Indiana courts would collect $10 or $50 fees in some cases

Court clerks would collect a $10 fee for covered filings. It would cover filed actions in the listed Indiana courts and small claims courts. The fee would not apply to criminal cases, state infractions, local ordinance violations, or cases involving children accused of delinquency. The fee would take effect July 1, 2026.

Court clerks would collect a $50 fee after a conviction or when a person must pay a diversion or deferral fee. It would apply to actions meeting one of those conditions. The person must be convicted or required to pay a fee for a program that handles the case before trial or delays its outcome. The fee would not apply to a case involving a child accused of delinquency. The fee would take effect July 1, 2026.

County auditors could request state repayment for eligible deputy prosecutor pay and benefits. Requests could cover deputy prosecutors, but not chief deputies or elected prosecutors. Lawmakers would have to put money in the fund. The deputy’s yearly salary must be at least 55% of the full-time elected prosecutor’s salary. A salary request could cover no more than 27.5% of that elected prosecutor’s salary. A benefits request could cover no more than $15,140. The state would withhold payment if the prosecutors’ council told it to do so because the county prosecutor was found noncompliant. Starting July 1, 2026, county auditors could submit certified requests every quarter.