Criminal Justice

signed · Indiana · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 284: Law enforcement civilian oversight boards.

Provides that any type of law enforcement civilian oversight board or commission or any other entity established by a county, municipality, or township to provide civilian oversight over a law enforcement agency, excluding merit boards and commissions, may operate only in an advisory capacity to the applicable law enforcement agency and does not have binding authority over the law enforcement agency.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts civilian oversight boards to advisory role, weakening accountability mechanisms in law enforcement.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Indiana · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 246: Redaction of court records.

Requires the names and specified other information of child victims, child witnesses, and certain other persons to be redacted in criminal actions. Requires the use of an anonymous designator such as "Child Witness No. 1" when redacting a name, and prohibits redaction that uses the person's initials or that describes the person in terms of a family relationship.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects child victims' privacy in court records, aligning with criminal justice reform to prevent retraumatization and ensure victim safety.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Indiana · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 119: Grooming.

Adds a facility or event that provides entertainment or programming primarily directed toward a child less than 18 years of age to the list of facilities at which a sexually violent predator or an offender against children may not work or volunteer. Adds entering a facility or location holding an event that provides entertainment or programming primarily directed toward a child less than 18 years of age by a serious sex offender to the crime of unlawful entry by a serious sex offender. Renames the offense of "inappropriate communication with a child" to "sexual grooming", and provides (in addition to the current elements of the offense) that a person commits the offense if the person engages in a pattern of repeated or continuous contact with an individual whom the person believes to be a child less than 14 years of age, with the intent to condition the individual to be less resistant to future sexual conduct or sexual activity. Specifies that "computer network" includes cellular telephones.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens restrictions on sex offenders near children, reducing recidivism risk and enhancing public safety in criminal justice.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Indiana · Senate Mar 5, 2026

SB 92: Community corrections trust funds.

Authorizes a county that operates a community corrections program to establish a county community corrections trust fund (fund). Specifies the funding sources and permissible uses of the fund. Specifies reporting and auditing requirements relating to the administration of the fund. Makes technical corrections to a reference to community corrections programs located in the civil procedure law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAuthorizes county community corrections trust funds for rehabilitation programs, aligning with criminal justice reform goals like reducing recidivism.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Indiana · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 2: Bail procedures.

Provides that offenses other than murder are not bailable if the state proves: (1) by a preponderance of the evidence that the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) by clear and convincing evidence that the arrestee is dangerous and that no conditions of release will reasonably protect the safety of other persons or the community. Establishes procedures for a bail hearing. Removes duplicative provisions concerning repeat violent arrestees. Permits a court to retain cash bail for the payment of certain costs without an indigency hearing if the defendant has executed an agreement permitting the court to retain the cash bail for these purposes.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts bail access by raising burden of proof for release, reducing defendant rights and increasing pretrial detention without clear reform intent.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

signed · Indiana · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 9: Victim impact statements.

Requires a defendant to be present in the courtroom while a victim makes a statement concerning the crime and the sentence, unless the defendant presents a safety risk or causes a significant disruption. Provides that if a defendant fails to appear at sentencing and is later taken into custody, the court may hold a hearing to permit the victim to makes a statement concerning the crime and the sentence in the presence of the defendant.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill enhances victim rights in sentencing procedures by requiring defendant presence during impact statements, strengthening victim protections within criminal justice reform.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed both · Indiana · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1025: County policies.

Specifies that county residency requirements do not apply to: (1) public defenders (except for the chief public defender); (2) employees of a public defender office; (3) judicial officers; or (4) court personnel.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves residency barriers for public defenders, enhancing access to legal representation and protecting defendant rights within criminal justice system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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passed both · Indiana · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 1065: Ban on gratuities for public officials.

Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally violates a specified provision by commingling the funds of a committee with the personal funds of an officer, a member, or an associate of the committee commits a Class A misdemeanor. Enhances the penalty to a Level 6 felony if a person commingles at least $50,000 of committee funds.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents public official corruption through new criminal penalties, enhancing accountability in criminal justice system.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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signed · Indiana · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SJR 1: Constitutional amendment concerning bail.

Provides that an offense other than murder or treason is not bailable if: (1) the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community. This proposed amendment has been agreed to by one general assembly.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeRestricts bail eligibility for most offenses by requiring state to prove public safety risk with clear and convincing evidence, reducing defendant rights and increasing pretrial detention.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

passed · Indiana · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1040: Battery against school and healthcare employees.

Increases the penalty for battery on certain health care employees and school employees. Specifies that the enhancement for battery committed against a department of child services (DCS) employee applies only to those DCS employees whose responsibilities include personally supervising a child or parent, personally providing services to a child or parent, or personally interviewing a child or parent as part of an investigation. Requires the employer of a health care or school employee who is the victim of battery to make a semiannual report to the department of labor concerning workplace batteries.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for battery against healthcare/school employees, strengthening criminal accountability for assaults on vulnerable workers per Criminal Law subjects.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases penalties for battery against healthcare employees, directly protecting healthcare professionals as specified in subjects and summary.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Criminal Justice

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