director shall review and determine before December 31, 2026, whether federal highway administration funding to the state will or will not be reduced due to the amendment of provisions concerning administrative suspension of driving privileges. Requires the budget director to notify the budget committee of the determination and those provisions may not be implemented until after budget committee review. Makes conforming amendments. ## Bill overview No economic impacts identified for this bill. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Aaron Freeman (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Chris Jeter (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Cyndi Carrasco (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Ed Charbonneau (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Julie Olthoff (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-01-28 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 47 | 1 | | ## Actions (13) - 2026-02-12: Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3 (House) - 2026-02-12: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (House) - 2026-02-03: Representative Olthoff added as cosponsor (House) - 2026-02-02: First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code (House) - 2026-01-29: Referred to the House (Senate) - 2026-01-28: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 124: yeas 47, nays 1 (Senate) - 2026-01-28: House sponsor: Representative Jeter (Senate) - 2026-01-26: Second reading: ordered engrossed (Senate) - 2026-01-22: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (Senate) - 2026-01-22: Senator Charbonneau added as coauthor (Senate) - 2026-01-13: Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations (Senate) - 2026-01-08: First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law (Senate) - 2026-01-08: Authored by Senators Freeman, Carrasco (Senate) ## Bill text - Introduced Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.01.INTR?format=pdf) - Senate Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.03.COMS?format=pdf), [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.04.COMH?format=pdf) - Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.02.COMS?format=pdf) ## Related bills - SB 239: Various education matters. (signed) - SB 204: Various education matters. (signed) - SB 179: Indiana department of transportation. (signed) - SB 185: Alcohol and tobacco matters. (signed) - SB 80: Code publication. (signed) - HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales. (signed) ## Sources - [Introduced Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.01.INTR?format=pdf) - [Senate Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.03.COMS?format=pdf) - [Senate Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.04.COMH?format=pdf) - [Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0251/versions/SB0251.02.COMS?format=pdf) ## Related - [SB 239: Various education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB239-2026) - [SB 204: Various education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB204-2026) - [SB 179: Indiana department of transportation.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB179-2026) - [SB 185: Alcohol and tobacco matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB185-2026) - [SB 80: Code publication.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB80-2026) - [HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1424-2026) - [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-SB251-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).