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SB156 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Senator Mike Bohacek
Last action
2026-01-05
Official status
Introduced Senate Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the extent of sentencing changes or if it applies to other crimes or platforms.

Making Using Dating Apps in Sex Offenses Worse

This bill makes it worse for someone who commits a sex crime if they met the person on a dating app.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds rules to make using an online dating platform to meet a victim of a sex offense an aggravating factor in sentencing.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit sex crimes
  • Victims of sex crimes met through online dating platforms

Terms To Know

aggravating circumstance
A reason that makes a crime worse and can lead to a harsher punishment.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much harsher the sentence will be.
  • It is unclear if this affects other types of crimes or platforms besides dating apps.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-05 Senate

    Authored by Senator Bohacek

  2. 2026-01-05 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.
Dating app aggravator.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.

Dating app aggravator.

Makes it an aggravating circumstance for purposes of sentencing that the person: (1) committed a sex offense; and (2) used an online platform designed for dating to meet the victim.