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HB1250 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.

Children Crime
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Timothy O'Brien
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how victims can request updates on their cases.

Improving Public Safety Procedures

This act changes Indiana's laws about corrections by requiring certain notifications before releasing serious violent offenders into communities.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Department of Correction to notify local law enforcement seven days in advance when a serious violent offender is being released into their area.
  • Requires the Department of Correction to inform victims through an automated system about the release of offenders who committed crimes against them.
  • Makes sure courts and prosecutors tell victims about victim assistance programs and updates on their cases if requested by the victim.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Department of Correction
  • Local law enforcement agencies (sheriffs, police chiefs)
  • Courts and prosecutors
  • Victims of serious violent crimes

Terms To Know

Serious Violent Felon
A person who has committed a crime that is considered very dangerous or harmful.
Automated Victim Notification System
A system used by the Department of Correction to inform victims about offenders and their status in the correctional system.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if notifications are not made on time.
  • It is unclear how this will affect smaller towns or rural areas with limited resources for law enforcement.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1250.02.COMH.AMS04

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the Indiana Code that requires certain information about inmates to be provided to victims of crimes.

  • Adds a requirement for the Department of Correction to provide specific details about an inmate's status and location to crime victims upon request.
  • The amendment does not specify all the details on how this information will be shared or what constitutes 'specific details'.
HB1250.01.INTR.AMH01

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Jennifer Meltzer

Filed

Plain English: This amendment adds new provisions to the Indiana Code regarding victim rights in corrections.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code that outlines specific rights for victims involved with the corrections system.
  • The exact details of what these new victim rights entail are not provided, so it's unclear exactly how they will affect current practices.
  • It is unknown which part of the Indiana Code this amendment aims to modify specifically without more detailed information.
HB1250.01.INTR.AMH02

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Mitch Gore

Filed

Plain English: This amendment adds new rules about how certain documents are handled in Indiana's corrections system.

  • Adds requirements for handling specific types of documents within the corrections department.
  • The official text does not provide details on what specific documents or exact procedures will be affected, making it hard to explain further changes concretely.
HB1250.01.INTR.AMH03

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Wendy McNamara

Filed

Plain English: The amendment proposes changes to the Indiana Code regarding juveniles in corrections.

  • Modifies provisions of the Indiana Code concerning juveniles who are involved with the corrections system.
  • The specific details and extent of the modifications to the Indiana Code are not provided, making it unclear exactly what changes will be made.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-03 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-03 House

    Public Law 57

  3. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  5. 2026-02-25 House

    House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 366: yeas 92, nays 0

  6. 2026-02-25 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  7. 2026-02-24 House

    Motion to concur filed

  8. 2026-02-20 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  9. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 208: yeas 46, nays 0

  10. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  11. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  12. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Clark added as cosponsor

  13. 2026-02-02 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

  14. 2026-01-29 House

    Referred to the Senate

  15. 2026-01-28 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 134: yeas 94, nays 0

  16. 2026-01-28 House

    Senate sponsors: Senators Carrasco, Baldwin, Becker

  17. 2026-01-28 House

    Cosponsors: Senators Tomes, Schmitt

  18. 2026-01-27 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  19. 2026-01-22 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  20. 2026-01-08 House

    Representative Zimmerman added as coauthor

  21. 2026-01-05 House

    Authored by Representative O'Brien

  22. 2026-01-05 House

    Coauthored by Representatives McNamara, Bascom

  23. 2026-01-05 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.
Public safety procedures.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning corrections.

Public safety procedures.

Requires the department of correction to electronically notify, at least seven days in advance, the: (1) county sheriff; (2) prosecuting attorney; and (3) chief of police; of the county or municipality into which the department will release a serious violent felon, including a juvenile adjudicated for an act that would be a serious violent felony, and of the county or municipality where the serious violent felon or juvenile committed the offense. Requires the department of correction to notify a registered victim through the department's automated victim notification system. Requires: (1) a court; and (2) the prosecuting attorney or the prosecuting attorney's victim assistance program; to notify a victim of the automated victim assistance notification program, and provides that a victim has the right to be informed, upon request, about the progress of the criminal case involving the victim. Requires that, before hiring a person as a law enforcement officer, a law enforcement hiring department or agency shall request from prior law enforcement employers all documents relating to disciplinary action or internal investigations that involve the person. (Under current law, a hiring agency must request all findings and orders).