Bill Commons

IN HB 1249

enacted

Various criminal law matters.

Indiana · 2026 Regular Session (2nd Regular Session, 124th General Assembly) · lower

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Quick answers

Did IN HB 1249 pass?

Yes. IN HB 1249 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2026-03-12): Public Law 158

What is IN HB 1249 about?

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. Requires a law enforcement officer to offer a chemical test that includes a blood test to any person who the officer has reason to believe operated a vehicle that was involved in a fatal accident. Specifies that ignition interlock devices may only be used when the underlying offense is operating while intoxicated resulting from the use of alcohol. Specifies that certain provisions do not prevent an otherwise eligible individual from applying for a specialized driving privilege after the initial hearing. 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. Provides that certain uses of a drone constitute remote aerial harassment. Specifies that a child charged with dangerous possession of a firearm may be tried by a juvenile court under certain circumstances. Makes dangerous possession of a firearm a Level 5 felony if the child: (1) has a prior conviction for unlawful carrying of a handgun; or (2) possesses the firearm on school property, within 500 feet of a school, or on a school bus. Specifies that certain individuals may not be subject to a county residency requirement, including a public defender (except for the chief public defender), court personnel, and a deputy prosecuting attorney. Prohibits the release of personally identifying information concerning a railroad crew in a public report concerning a railroad fatality. Repeals provisions that require: (1) the department of education to maintain a public data base concerning public school employees who were physically injured on the job by students; and (2) each public school to provide to the department of education information concerning certain public school employees physically injured on the job by a student.

Who sponsors IN HB 1249?

Aaron Freeman, Alex Zimmerman are the primary sponsors of IN HB 1249, joined by 1 cosponsor.

Description

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. Requires a law enforcement officer to offer a chemical test that includes a blood test to any person who the officer has reason to believe operated a vehicle that was involved in a fatal accident. Specifies that ignition interlock devices may only be used when the underlying offense is operating while intoxicated resulting from the use of alcohol. Specifies that certain provisions do not prevent an otherwise eligible individual from applying for a specialized driving privilege after the initial hearing. 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. Provides that certain uses of a drone constitute remote aerial harassment. Specifies that a child charged with dangerous possession of a firearm may be tried by a juvenile court under certain circumstances. Makes dangerous possession of a firearm a Level 5 felony if the child: (1) has a prior conviction for unlawful carrying of a handgun; or (2) possesses the firearm on school property, within 500 feet of a school, or on a school bus. Specifies that certain individuals may not be subject to a county residency requirement, including a public defender (except for the chief public defender), court personnel, and a deputy prosecuting attorney. Prohibits the release of personally identifying information concerning a railroad crew in a public report concerning a railroad fatality. Repeals provisions that require: (1) the department of education to maintain a public data base concerning public school employees who were physically injured on the job by students; and (2) each public school to provide to the department of education information concerning certain public school employees physically injured on the job by a student.

Introduced
—
Latest action
2026-03-12 — Public Law 158
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Aaron Freemansponsor
  • Alex Zimmermanauthor
  • Garrett Bascomcoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-03-12

