Bill Commons

IN SB 251

died on adjournment

OWI penalties.

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

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Quick answers

Did IN SB 251 pass?

No. IN SB 251 died when the 2026 Regular Session (2nd Regular Session, 124th General Assembly) adjourned without final action on it. Bills that die this way are sometimes reintroduced in a later session. Latest recorded action (2026-02-12): Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3

What is IN SB 251 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. 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.

Who sponsors IN SB 251?

Chris Jeter, Cyndi Carrasco, Aaron Freeman are the primary sponsors of IN SB 251, joined by 2 cosponsors.

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. 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.

Introduced
—
Latest action
2026-02-12 — Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
Bill type
bill
Last updated
—

Subjects

Sponsors

  • Chris Jetersponsor
  • Cyndi Carrascoauthor
  • Aaron Freemanauthor
  • Julie Olthoffcosponsor
  • Ed Charbonneaucoauthor

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

  1. 2026-02-12

    Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3

  2. 2026-02-12

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    committee-passage

  3. 2026-02-03

    Representative Olthoff added as cosponsor

  4. 2026-02-02

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

    reading-1,referral-committee

  5. 2026-01-29

    Referred to the House

    referral

  6. 2026-01-28

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 124: yeas 47, nays 1

    passage,reading-3,reading-3

  7. 2026-01-28

    House sponsor: Representative Jeter

  8. 2026-01-26

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

    reading-2

  9. 2026-01-22

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    committee-passage

  10. 2026-01-22

    Senator Charbonneau added as coauthor

  11. 2026-01-13

    Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

    committee-passage,referral-committee

  12. 2026-01-08

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

    reading-1,referral-committee

  13. 2026-01-08

    Authored by Senators Freeman, Carrasco

Versions

Documents

Votes

  • SB 251 - Freeman - 3rd Reading

    2026-01-28 · pass · 47-1

    Member-level votes (49)
    • Alexander: yes
    • Charbonneau: yes
    • Goode: yes
    • Qaddoura: yes
    • Alting: yes
    • Clark: yes
    • Holdman: yes
    • Raatz: yes
    • Baldwin: yes
    • Crider: yes
    • Hunley: yes
    • Rogers: yes
    • Bassler: yes
    • Deery: yes
    • Jackson, L: yes
    • Schmitt: yes
    • Bohacek: yes
    • Dernulc: yes
    • Johnson: yes
    • Spencer: yes
    • Bray: yes
    • Donato: yes
    • Koch: yes
    • Taylor: yes
    • Brown: yes
    • Doriot: yes
    • Leising: yes
    • Tomes: yes
    • Buchanan: yes
    • Ford J.D.: yes
    • Maxwell: yes
    • Walker G: yes
    • Buck: yes
    • Freeman: yes
    • Mishler: yes
    • Walker K: yes
    • Busch: yes
    • Garten: yes
    • Niemeyer: yes
    • Yoder: yes
    • Byrne: yes
    • Gaskill: yes
    • Niezgodski: yes
    • Young: yes
    • Carrasco: yes
    • Glick: yes
    • Pol: yes
    • Randolph: no
    • Becker: excused

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/sb0251

Attribution

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

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