Rep. Garrett Bascom

Provides that certain: (1) indemnity; (2) choice of law; and (3) automatic renewal; provisions contained in contracts entered into, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2026, between the governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority for a charter school and a vendor are against public policy and are void and unenforceable. Provides that certain youth organizations may submit a grievance to the department of education if a public school refuses to allow the organization to provide information to students under certain conditions. Provides that, if a public school allows a postsecondary educational institution to provide certain information to students, the public school shall allow military personnel to provide certain information to students.

Maddy summaryHB 1249 changes juvenile court jurisdiction by adding "unlawful carrying of a handgun charged as a felony" to the list of offenses where juvenile courts cannot handle cases. This means juveniles facing felony handgun charges would be processed in adult court instead of juvenile court. The bill directly affects young people under 18 charged with this specific weapon-related offense. It modifies existing law by expanding the category of serious crimes excluded from juvenile court jurisdiction, requiring such cases to move to adult criminal court proceedings. The bill passed the House unanimously (74-18) and is now before the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.

Adds conditions for which the horse racing commission (HRC) may revoke or suspend a license or deny a license application. Adds a reference to wagering on horse racing in a provision prohibiting certain individuals from wagering at a licensed facility. Provides that appeals of certain decisions of the HRC may be appealed to the office of administrative law proceedings. Adds sports wagering certificate holders to the voluntary exclusion program. Defines and establishes civil penalties for conducting a "sweepstakes game". Allows the holder of a beer wholesaler's permit to possess, transport, sell, and deliver beer to a food manufacturer that is registered with the federal Food and Drug Administration for the purpose of adding or integrating the beer into a product or recipe. Provides that a wine retailer whose wine sales represent at least 60% of the annual gross income from the premises may allow customers to obtain sealed bottles of wine by self-service for consumption off the licensed premises. Allows the holder of a temporary wine permit to purchase, receive, and sell mixed beverages. Establishes requirements for the wholesale sale and distribution of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. Adds additional information an applicant must provide to the alcohol and tobacco commission (commission) when applying for a tobacco sales certificate. Provides for the suspension of a certificate if the certificate holder's employees violate employee identification requirements three or more times in one year. Allows the commission to issue to the city of Gary not more than 10 new three-way permits. Allows the commission to issue: (1) a beer dealer's permit, wine dealer's permit, and liquor dealer's permit to a drug store operated in the city of Westfield; and (2) a beer dealer's permit and wine dealer's permit to a convenience store operated in the town of Sellersburg. Provides that certain requirements regarding the sale, rental, trade, or transfer of a handgun do not apply to an item defined as an antique firearm.

Amends the definition of "threat" in the intimidation statute to include posting a person's personal information on a social media platform with the intent to cause: (1) bodily injury to the person; (2) damage to the person's property; or (3) the commission of a crime against the person. Increases the penalty for intimidation if committed against a legislator.

Amends the statute governing residential real estate sales disclosures to provide that in the case of a resale or refinance of property covered by the governing documents of a homeowners association (HOA), an HOA or an agent of the HOA providing a statement of unpaid assessments or other charges relating to a property may not charge more than $50 for the statement. (HEA 1152-2026 prohibits an HOA from charging a fee for the statement.) Provides that an HOA member is considered to be in attendance at a meeting of the HOA if the member attends by remote or virtual means in accordance with the statutory procedures for remote meetings of nonprofit corporations. Requires the board of an HOA to provide to HOA members at least four days advance written notice of any meeting of the board. Provides that the meeting notice must include: (1) a meeting agenda; and (2) in the case of a notice for an annual meeting, a statement of the right of HOA members to demand a special meeting of the members, including a statement of the required number of members needed to demand a special meeting. Amends the provision in HEA 1152-2026 that prohibits an HOA, an agent of an HOA, or an HOA management company from charging a homeowner a fee associated with any service provided by the HOA to specify that such services include services that are included in the homeowner's association assessment but do not include any optional service that is offered to a homeowner in connection with the homeowner's individual lot in the subdivision and that the homeowner opts to receive. Provides that a schedule of any optional services offered must be approved by the board and distributed to HOA members on at least an annual basis and whenever there is a change in the fees for any of the offered services. Prohibits an HOA, an agent of an HOA, or an HOA management company from charging a homeowner a fee associated with the production of a statement of account setting forth the amount of any unpaid assessments or other charges due and owing from the homeowner. Requires an HOA or its agent to maintain an account statement for a homeowner and provide the statement to the homeowner upon request. Provides that the governing documents of an HOA may not require that the consent of more than 2/3 of the owners be required to amend the HOA's governing documents. Provides that an HOA's governing documents may not require the consent of more than 2/3 of first lien mortgage holders in order to amend the governing documents. Removes the provision in current law that provides that the governing documents may require the approval of at least 95% of the owners to convey common areas or to dissolve the plan of governance for the HOA. Authorizes an HOA to assess a fine for a member's violation of a covenant if the HOA first: (1) adopts a schedule of fines for specified violations; and (2) provides to the member a notice setting forth the violation, the amount of the fine, and the date on which the fine will be assessed. Requires a schedule of fines to include a maximum aggregate fine amount for any single violation.

