IndianaJudges could order prostitution education after unlawful proposition convictions
Judges could order people convicted of making an unlawful proposition to complete a court-approved program about prostitution and trafficking, with fees for those ordered to attend.
What it does
At sentencing, judges could order people convicted of making an unlawful proposition to complete a court-approved education program about prostitution and human trafficking.
Anyone ordered into the program would pay $300. Of that fee, $200 would go to a fund for preventing human trafficking and helping victims, and $100 to the arresting agency.
If a county runs the ordered program, the person would owe an extra $200, for $500 total. The county would use the extra fee to help cover program costs.
Argument forThe program could help people ordered to attend understand human trafficking and its harm to victims.
Argument againstPeople ordered into a county-run program could owe $500 in required fees, adding a financial burden after conviction.
More detail
At sentencing, a judge could order the person to complete a court-approved education program. This applies to people convicted of making an unlawful proposition. The program covers prostitution, human trafficking, health risks, and related penalties. The judge must approve the program. The proposed chapter would take effect July 1, 2026.
A person ordered to complete the program would pay a $300 fee. The fee applies only to people ordered to complete the program after an unlawful proposition conviction. The court clerk would send $200 to a state fund for preventing trafficking and helping victims, and $100 to the agency that made the arrest. The fee provision would take effect July 1, 2026.
A person ordered into a county-run program would pay an extra $200. The extra fee applies only when a county runs the program the person is ordered to complete. The court clerk would send the extra fee to the county general fund to help cover program participation costs. The extra fee provision would take effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Feb 5First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal LawLatest
- Feb 3Referred to the SenateMinor
- Feb 2Senate sponsors: Senators Freeman, Pol
- Vote recorded HB 1269 - Bauer - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Third reading: passed; Roll Call 193: yeas 98, nays 0Passed House
- Jan 27Amendment #1 (Meltzer) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Jan 27Second reading: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 22Representative McNamara added as coauthor
- Jan 22Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 20Representative Zimmerman added as coauthor
- Jan 20Representative Bartlett added as coauthor
- Jan 6First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal CodeMinor
- Jan 6Authored by Representative BauerIntroduced
Criminal JusticePublic Safety