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State Government / Indiana / Legislation / SB 251

SB 251Session 2026SenatePassed a vote

OWI penalties.

Provides that if a person has one prior OWI conviction, the court shall order that the person be imprisoned for at least 10 days or perform community service, and if a person has two prior OWI convictions, the court shall order that the person be imprisoned for at least 20 days or perform community service. Provides that a person receives good time credit while serving a sentence imposed under this statute (under current law, a person does not receive good time credit).Provides that this statute does not increase the maximum sentence for the offense as provided by either IC 35-50-2 or IC 35-50-3. Specifies that "vehicle", for purposes of the crime of operating while intoxicated, includes a watercraft, and repeals the separate crime of operating a motorboat while intoxicated. Provides that an initial hearing may be waived and allows a person to apply for a specialized driving privilege after an initial hearing. Adds operating while intoxicated due to use of a controlled substance to the habitual traffic violator statute. Authorizes the use of a roadside chemical test under certain circumstances. Specifies that ignition interlock devices may only be used when the underlying offense is operating while intoxicated resulting from the use of alcohol. Makes certain provisions concerning pretrial administrative suspension of driving privileges discretionary with the court.Provides that the budget director shall review and determine before December 31, 2026, whether federal highway administration funding to the state will or will not be reduced due to the amendment of provisions concerning administrative suspension of driving privileges. Requires the budget director to notify the budget committee of the determination and those provisions may not be implemented until after budget committee review. Makes conforming amendments.

Latest development · Feb 12, 2026

Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3

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Source record ↗
Session
2026
Introduced
Jan 8, 2026
Latest passage
Jan 28, 2026
TopicsSponsorsActionsRelated billsDiscussion

Topics and classification

Civixly topics

Budget & TaxesJustice & Public SafetyTransportation

Source subjects

CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE; Motor Vehicle Offenses (Excluding Traffic Violations)LAW ENFORCEMENT; GenerallyTRANSPORTATION; LandcraftTRANSPORTATION; Traffic Rules, Regulations, Penalties, and Violations

Document type

Bill

Sponsors

Primary sponsors are listed before cosponsors and other sponsoring entities.

Primary sponsorAaron Freeman
Primary sponsorChris Jeter
Primary sponsorCyndi Carrasco
coauthorEd Charbonneau
cosponsorJulie Olthoff

Action timeline

Newest action first. Action language is supplied by the state source.

View full action timeline13 actions⌄
  1. Feb 12, 2026

    Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3

    House
  2. Feb 12, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    Committee PassageHouse
  3. Feb 3, 2026

    Representative Olthoff added as cosponsor

    House
  4. Feb 2, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

    Reading 1Referral CommitteeHouse
  5. Jan 29, 2026

    Referred to the House

    ReferralSenate
  6. Jan 28, 2026

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 124: yeas 47, nays 1

    PassageReading 3Reading 3Senate
  7. Jan 28, 2026

    House sponsor: Representative Jeter

    Senate
  8. Jan 26, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

    Reading 2Senate
  9. Jan 22, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    Committee PassageSenate
  10. Jan 22, 2026

    Senator Charbonneau added as coauthor

    Senate
  11. Jan 13, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

    Committee PassageReferral CommitteeSenate
  12. Jan 8, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

    Reading 1Referral CommitteeSenate
  13. Jan 8, 2026

    Authored by Senators Freeman, Carrasco

    Senate

Related Indiana legislation

Other measures from this legislative session that share one or more Civixly topics with SB 251.

HB 1249Updated Mar 12, 2026

Various criminal law matters.

Justice & Public SafetyTransportation
HB 1003Updated Mar 12, 2026

Boards and commissions.

Budget & TaxesJustice & Public Safety
HB 1200Updated Mar 12, 2026

Bureau of motor vehicles.

Budget & TaxesTransportation
SB 179Updated Mar 12, 2026

Indiana department of transportation.

Budget & TaxesJustice & Public SafetyTransportation
Browse all Indiana legislation →

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State legislative data provided by Open States and linked legislature sources when available.

Civixly tracks state bill actions, passage dates, and sponsors. Member-level state roll-call histories are not included.

Source data last updated Apr 29, 2026.