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

Sub-Topics Courts

in committee · Indiana · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 280: Crimes relating to bodily fluids and bodily waste.

Removes certain sentencing enhancements for battery and malicious mischief that relate to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Amends the sentencing enhancement for battery against a public safety officer that relates to HIV.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves HIV-related sentencing enhancements for battery/malicious mischief, reducing mandatory penalties and aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing disproportionate sentencing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing

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in committee · Indiana · Senate Jan 5, 2026

SB 177: Return of firearm to rightful owner.

Provides that a person may not waive certain requirements concerning the return of a firearm to the rightful owner as part of a plea agreement. Specifies that any purported waiver is invalid and unenforceable as against public policy.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePrevents invalid waivers of firearm return rights in plea agreements, protecting owner rights (civil rights indicator) within criminal procedure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Sentencing Victims' Rights

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passed · Indiana · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 1432: Death sentence and intellectual disabilities.

HB 1432 establishes a pretrial screening process to determine if a defendant facing a death penalty charge has an intellectual disability. This directly affects individuals charged with capital offenses who may qualify for exemption from the death penalty under federal constitutional standards. The bill requires courts to evaluate intellectual disability before trial, ensuring this determination occurs early in the legal process. The measure passed the House unanimously (96-0) and is now under review by the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires pretrial intellectual disability screening for death penalty cases, ensuring constitutional protections for defendants and preventing execution of those with disabilities, advancing civil rights in sentencing.95% confidence

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in committee · Indiana · House Jan 13, 2026

HB 1310: Domestic violence investigations.

Requires a law enforcement officer to administer a lethality assessment for domestic violence incidents. Requires data to be transmitted to a local domestic violence fatality review team and the statewide domestic violence fatality review committee. Provides that a law enforcement officer responding to the scene of an alleged crime involving domestic or family violence shall use all reasonable means to prevent further violence, including administering a lethality assessment. Provides that all statements communicated in a lethality assessment are not admissible as evidence against the victim in any judicial proceeding and not discoverable in any litigation. Provides that the statewide domestic violence fatality review committee shall collect and analyze data concerning domestic violence lethality assessments. Makes conforming changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates lethality assessments and data reporting for domestic violence, improving law enforcement response and victim safety per criminal justice reform indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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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

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in committee · Indiana · House Jan 6, 2026

HB 1314: Postconviction proceedings.

HB 1314 establishes a new procedural framework for individuals convicted of crimes to seek legal relief after their conviction. It creates specific steps for filing requests and court review, directly affecting people challenging their convictions or sentences. The bill does not change criminal laws but outlines how postconviction cases will be processed. This procedural change was introduced by Representative Ireland and referred to the Courts and Criminal Code committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates procedural framework for postconviction relief, enabling defendants to challenge convictions - aligns with criminal justice reform principles like access to justice and civil rights protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Indiana · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 235: Intelligent speed assistance device.

Defines an "intelligent speed assistance device" as an aftermarket device that uses technology to limit the speed of a motor vehicle to not more than the speed limit of the area being traveled. Allows a court to require a person who has been convicted of a crime for which the operation of a motor vehicle is an element of the offense to use an intelligent speed assistance device. Requires the court to notify the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) if an order is issued requiring the use of an intelligent speed assistance device and for the bureau to send a notice to the individual subject to the court order. Makes it a Class B misdemeanor to tamper with, or solicit another person to tamper with, an intelligent speed assistance device. Permits the bureau to establish rules related to the use of intelligent speed assistance devices and to approve vendors of intelligent speed assistance devices.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill requires court-ordered speed-limiting devices for motor vehicle offense convicts, potentially reducing recidivism by preventing future speeding violations.80% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates intelligent speed devices to enforce speed limits, enhancing road safety through technology per Transportation safety indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Traffic Safety

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in committee · Indiana · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1299: Surrender of firearms for domestic violence crimes.

Provides that a person who: (1) has been convicted of a crime of domestic violence; and (2) knowingly or intentionally possesses a firearm; commits a Class A misdemeanor. Specifies defenses. Requires a court to issue an order, upon entry of a judgment of conviction for domestic battery or a crime of domestic violence, that: (1) prohibits ownership or possession of a firearm; (2) requires the defendant to surrender: (A) any firearm owned or possessed by the defendant; and (B) any license or permit to carry a handgun (license) owned or possessed by the defendant; and (3) requires confiscation, within 72 hours, of any firearm or license owned or possessed by the defendant. Provides that a domestic batterer who knowingly or intentionally fails to surrender a certain firearm or license commits a Class A misdemeanor, enhanced to a Level 6 felony in specific instances. Provides defenses. Specifies how a confiscated firearm or license shall be returned or disposed of if a person's right to possess a firearm is restored.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires firearm surrender for domestic violence offenders, reducing recidivism risk and aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Firearms

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in committee · Indiana · House Jan 6, 2026

HB 1298: Classification of marijuana and THC.

HB 1298 reclassifies marijuana and THC from Schedule I (the most restrictive category for drugs with no accepted medical use) to Schedule III (a less restrictive category with recognized medical uses) under state law. This change directly affects individuals using or selling marijuana, businesses operating cannabis businesses, and law enforcement handling related cases. The bill achieves this by updating the state's controlled substances schedule and making necessary adjustments to other laws that reference the old classification. As a result, marijuana and THC would be treated under a less restrictive legal framework, potentially easing some regulatory barriers.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeReclassifying marijuana from Schedule I to III reduces criminal penalties for possession/sales, aligning with drug policy reform to decrease incarceration for non-violent offenses.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReclassifies marijuana to Schedule III with recognized medical uses, improving patient access to cannabis treatments under healthcare services.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Law Enforcement

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