IndianaIndiana would penalize some payments rewarding officials’ past work
People who give or take certain payments rewarding an official act could face charges, and people who knowingly mix committee and personal funds could face separate penalties.
What it does
People who give, ask for, or take a payment rewarding a current or former public servant for official work done for the giver could face charges. At least $750 could mean a felony; listed exceptions apply.
People who knowingly or intentionally mix a committee’s funds with an officer’s, member’s, or associate’s personal money could face a misdemeanor. Mixing at least $50,000 could bring a felony charge.
Argument forCriminal penalties could deter people from paying officials for acts done for them, reducing private rewards for public work.
Argument againstOutside the listed exceptions, the rule could limit former public servants’ ability to accept thank-you payments for past official work.
More detail
Givers and public servants would face a Class A misdemeanor for covered reward payments. The payment must follow an official act done for the giver. Former public servants are covered. Givers must intend to reward the act. Recipients must ask for a reward or know, or reasonably be expected to know, why the payment was offered. Exceptions cover goods or services under $100, goods or services subject to reporting or otherwise allowed under ethics rules that apply to the giver or public servant, and ceremonial items. They also cover properly reported political donations, lawful government pay, and job offers unrelated to the act. A covered payment worth at least $750 would be a Level 6 felony. These rules would take effect July 1, 2026.
A person who knowingly or intentionally mixes the specified funds would face a Class A misdemeanor or a Level 6 felony, depending on the amount. This covers committee funds mixed with the personal funds of a committee officer, member, or associate. The felony level applies when at least $50,000 of committee funds is mixed with the specified personal funds. This 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 25House dissented from Senate amendmentsLatest
- Feb 25Senate conferees appointed: Niemeyer, Qaddoura
- Feb 25Senate advisors appointed: Freeman, Taylor G
- Feb 25House advisors appointed: Olthoff, Meltzer, Gore
- Feb 25House conferees appointed: Slager, Bauer
- Feb 25Motion to dissent filedMinor
- Feb 24Returned to the House with amendmentsMinor
- Vote recorded HB 1065 - Niemeyer - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Third reading: passed; Roll Call 231: yeas 47, nays 1Passed Senate
- Feb 23Amendment #1 (Freeman) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 23Reread second time: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 19Placed back on second readingMinor
- Feb 19Senator Qaddoura added as cosponsor
- Feb 16Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 12Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Feb 5First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal LawMinor
- Feb 3Referred to the SenateMinor
- Feb 2Third reading: passed; Roll Call 168: yeas 85, nays 0Passed House
- Vote recorded HB 1065 - Slager - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Senate sponsors: Senators Niemeyer, Freeman
- Jan 28Second reading: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 28Amendment #3 (Slager) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Jan 22Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 12Representative Olthoff added as coauthor
- 2025
- Dec 5First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal CodeMinor
- Dec 5Authored by Representative SlagerIntroduced
Government & EthicsCriminal Justice