Bill Sponsor
Indiana House Bill 1249
Session 2026
Various criminal law matters.
Active
Active
Passed Senate on Mar 5, 2026
Sponsors
First Action
Jan 5, 2026
Latest Action
Mar 5, 2026
Origin Chamber
House
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1249
State
Indiana
Session
2026
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Sponsor
Republican
Author
House Votes (2)
Senate Votes (2)
Motion Text
HB 1249 - Zimmerman
House Roll Call Votes
Excused
Unknown
Johnson, B
Yes
Didn't Vote
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.
03/05/2026
Senate
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
03/03/2026
House
Signed by the Speaker
03/02/2026
Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
02/27/2026
House
Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 424: yeas 96, nays 0
02/27/2026
Senate
Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 327: yeas 43, nays 4
02/27/2026
Senate
CCR # 1 filed in the Senate
02/27/2026
House
CCR # 1 filed in the House
02/23/2026
House
House conferees appointed: Zimmerman, Gore
02/23/2026
House
House dissented from Senate amendments
02/23/2026
House
Motion to dissent filed
02/23/2026
Senate
Senate advisors appointed: Pol, Clark
02/23/2026
Senate
Senate conferees appointed: Freeman, Taylor G
02/23/2026
House
House advisors appointed: McNamara, Bascom, Pierce M
02/20/2026
Senate
Returned to the House with amendments
02/19/2026
Senate
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 207: yeas 46, nays 0
02/17/2026
Senate
Second reading: ordered engrossed
02/12/2026
Senate
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
02/02/2026
Senate
First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law
01/29/2026
House
Referred to the Senate
01/28/2026
House
Senate sponsor: Senator Freeman
01/28/2026
House
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 135: yeas 74, nays 18
01/20/2026
House
Second reading: ordered engrossed
01/14/2026
House
Committee report: do pass, adopted
01/05/2026
House
Coauthored by Representative Bascom
01/05/2026
House
First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
01/05/2026
House
Authored by Representative Zimmerman
Sources
Record Created
Jan 5, 2026 4:38:02 PM
Record Updated
Mar 6, 2026 1:08:54 AM