    Public Law 158

    became-law

  2. 2026-03-12

    Signed by the Governor

    executive-signature

  3. 2026-03-05

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    passage

  4. 2026-03-03

    Signed by the Speaker

    passage

  5. 2026-03-02

    Signed by the President of the Senate

    passage

  6. 2026-02-27

    CCR # 1 filed in the House

    filing

  7. 2026-02-27

    CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

    filing

  8. 2026-02-27

    Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 327: yeas 43, nays 4

  9. 2026-02-27

    Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 424: yeas 96, nays 0

  10. 2026-02-23

    Senate advisors appointed: Pol, Clark

  11. 2026-02-23

    Senate conferees appointed: Freeman, Taylor G

  12. 2026-02-23

    House advisors appointed: McNamara, Bascom, Pierce M

  13. 2026-02-23

    House conferees appointed: Zimmerman, Gore

  14. 2026-02-23

    House dissented from Senate amendments

  15. 2026-02-23

    Motion to dissent filed

    filing

  16. 2026-02-20

    Returned to the House with amendments

    receipt

  17. 2026-02-19

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 207: yeas 46, nays 0

    passage,reading-3,reading-3

  18. 2026-02-17

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

    reading-2

  19. 2026-02-12

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    committee-passage

  20. 2026-02-02

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

    reading-1,referral-committee

  21. 2026-01-29

    Referred to the Senate

    referral

  22. 2026-01-28

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 135: yeas 74, nays 18

    passage,reading-3,reading-3

  23. 2026-01-28

    Senate sponsor: Senator Freeman

  24. 2026-01-20

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

    reading-2

  25. 2026-01-14

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

    committee-passage

  26. 2026-01-05

    Coauthored by Representative Bascom

  27. 2026-01-05

    Authored by Representative Zimmerman

  28. 2026-01-05

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

    reading-1,referral-committee

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • HB 1249 - Zimmerman - 3rd Reading

    2026-01-28 · pass · 74-18

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Abbott: yes
    • Garcia Wilburn: yes
    • Lopez: yes
    • Prescott: yes
    • Aylesworth: yes
    • Genda: yes
    • Lucas: yes
    • Pressel: yes
    • Baird: yes
    • Goss-Reaves: yes
    • Manning: yes
    • Rowray: yes
    • Barrett: yes
    • Greene: yes
    • May: yes
    • Shonkwiler: yes
    • Bartels: yes
    • Haggard: yes
    • Mayfield: yes
    • Slager: yes
    • Bascom: yes
    • Heaton: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Smaltz: yes
    • Behning: yes
    • Hostettler: yes
    • McNamara: yes
    • Smith, H: yes
    • Borders: yes
    • Ireland: yes
    • Meltzer: yes
    • Snow: yes
    • Carbaugh: yes
    • Isa: yes
    • Miller, D: yes
    • Soliday: yes
    • Clere: yes
    • Jeter: yes
    • Miller, K: yes
    • Steuerwald: yes
    • Commons: yes
    • Jordan: yes
    • Morris: yes
    • Sweet: yes
    • Criswell: yes
    • Judy: yes
    • Moseley: yes
    • Teshka: yes
    • Culp: yes
    • King: yes
    • Novak: yes
    • Thompson: yes
    • Dant Chesser: yes
    • Klinker: yes
    • O'Brien: yes
    • VanNatter: yes
    • Davis: yes
    • Lauer: yes
    • Olthoff: yes
    • Wesco: yes
    • DeLaney: yes
    • Lawson: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Yocum: yes
    • DeVon: yes
    • Ledbetter: yes
    • Payne: yes
    • Zimmerman: yes
    • Dvorak: yes
    • Lehman: yes
    • Pfaff: yes
    • Engleman: yes
    • Lindauer: yes
    • Pierce, K: yes
    • Bartlett: no
    • Hamilton: no
    • Moed: no
    • Shackleford: no
    • Burton: no
    • Harris: no
    • Pack: no
    • Smith, V: no
    • Campbell: no
    • Hatcher: no
    • Pierce, M: no
    • Summers: no
    • Errington: no
    • Jackson, C: no
    • Porter: no
    • GiaQuinta: no
    • Johnson, B: no
    • Pryor: no
    • Bauer: excused
    • Hall: excused
    • Heine: excused
    • Andrade: not voting
    • Gore: not voting
    • Karickhoff: not voting
    • Mr. Speaker: not voting
    • Cash: not voting
  • HB 1249 - Freeman - 3rd Reading

    2026-02-19 · pass · 46-0

    Member-level votes (50)
    • Alexander: yes
    • Carrasco: yes
    • Goode: yes
    • Randolph: yes
    • Alting: yes
    • Charbonneau: yes
    • Hunley: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Baldwin: yes
    • Clark: yes
    • Jackson, L: yes
    • Schmitt: yes
    • Bassler: yes
    • Crider: yes
    • Koch: yes
    • Spencer: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Deery: yes
    • Leising: yes
    • Taylor: yes
    • Bohacek: yes
    • Dernulc: yes
    • Maxwell: yes
    • Tomes: yes
    • Bray: yes
    • Donato: yes
    • McKinley: yes
    • Walker G: yes
    • Brown: yes
    • Doriot: yes
    • Mishler: yes
    • Walker K: yes
    • Buchanan: yes
    • Ford J.D.: yes
    • Niemeyer: yes
    • Yoder: yes
    • Buck: yes
    • Freeman: yes
    • Niezgodski: yes
    • Young: yes
    • Busch: yes
    • Gaskill: yes
    • Qaddoura: yes
    • Byrne: yes
    • Glick: yes
    • Raatz: yes
    • Pol: excused
    • Garten: not voting
    • Holdman: not voting
    • Johnson: not voting
  • HB 1249 - Freeman

