HB 1303 Indiana House · 2026 Regular Session

Sex crimes and child safety.

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 status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
Signed into Law
Mar 2026
Introduced Jan 6, 2026 Signed Mar 4, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

House Bill (H) House Bill (S) · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was updated from its House version to its Senate-engrossed version, incorporating Senate sponsors and reflecting the bill's passage by the House and favorable committee action in the Senate. The substantive policy content regarding sex crimes, child safety definitions, and CSAM offenses remains consistent with the House version, though the synopsis was expanded to include new sex offender reporting requirements and a defense provision.
Scope change
The bill's scope is now confirmed as having passed the House and been favorably reported by the Senate committee, moving it closer to becoming law. The definition of 'missing child' was expanded to include 'high risk missing person'.
ELIGIBILITY

Added Senate sponsors (Clark, Carrasco, Brown L) and recorded Senate committee actions indicating the bill was favorably reported.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'missing child' to include 'high risk missing person'.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific sex offender reporting requirements for individuals registered in other jurisdictions.

Added a defense provision for specified circumstances related to the offenses.

TIMELINE

Updated dates to reflect House passage (January 22) and Senate committee action (February 12), with the bill now marked as engrossed.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 24, 2026 · House Jan 22, 2026

How they voted

450
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Feb 24, 2026
D Democratic9
7 Yea 2
77% Yea
R Republican40
38 Yea 2
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
27
Key actions
13
Committee
3
Amendments
3
Mar 4, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by the Governor
executive
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
upper
Feb 27, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by the President of the Senate
upper
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by the Speaker
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 377: yeas 96, nays 0
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 253: yeas 46, nays 0
upper
Feb 23, 2026
Upper · Passed
Amendment #1 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote
upper
Feb 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
upper
Feb 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 79: yeas 89, nays 0
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amendment #1 (Bascom) prevailed; voice vote
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Amendment #3 (Zimmerman) prevailed; voice vote
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
lower
3 primary · 6 co-sponsors

Sponsors