HB 1323

                                                            Introduced Version
           HOUSE BILL No. 1323
                 _____
              DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 35-33-8.
Synopsis: Bail. Prohibits a court from requiring an arrestee to pay bail
as a condition of pretrial release, unless: (1) the court finds by clear and
convincing evidence that the arrestee is a flight risk or danger to the
community; (2) the arrestee is charged with murder or treason; (3) the
arrestee is on pretrial release not related to the incident that is the basis
for the present arrest; or (4) the arrestee is on probation, parole, or
other community supervision. Requires that the amount of bail be the
lowest amount required, based on the defendant's financial
circumstances, to assure the arrestee's appearance at trial and to protect
the community.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
                              Hatcher
   January 6, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code.
2026  IN 1323—LS 6319/DI 107
                                                                                       Introduced
            Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
 PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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 between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
                   HOUSE BILL No. 1323
    A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
 criminal law and procedure.
     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1    SECTION 1. IC 35-33-8-3.2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.205-2023,
2 SECTION 30, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 3.2. (a) After considering the results of the Indiana
4 pretrial risk assessment system (if available), other relevant factors, and
5 bail guidelines described in section sections 3.8 and 4 of this chapter,
6 a court may admit a defendant to bail and impose any of the following
7 conditions to assure the defendant's appearance at any stage of the legal
8 proceedings, or, upon a showing of clear and convincing evidence that
9 the defendant poses a risk of physical danger to another person or the
10 community, to assure the public's physical safety:
11(1) Require the defendant to:
12(A) execute a bail bond with sufficient solvent sureties;
13(B) deposit cash or securities in an amount equal to the bail;
14(C) execute a bond secured by real estate in the county, where
15thirty-three hundredths (0.33) of the true tax value less
16encumbrances is at least equal to the amount of the bail;
17(D) post a real estate bond; or
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1(E) perform any combination of the requirements described in
2clauses (A) through (D).
3If the court requires the defendant to deposit cash or cash and
4another form of security as bail, the court may require the
5defendant and each person who makes the deposit on behalf of the
6defendant to execute an agreement that allows the court to retain
7all or a part of the cash to pay publicly paid costs of
8representation and fines, costs, fees, and restitution that the court
9may order the defendant to pay if the defendant is convicted.
10Before execution of the agreement, the defendant or person who
11makes the deposit on behalf of the defendant shall be advised that,
12upon conviction of the defendant, the court may retain from the
13cash deposited as bail all or a part of the cash to pay publicly paid
14costs of representation and fines, costs, fees, and restitution that
15the court may order the defendant to pay if the defendant is
16convicted. The defendant must also pay the fee required by
17subsection (d).
18(2) Require the defendant to execute:
19(A) a bail bond by depositing cash or securities with the clerk
20of the court in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of
21the bail; and
22(B) an agreement that allows the court to retain all or a part of
23the cash or securities to pay fines, costs, fees, and restitution
24that the court may order the defendant to pay if the defendant
25is convicted.
26A portion of the deposit, not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the
27monetary value of the deposit or fifty dollars ($50), whichever is
28the lesser amount, may be retained as an administrative fee. The
29clerk shall also retain from the deposit under this subdivision
30fines, costs, fees, and restitution as ordered by the court, publicly
31paid costs of representation that shall be disposed of in
32accordance with subsection (b), and the fee required by
33subsection (d). In the event of the posting of a real estate bond,
34the bond shall be used only to insure the presence of the
35defendant at any stage of the legal proceedings, but shall not be
36foreclosed for the payment of fines, costs, fees, or restitution. The
37individual posting bail for the defendant or the defendant
38admitted to bail under this subdivision must be notified by the
39sheriff, court, or clerk that the defendant's deposit may be
40forfeited under section 7 of this chapter or retained under
41subsection (b).
42(3) Impose reasonable restrictions on the activities, movements,
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1associations, and residence of the defendant during the period of
2release.
3(4) Except as provided in section 3.6 of this chapter, require the
4defendant to refrain from any direct or indirect contact with an
5individual and, if the defendant has been charged with an offense
6under IC 35-46-3, any animal belonging to the individual,
7including if the defendant has not been released from lawful
8detention.
9(5) Place the defendant under the reasonable supervision of a
10probation officer, pretrial services agency, or other appropriate
11public official. If the court places the defendant under the
12supervision of a probation officer or pretrial services agency, the
13court shall determine whether the defendant must pay the pretrial
14services fee under section 3.3 of this chapter.
15(6) Release the defendant into the care of a qualified person or
16organization responsible for supervising the defendant and
17assisting the defendant in appearing in court. The supervisor shall
18maintain reasonable contact with the defendant in order to assist
19the defendant in making arrangements to appear in court and,
20where appropriate, shall accompany the defendant to court. The
21supervisor need not be financially responsible for the defendant.
22(7) Release the defendant on personal recognizance unless:
23(A) the state presents evidence relevant to a risk by the
24defendant:
25(i) of nonappearance; or
26(ii) to the physical safety of the public; and
27(B) the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the
28risk exists.
29(8) Require a defendant charged with an offense under IC 35-46-3
30to refrain from owning, harboring, or training an animal.
31(9) Require a defendant to participate in a mental health referral
32program under IC 33-23-18.
33(10) Impose any other reasonable restrictions designed to assure
34the defendant's presence in court or the physical safety of another
35person or the community.
36    (b) Within thirty (30) days after disposition of the charges against
37 the defendant, the court that admitted the defendant to bail shall order
38 the clerk to remit the amount of the deposit remaining under subsection
39 (a)(2) to the person who made the deposit. The portion of the deposit
40 that is not remitted to the person who made the deposit shall be
41 deposited by the clerk in the supplemental public defender services
42 fund established under IC 33-40-3.
