HB 1249 — Various criminal law matters.

Summary

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.

Bill Text

• Enrolled Enrolled House Bill (H) Current pdf
• House Bill (H) View text pdf
• House Bill (S) View text pdf
• Introduced Introduced House Bill (H) pdf

Action History

1. March 02, 2026

   Signed by the President of the Senate

2. March 03, 2026

   Signed by the Speaker

3. March 12, 2026

   Public Law 158

4. March 05, 2026

   Signed by the President Pro Tempore

5. March 12, 2026

   Signed by the Governor

6. February 27, 2026

   CCR # 1 filed in the House

7. February 27, 2026

   CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

8. February 27, 2026

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

9. February 27, 2026

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

10. February 23, 2026

    Senate advisors appointed: Pol, Clark

11. February 23, 2026

    Senate conferees appointed: Freeman, Taylor G

12. February 23, 2026

    House advisors appointed: McNamara, Bascom, Pierce M

13. February 23, 2026

    House conferees appointed: Zimmerman, Gore

14. February 23, 2026

    House dissented from Senate amendments

15. February 23, 2026

    Motion to dissent filed

16. February 20, 2026

    Returned to the House with amendments

17. February 19, 2026

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

18. February 17, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

19. February 12, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

20. February 02, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

21. January 29, 2026

    Referred to the Senate

22. January 28, 2026

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

23. January 28, 2026

    Senate sponsor: Senator Freeman

24. January 20, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

25. January 14, 2026

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

26. January 05, 2026

    Coauthored by Representative Bascom

27. January 05, 2026

    Authored by Representative Zimmerman

28. January 05, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

Sponsors

• Alex Zimmerman · Primary

Votes

Subjects