    2026-02-27 · pass · 43-4

    Member-level votes (50)
    • Alexander: yes
    • Clark: yes
    • Holdman: yes
    • Raatz: yes
    • Alting: yes
    • Crider: yes
    • Hunley: yes
    • Randolph: yes
    • Baldwin: yes
    • Deery: yes
    • Jackson, L: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Becker: yes
    • Dernulc: yes
    • Johnson: yes
    • Schmitt: yes
    • Bohacek: yes
    • Donato: yes
    • Koch: yes
    • Spencer: yes
    • Bray: yes
    • Doriot: yes
    • Leising: yes
    • Taylor: yes
    • Brown: yes
    • Ford J.D.: yes
    • Maxwell: yes
    • Tomes: yes
    • Buck: yes
    • Garten: yes
    • Mishler: yes
    • Walker G: yes
    • Byrne: yes
    • Gaskill: yes
    • Niezgodski: yes
    • Walker K: yes
    • Carrasco: yes
    • Glick: yes
    • Pol: yes
    • Yoder: yes
    • Charbonneau: yes
    • Goode: yes
    • Qaddoura: yes
    • Buchanan: no
    • Busch: no
    • Freeman: no
    • Young: no
    • Bassler: not voting
    • McKinley: not voting
    • Niemeyer: not voting
  • HB 1249 - Zimmerman

    2026-02-27 · pass · 96-0

    Member-level votes (100)
    • Abbott: yes
    • Garcia Wilburn: yes
    • Lawson: yes
    • Pierce, K: yes
    • Andrade: yes
    • Genda: yes
    • Ledbetter: yes
    • Pierce, M: yes
    • Aylesworth: yes
    • GiaQuinta: yes
    • Lehman: yes
    • Porter: yes
    • Barrett: yes
    • Gore: yes
    • Lindauer: yes
    • Prescott: yes
    • Bartels: yes
    • Goss-Reaves: yes
    • Lopez: yes
    • Pressel: yes
    • Bartlett: yes
    • Greene: yes
    • Lucas: yes
    • Pryor: yes
    • Bascom: yes
    • Haggard: yes
    • Manning: yes
    • Rowray: yes
    • Bauer: yes
    • Hall: yes
    • May: yes
    • Shackleford: yes
    • Behning: yes
    • Hamilton: yes
    • Mayfield: yes
    • Shonkwiler: yes
    • Borders: yes
    • Harris: yes
    • McGuire: yes
    • Slager: yes
    • Burton: yes
    • Hatcher: yes
    • McNamara: yes
    • Smaltz: yes
    • Campbell: yes
    • Heaton: yes
    • Meltzer: yes
    • Smith, H: yes
    • Carbaugh: yes
    • Heine: yes
    • Miller, D: yes
    • Smith, V: yes
    • Cash: yes
    • Ireland: yes
    • Miller, K: yes
    • Snow: yes
    • Clere: yes
    • Isa: yes
    • Moed: yes
    • Soliday: yes
    • Commons: yes
    • Jackson, C: yes
    • Morris: yes
    • Steuerwald: yes
    • Criswell: yes
    • Jeter: yes
    • Moseley: yes
    • Summers: yes
    • Culp: yes
    • Johnson, B: yes
    • Novak: yes
    • Sweet: yes
    • Dant Chesser: yes
    • Jordan: yes
    • O'Brien: yes
    • Teshka: yes
    • DeLaney: yes
    • Judy: yes
    • Olthoff: yes
    • Thompson: yes
    • DeVon: yes
    • Karickhoff: yes
    • Pack: yes
    • VanNatter: yes
    • Dvorak: yes
    • King: yes
    • Patterson: yes
    • Wesco: yes
    • Engleman: yes
    • Klinker: yes
    • Payne: yes
    • Yocum: yes
    • Errington: yes
    • Lauer: yes
    • Pfaff: yes
    • Zimmerman: yes
    • Baird: excused
    • Davis: excused
    • Hostettler: excused
    • Mr. Speaker: not voting

Related bills

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Official source

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:22:09.317128Z

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