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1    (c) For purposes of subsection (b), "disposition" occurs when the
2 indictment or information is dismissed or the defendant is acquitted or
3 convicted of the charges.
4    (d) Except as provided in subsection (e), the clerk of the court shall:
5(1) collect a fee of five dollars ($5) from each bond or deposit
6required under subsection (a)(1); and
7(2) retain a fee of five dollars ($5) from each deposit under
8subsection (a)(2).
9 The clerk of the court shall semiannually remit the fees collected under
10 this subsection to the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement
11 system for deposit in the special death benefit fund. The fee required
12 by subdivision (2) is in addition to the administrative fee retained under
13 subsection (a)(2).
14    (e) With the approval of the clerk of the court, the county sheriff
15 may collect the bail posted under this section. The county sheriff shall
16 remit the bail to the clerk of the court by the following business day
17 and remit monthly the five dollar ($5) special death benefit fee to the
18 county auditor.
19    (f) When a court imposes a condition of bail described in subsection
20 (a)(4):
21(1) the clerk of the court shall comply with IC 5-2-9; and
22(2) the prosecuting attorney shall file a confidential form
23prescribed or approved by the office of judicial administration
24with the clerk.
25    (g) The clerk of the court shall record the name, address, and bail
26 agent license number, if applicable, of the bail agent or a person
27 authorized by the surety posting bail for the defendant in the county
28 court electronic case management system.
29    SECTION 2. IC 35-33-8-3.8, AS ADDED BY P.L.187-2017,
30 SECTION 7, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
31 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 3.8. (a) A court shall consider the results of the
32 Indiana pretrial risk assessment system (if available) before setting or
33 modifying bail for an arrestee.
34    (b) If the court finds, based on the results of the Indiana pretrial risk
35 assessment system (if available) and other relevant factors, that an
36 arrestee does not present a substantial risk of flight or danger to the
37 arrestee or others, the court shall consider releasing release the arrestee
38 without money bail or surety, subject to restrictions and conditions as
39 determined by the court, unless one (1) or more of the following apply:
40(1) The arrestee is charged with murder or treason.
41(2) The arrestee is on pretrial release not related to the incident
42that is the basis for the present arrest.
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1(3) The arrestee is on probation, parole, or other community
2supervision.
3 The court is not required to administer an assessment before releasing
4 an arrestee if administering the assessment will delay the arrestee's
5 release.
6     SECTION 3. IC 35-33-8-3.9, AS ADDED BY P.L.187-2017,
7 SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
8 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 3.9. (a) If the court determines that an arrestee is
9 to be held subject to money bail, the court is authorized, subject to
10 section 4 of this chapter, to determine the amount of bail and whether
11 the bail may be satisfied by surety bond or cash deposit.
12     (b) The court may set and accept a partial cash payment of the bail
13 upon conditions set by the court, including the arrestee's agreement
14 (and the agreement of a person who makes a cash payment on behalf
15 of an arrestee, if applicable) that all court costs, fees, and expenses
16 associated with the proceeding shall be paid from the partial payment.
17     (c) If the court authorizes the acceptance of a cash partial payment
18 to satisfy bail, the court shall first secure the arrestee's agreement (and
19 the agreement of a person who makes a cash payment on behalf of an
20 arrestee, if applicable) that, in the event of failure to appear as
21 scheduled, the deposit shall be forfeited and the arrestee must also pay
22 any additional amounts needed to satisfy the full amount of bail plus
23 associated court costs, fees, and expenses.
24     SECTION 4. IC 35-33-8-4, AS AMENDED BY P.L.187-2017,
25 SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
26 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 4. (a) The court shall order the amount in which
27 a person charged by an indictment or information is to be held to bail,
28 and the clerk shall enter the order on the order book and indorse the
29 amount on each warrant when issued. If no order fixing the amount of
30 bail has been made, the sheriff shall present the warrant to the judge of
31 an appropriate court of criminal jurisdiction, and the judge shall
32 indorse on the warrant the amount of bail.
33     (b) Bail may not shall be set higher than that at the lowest amount
34 reasonably required to assure the defendant's appearance in court or to
35 assure the physical safety of another person or the community, based
36 on the defendant's financial circumstances, and may be imposed
37 only if the court finds setting bail is necessary to assure the
38 defendant's appearance in court or if the court finds by clear and
39 convincing evidence that the defendant poses a risk to the physical
40 safety of another person or the community. In setting and accepting an
41 amount of bail, the judicial officer shall consider the bail guidelines
42 described in section 3.8 of this chapter and take into account all facts
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1 relevant to the risk of nonappearance, including:
2      (1) the length and character of the defendant's residence in the
3      community;
4      (2) the defendant's employment status and history and the
5      defendant's ability to give bail;
6      (3) the defendant's family ties and relationships;
7      (4) the defendant's character, reputation, habits, and mental
8      condition;
9      (5) the defendant's criminal or juvenile record, insofar as it
10      demonstrates instability and a disdain for the court's authority to
11      bring the defendant to trial;
12      (6) the defendant's previous record in not responding to court
13      appearances when required or with respect to flight to avoid
14      criminal prosecution;
15      (7) the nature and gravity of the offense and the potential penalty
16      faced, insofar as these factors are relevant to the risk of
17      nonappearance;
18      (8) the source of funds or property to be used to post bail or to pay
19      a premium, insofar as it affects the risk of nonappearance;
20      (9) that the defendant is a foreign national who is unlawfully
21      present in the United States under federal immigration law; and
22      (10) any other factors, including any evidence of instability and
23      a disdain for authority, which might indicate that the defendant
24      might not recognize and adhere to the authority of the court to
25      bring the defendant to trial.
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