Indiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Indiana SB246: Redaction of court records.
Status: Signed into law, March 5, 2026
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.
What the bill says
An act to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure. SECTION 1. IC 33-41-1-5 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 5. (a) If requested to do so, an official reporter shall furnish to either party in a cause a transcript of all or any part of the proceedings required by the reporter to be taken or noted, including all documentary evidence. (b) An official reporter shall furnish a typewritten or printed transcript described in subsection (a) as soon after being requested to do so as practicable. (c) The reporter shall certify that the transcript contains all the evidence given in the cause. (d) The reporter may require payment for a transcript, or that the payment be satisfactorily secured, before the reporter proceeds to do the required work. (e) In a criminal action (as defined by IC 35-32-4-1), the official reporter shall comply with the requirements for redaction under IC 35-32-4. SECTION 2. IC 35-31.5-2-72.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 72.7. "Criminal action", for purposes of IC 35-32-4, has the meaning set forth in IC 35-32-4-1. SECTION 3. IC 35-32-4 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS SEA 246 -- Concur A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY …
Sponsors
- Aaron Freeman (R, SD-032) · primary sponsor
- Carrasco, Cyndi (R)
- Rodney Pol (D, SD-004)
- Eric Koch (R, SD-044)
- Brett Clark (R, SD-024)
- Susan Glick (R, SD-013)
- Scott Baldwin (R, SD-020)
Latest actions
- : Public Law 129
- : Signed by the Governor
- : Signed by the President of the Senate
- : Signed by the President Pro Tempore
- : Signed by the Speaker
- : Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 286: yeas 47, nays 0
- : Motion to concur filed
- : Returned to the Senate with amendments
- : Third reading: passed; Roll Call 269: yeas 88, nays 0
- : Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
Votes
- SB0246.04.ENGH.CON01 (February 25, 2026): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- SB0246.03.COMH (February 17, 2026): 88 yea, 0 nay, passed
- SB0246.02.COMS (January 20, 2026): 46 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE; Victims, COURTS; Witnesses, CHILDREN AND MINORS; Generally
Common questions
- What is SB246?
- SB246 is a bill in the Indiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Redaction of court records.
- What does SB246 do?
- In its own words: An act to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and procedure.
- What is the status of SB246?
- Signed into law as of March 5, 2026. Latest action: Public Law 129 (March 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB246?
- Aaron Freeman (R, SD-032), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB246?
- On the Indiana Legislature website: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/246
Source: official Indiana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.