KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB2 • 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.

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Senator Aaron Freeman
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
Enrolled Senate Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on how much money can be kept for costs, leaving this detail uncertain.

Indiana Law Changes About Bail

This law changes Indiana's rules about when people accused of crimes can be released on bail before their trial.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it harder to get out on bail for non-murder offenses if the state proves by a preponderance of evidence that proof is evident or presumption strong, and by clear and convincing evidence that the arrestee is dangerous and no conditions can protect others' safety.
  • Sets up procedures for a bail hearing.
  • Removes old rules about repeat violent offenders that are already covered elsewhere in the law.
  • Allows courts to keep money paid as bail without extra hearings if the defendant agrees.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People accused of crimes in Indiana
  • Judges and courts in Indiana

Terms To Know

Preponderance of the evidence
The amount of proof needed to show something is more likely true than not.
Clear and convincing evidence
A higher level of proof that shows something is highly probable or almost certain.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how much money can be kept by the court for costs.
  • The law does not apply to murder cases, only other types of crimes.

Amendments

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

SB0002.04.ENGS.AMH03

Committee Engrossed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Chris Jeter

Filed

Plain English: This amendment adds a new section to Indiana's criminal law that requires police to give certain information to people who are arrested.

  • Adds a requirement for law enforcement officers to provide specific information, including the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, to individuals being arrested.
  • The exact details of what information must be provided by police are not specified in this amendment text.
  • It is unclear how this new requirement will be enforced or what consequences there might be for failing to comply with it.
SB0002.04.ENGS.AMH04

Committee Engrossed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Chris Jeter

Filed

Plain English: The amendment proposes to change how Indiana handles violent arrestees by adding new requirements for law enforcement.

  • Adds a requirement that when someone is arrested for certain violent crimes, the police must check if they have any previous violent offenses before deciding on bail conditions.
  • The amendment does not specify which 'certain violent crimes' are included in this new requirement.
  • It's unclear what specific actions law enforcement must take after checking for previous violent offenses.
SB0002.01.INTR.AMS01

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Filed

Plain English: The amendment aims to modify the Indiana Code regarding criminal law and procedure, specifically concerning cash bail agreements.

  • Modifies provisions related to cash bail agreements in the Indiana Code.
  • The official text does not provide specific details about how cash bail agreements will be modified.
  • Further information is needed to understand the exact changes proposed.
SB0002.01.INTR.AMS02

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Rodney Pol

Filed

Plain English: The amendment proposes changes to the Indiana Code regarding criminal law and procedure, specifically for misdemeanors and Level 6 felonies.

  • The amendment aims to modify existing laws related to misdemeanors and Level 6 felonies in the Indiana Code.
  • The official text does not provide specific details about what changes will be made to the law, making it hard to explain concrete modifications.
SB0002.02.COMS.AMS001

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Senator Rodney Pol

X

Plain English: This amendment proposes to change the Indiana Code regarding criminal law and procedure, but does not provide specific details about what changes are being suggested.

  • The official text of the amendment is incomplete and does not specify any concrete changes to the Indiana Code.
SB0002.02.COMS.AMS002

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to add a new section about criminal law and procedure, but the specific details of what this new section will include are not provided in the given text.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.
  • The exact content and specifics of the new section added to the Indiana Code are not detailed in the amendment text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-04 Senate

    Public Law 64

  3. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  5. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  6. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 267: yeas 38, nays 8

  7. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Motion to concur filed

  8. 2026-02-18 House

    Returned to the Senate with amendments

  9. 2026-02-17 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 257: yeas 75, nays 13

  10. 2026-02-16 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  11. 2026-02-12 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  12. 2026-01-28 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

  13. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Referred to the House

  14. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Senator Koch added as second author

  15. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Senator Carrasco added as third author

  16. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Motion to Correct Committee Report; adopted voice vote

  17. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Rules Committee report: motion to correct committee report; adopted voice vote

  18. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 33: yeas 39, nays 8

  19. 2026-01-20 Senate

    House sponsor: Representative Jeter

  20. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Motion to Correct Committee Report; adopted voice vote

  21. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  22. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Amendment #1 (Pol) failed; voice vote

  23. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Amendment #2 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote

  24. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  25. 2026-01-08 Senate

    Authored by Senator Freeman

  26. 2026-01-08 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.
Bail procedures.

Current Bill Text

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

Bail procedures.

Provides that offenses other than murder are not bailable if the state proves: (1) by a preponderance of the evidence that the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) by clear and convincing evidence that the arrestee is dangerous and that no conditions of release will reasonably protect the safety of other persons or the community. Establishes procedures for a bail hearing. Removes duplicative provisions concerning repeat violent arrestees. Permits a court to retain cash bail for the payment of certain costs without an indigency hearing if the defendant has executed an agreement permitting the court to retain the cash bail for these purposes.