HB 1249 IN

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Became Law

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.

• Alex Zimmerman Republican · author
• Aaron Freeman Republican · sponsor

1. Jan 5, 2026 First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code · lower
2. Jan 5, 2026 Authored by Representative Zimmerman · lower
3. Jan 5, 2026 Coauthored by Representative Bascom · lower
4. Jan 14, 2026 Committee report: do pass, adopted · lower
5. Jan 20, 2026 Second reading: ordered engrossed · lower
6. Jan 28, 2026 Senate sponsor: Senator Freeman · lower
7. Jan 28, 2026 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 135: yeas 74, nays 18 · lower
8. Jan 29, 2026 Referred to the Senate · lower
9. Feb 2, 2026 First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law · upper
10. Feb 12, 2026 Committee report: amend do pass, adopted · upper
11. Feb 17, 2026 Second reading: ordered engrossed · upper
12. Feb 19, 2026 Third reading: passed; Roll Call 207: yeas 46, nays 0 · upper
13. Feb 20, 2026 Returned to the House with amendments · upper
14. Feb 23, 2026 Motion to dissent filed · lower
15. Feb 23, 2026 House dissented from Senate amendments · lower
16. Feb 23, 2026 House conferees appointed: Zimmerman, Gore · lower
17. Feb 23, 2026 House advisors appointed: McNamara, Bascom, Pierce M · lower
18. Feb 23, 2026 Senate conferees appointed: Freeman, Taylor G · upper
19. Feb 23, 2026 Senate advisors appointed: Pol, Clark · upper
20. Feb 27, 2026 Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 424: yeas 96, nays 0 · lower
21. Feb 27, 2026 Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 327: yeas 43, nays 4 · upper
22. Feb 27, 2026 CCR # 1 filed in the Senate · upper
23. Feb 27, 2026 CCR # 1 filed in the House · lower
24. Mar 12, 2026 Signed by the Governor · executive
25. Mar 5, 2026 Signed by the President Pro Tempore · upper
26. Mar 12, 2026 Public Law 158 · lower
27. Mar 3, 2026 Signed by the Speaker · lower
28. Mar 2, 2026 Signed by the President of the Senate · upper