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

Technology

Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify any direct impact on drone users, so this group was removed.

Indiana Law on Drones

This law makes Indiana's state police responsible for managing how local police can use technology to deal with drones, but only if the U.S. government gives permission and tells everyone about it.

What This Bill Does

Makes the Indiana State Police in charge of dealing with drones when allowed by federal laws.
Allows the Indiana State Police to work with other local police departments if they meet certain training requirements set by the federal government.
Chooses Indianapolis as a test area for drone countermeasures because it has many important places and events that need protection.
Says that any actions taken against drones must be allowed by federal laws.

Who It Names or Affects

The Indiana State Police
Local police departments in Indiana

Terms To Know

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): Drones or other flying machines that do not have a human pilot on board.
Federal Law: A law made by the U.S. government, which applies to all states in the country.

Limits and Unknowns

The rules only start working if and when the federal government makes a new law about drones.
Local police can only take action against drones after getting approval from both the state and federal governments.

Amendments

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

SB0227.03.COMH.AMH001

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Representative Kendell Culp

Failed

Plain English: This amendment aims to modify the Indiana Code regarding public safety, but does not provide specific details about what changes it intends to make.

The official text of the amendment is incomplete and does not specify any concrete changes to the Indiana Code concerning public safety.

Bill History

2026-03-04 Senate
Signed by the Governor
2026-03-04 Senate
Public Law 72
2026-02-27 Senate
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
2026-02-27 House
Signed by the Speaker
2026-02-27 Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
2026-02-25 House
Returned to the Senate without amendments
2026-02-24 House
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 349: yeas 97, nays 0
2026-02-23 House
Second reading: ordered engrossed
2026-02-19 House
Committee report: do pass, adopted
2026-02-12 House
Representative Lauer added as cosponsor
2026-01-29 House
Representative Culp added as cosponsor
2026-01-28 House
First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
2026-01-27 Senate
Referred to the House
2026-01-26 Senate
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 78: yeas 44, nays 0
2026-01-26 Senate
House sponsor: Representative Bartels
2026-01-26 Senate
Senator Koch added as coauthor
2026-01-26 Senate
Senator Schmitt added as coauthor
2026-01-22 Senate
Second reading: ordered engrossed
2026-01-20 Senate
Committee report: do pass, adopted
2026-01-20 Senate
Senator Charbonneau added as coauthor
2026-01-08 Senate
Authored by Senators Baldwin, Freeman, Carrasco
2026-01-08 Senate
First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning public safety.
Counter action against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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

Counter action against unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Provides that the state police department is the statewide coordinating agency for counter-UAS activities authorized under federal law. Provides that the bill's provisions apply: (1) if a federal law is enacted that authorizes state or local law enforcement personnel to detect, track, identify, or mitigate a UAS under federal approval, certification, or oversight; and (2) after the governor publishes a notice in the Indiana Register that includes a description of the authorization and identifies the federal statute or program that provides the authorization. Provides that the state police department may designate a law enforcement agency of a political subdivision as a participating agency if the agency satisfies federal requirements for personnel training and operational readiness. Provides that the state police department may designate Indianapolis as a pilot project location due to the concentration of high-risk sites and special event assessment rating events. Provides that mitigation activities may not be performed unless expressly authorized under federal law.