Judges would keep minimum prison terms for certain felonies

Judges would be allowed to suspend only the part of a covered sentence above the minimum. This covers Level 2 felonies, crimes on the state's violence list, and felonies committed after an unrelated felony conviction. A finding for a juvenile act that would be a felony also qualifies if fewer than three years passed between that act and the felony being sentenced. Certain juvenile cases filed in adult court are exempt unless the crime is murder. The proposed limit would take effect July 1, 2026.

Courts could convict and sentence a person separately for each victim named in a separate charge. This applies when one person's criminal conduct involves more than one victim. Each victim must be listed in a separately charged offense. Crimes against different victims during the same connected episode would fall outside the usual limit on back-to-back prison terms. Both proposed rules would take effect July 1, 2026.

Court clerks would collect a $40 fee in covered cases. The fee covers many civil and small claims filings. It does not apply to a case involving a child accused of delinquency. In criminal and violation cases, the fee applies after a conviction, a required fee for a program before trial, or a finding of a violation. The proposed fee would take effect July 1, 2026.

Indiana would classify reckless homicide, involuntary manslaughter, and reckless supervision causing a child's death as Level 4 felonies. The supervision rule covers child care providers when a child dies. The involuntary manslaughter provision covers specified acts causing the death of a person or fetus. These proposed classifications would take effect July 1, 2026.

County auditors could request repayment for part of qualifying deputy prosecutors' pay and benefits. Repayment covers eligible deputy prosecutors, but excludes chief deputies and elected prosecutors. Lawmakers must put money in the fund. The deputy must earn at least 55% of the elected full-time prosecutor's salary. Pay repayment is capped at 27.5% of that salary, and benefits repayment is capped at $15,140. The state must withhold payment if the prosecutors' council directs it after a finding that the county's prosecutor is noncompliant. The proposed fund and repayment rules would take effect July 1, 2026.