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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SB5 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning alcohol and tobacco.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning alcohol and tobacco.

Crime
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Senator Ron Alting
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Enrolled Senate Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact process for resolving disputes over suspensions is not detailed in the provided official summary.

Suspension of Alcohol Retail Permits

This law allows the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to suspend alcohol retail permits if a licensed premises becomes dangerous or involved in illegal activities.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the commission to refuse, suspend, or revoke a retailer's permit if their place of business is a public nuisance or involves certain acts or prohibited conduct.
  • Gives the chairman power to temporarily stop an alcohol retail permit if they believe a felony has occurred there and wasn't prevented by the owner.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Alcohol retailers in Indiana who might have their permits suspended if they don't follow the rules.
  • The Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission, which enforces these new rules.

Terms To Know

public nuisance
A situation that is harmful or annoying to the public in general.
licensed premises
A place where alcohol can be legally sold because it has a permit from the government.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if a retailer disagrees with their permit being suspended.
  • It is unclear how often this new power will be used by the commission.

Amendments

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

SB0005.01.INTR.AMS01

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Ron Alting

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to require alcohol retailers to obtain a new permit.

  • Adds a requirement for alcohol retailers to get a specific permit from the state.
  • The exact details of how this permit will be obtained and what it entails are not provided in the amendment text.
SB0005.02.COMS.AMH02

Committee Senate Bill (H) • Representative Ethan Manning

Filed

Plain English: This amendment would change the Indiana Code to allow for the temporary suspension of retail alcohol permits under certain conditions.

  • Adds a new section that allows the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to temporarily suspend a retail alcohol permit if there is probable cause to believe the permit holder has violated state laws.
  • The amendment does not specify what happens after the temporary suspension or how long it lasts.
  • It's unclear from this text alone what specific violations would trigger such suspensions.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Public Law 103

  3. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  4. 2026-02-27 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  5. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  6. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Motion to concur filed

  7. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 290: yeas 46, nays 1

  8. 2026-02-17 House

    Returned to the Senate with amendments

  9. 2026-02-16 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 246: yeas 87, nays 0

  10. 2026-02-12 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  11. 2026-02-12 House

    Representative Moed added as cosponsor

  12. 2026-02-10 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  13. 2026-01-29 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Public Policy

  14. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Referred to the House

  15. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 88: yeas 45, nays 1

  16. 2026-01-27 Senate

    House sponsor: Representative Steuerwald

  17. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Senator Qaddoura added as third author

  18. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  19. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  20. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Senator Jackson L added as coauthor

  21. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senator Walker K added as second author

  22. 2026-01-08 Senate

    Authored by Senator Alting

  23. 2026-01-08 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Public Policy

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning alcohol and tobacco.
Suspension of permit.

Current Bill Text

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

Suspension of permit.

Allows the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) to refuse to grant or renew or to suspend or revoke a retailer's permit if a licensed premises becomes a public nuisance or the scene of certain acts or prohibited conduct. Allows the chairman of the commission to temporarily suspend an alcoholic beverage retail permit if all of the following apply: (1) The chairman has a reasonable belief that a felony has been committed on the licensed premises. (2) The permit holder failed to take reasonable action to prevent the occurrence of a crime. (3) Multiple crimes or violations have occurred on the licensed premises in the last 12 months. (4) The continued operation of the licensed premises would pose a clear and immediate danger to the safety of the surrounding community or general public. Requires the commission to: (1) provide immediate notice to the permit holder of a factual basis for the suspension and the time and place of a hearing on the suspension; and (2) hold the hearing not later than three business days after the permit is suspended.