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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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SB9 • 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
Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The exact timing and location of when victim impact statements must be given are not detailed in the provided official source material.

Victim Impact Statements Law

This law requires defendants to be present when victims give statements about crimes and sentences, unless it would cause a safety risk or significant disruption.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the defendant to be in court during victim impact statements concerning the crime and sentence, except if their presence poses a safety risk or causes major disruption.
  • Allows for another hearing if the defendant does not attend sentencing, so the victim can give their statement with the defendant present.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Victims of crimes
  • People who committed crimes (defendants)
  • Courts and judges

Terms To Know

Defendant
A person who is accused of a crime in court.
Victim impact statement
A statement made by someone harmed by a crime, describing how the crime affected them and what they think should happen to the person who committed it.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify when or where these statements must be given.
  • It is unclear how courts determine if a defendant's presence would cause a safety risk or significant disruption.

Amendments

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

SB0009.03.ENGS.AMH02

Committee Engrossed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Wendy McNamara

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to add new requirements for certain criminal procedures.

  • Adds new rules about how some criminal cases should be handled.
  • The official text is too technical to explain fully without more details.
SB0009.03.ENGS.AMH03

Committee Engrossed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Alex Zimmerman

Filed

Plain English: This amendment does not provide specific changes to the bill and only includes a statement from Representative Alex Zimmerman.

  • The official text of the amendment does not include any concrete changes or amendments to the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.
SB0009.01.INTR.AMS01

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Filed

Plain English: The amendment proposes to change the Indiana Code regarding criminal law and procedure, specifically concerning defendants who are absent.

  • Modifies provisions related to defendants who do not appear in court as required.
  • The exact details of how the absence of a defendant will be handled under this amendment are not provided in the given text.
SB0009.04.COMH.AMH001

Filed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Jennifer Meltzer

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 official amendment text does not provide enough information to explain the exact content or impact of the changes it proposes.
SB0009.02.COMS.AMS001

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Senator Liz Brown

Failed

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

  • The exact nature of the change is unclear from the provided text.
  • The official amendment text does not specify any concrete changes or updates to the Indiana Code.
  • Further information would be needed to understand the intended modifications.
SB0009.02.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 66

  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 269: yeas 42, nays 0

  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 258: yeas 90, nays 0

  10. 2026-02-17 House

    Representative Bauer added as cosponsor

  11. 2026-02-16 House

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  12. 2026-02-16 House

    Amendment #1 (Meltzer) prevailed; voice vote

  13. 2026-02-12 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  14. 2026-01-28 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

  15. 2026-01-23 Senate

    Referred to the House

  16. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 46: yeas 45, nays 0

  17. 2026-01-22 Senate

    House sponsor: Representative King

  18. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Cosponsor: Representative Morris

  19. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Senator Baldwin added as coauthor

  20. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  21. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Amendment #2 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote

  22. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senator Freeman added as coauthor

  23. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senators Pol, Koch, Clark, Glick, Deery added as coauthors

  24. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  25. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Senator Johnson T added as second author

  26. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Senator Bassler added as third author

  27. 2025-12-08 Senate

    Authored by Senator Brown L

  28. 2025-12-08 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.
Victim impact statements.

Current Bill Text

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

Victim impact statements.

Requires a defendant to be present in the courtroom while a victim makes a statement concerning the crime and the sentence, unless the defendant presents a safety risk or causes a significant disruption. Provides that if a defendant fails to appear at sentencing and is later taken into custody, the court may hold a hearing to permit the victim to makes a statement concerning the crime and the sentence in the presence of the defendant.