Renames the crime of "criminal mischief" to "criminal vandalism". Repeals: (1) institutional criminal mischief; (2) cemetery mischief; (3) railroad mischief; and (4) critical infrastructure facility mischief; places them in the "criminal vandalism" statute, and preserves the original penalties and defenses. Repeals and places provisions involving damage to a cave in the criminal vandalism statute. Repeals and places provisions involving depositing refuse in a cave in the littering statute. Makes conforming amendments.

Requires the names and specified other information of child victims, child witnesses, and certain other persons to be redacted in criminal actions. Requires the use of an anonymous designator such as "Child Witness No. 1" when redacting a name, and prohibits redaction that uses the person's initials or that describes the person in terms of a family relationship.

Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain immigration matters, the attorney general may defend the law enforcement officer, the governmental body, or the postsecondary educational institution if representation is requested and the actions subject to the suit do not violate federal or state law. Provides that the prohibition on governmental bodies or postsecondary educational institutions limiting or restricting the enforcement of federal immigration law applies regardless of whether the enforcement related activity is carried out by a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency. Removes the mens rea standard in the statute concerning governmental bodies or postsecondary institutions violating the citizenship and immigration status information and enforcement of federal laws chapter. Provides that if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that a governmental entity has not complied with certain requests, the attorney general may bring a court action to: (1) enjoin an act or practice constituting a violation; (2) impose a civil penalty for noncompliance; and (3) and obtain other such relief as is necessary. Provides that before bringing an action against a county jail for certain violations, the attorney general shall consult with the department of correction concerning the most recent inspection report and provide the county jail with notice of the attorney general's probable cause determination. Provides that a governmental body that has the custody of an individual who is the subject of an immigration detainer request shall: (1) provide the judge authorized to grant or deny the individual's release on bail notice that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (2) record in the individual's case file that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (3) comply with the immigration detainer request; and (4) inform the individual that the individual is being held pursuant to an immigration detainer request. Provides immunity to a governmental body or an employee of a governmental body for any action taken concerning an immigration detainer request as long as the action does not violate federal or civil law. Requires a judge who receives notice that an individual is subject to an immigration detainer request to ensure that the notice of the immigration detainer request is recorded in the court's record. Provides that the department of correction shall, in consultation with the attorney general, identify options for training concerning minimum standards for county jails. Provides that compliance with certain standards and the results of an inspection do not preclude and are not a defense to the attorney general bringing an action under IC 5-2-18.2. Provides that the department shall submit to the state budget committee status update reports. Requires the office of the secretary to submit a report to the legislative council concerning certain immigration matters. Provides that each hospital shall, not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each calendar quarter, file with the state department beginning January 1, 2027, in cases where Medicaid is the patient's payor, the form of identification, if any, used by the patient when the patient was admitted. Specifies that it is unlawful for an employer to knowingly or intentionally recruit, hire, or continue to employ an unauthorized alien in Indiana. Allows the attorney general to bring an enforcement action against an employer if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that the employer has violated certain recruitment and hiring restrictions concerning an unauthorized alien. Prohibits an employer from discharging or discriminating against an employee because the employee communicated or cooperated with the attorney general.Provides that indecent nuisance means a place in which human trafficking is conducted and is not limited to a public place. Provides that a governmental entity that employs a prosecuting official is entitled to investigative costs, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees incurred in an indecent nuisance action if the existence of an indecent nuisance is admitted or established in the action. Makes technical changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a standardized process to determine eligibility for advanced DNA testing in unsolved cold cases. It directly affects law enforcement agencies handling unresolved crimes and potentially individuals wrongfully convicted in long-pending cases. The key provision establishes clear criteria for when DNA evidence can be retested using modern technology, replacing inconsistent past practices. This changes how cold case investigations are conducted by requiring law enforcement to follow specific, defined steps to request testing.

Maddy summaryHB 1274 prevents insurance companies from requiring policyholders or potential customers to post or display "gun-free zone" notices on their property. This directly affects homeowners and renters who purchase insurance, as insurers can no longer mandate these specific signage requirements. The bill's key provision prohibits insurers from including such notice-posting as a condition for coverage or policy renewal. The bill passed the House on January 28, 2026, and is now under review by the Senate Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions.