The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 326 on offenses against children sponsored by Rep. Ireland. Author Sen. Freeman introduced the bill, which replaces the term “child pornography” with the term “child sex abuse material” throughout the Indiana Code. The bill also provides that it is a defense to prosecution of child exploitation and possession of child sex abuse material if a school employee, department of child services employee, or attorney acting in the attorney’s capacity as legal counsel: (1) immediately notified law enforcement or DCS about the image or matter depicting the sexual conduct; and (2) did not duplicate, upload, download, or otherwise transfer the image or matter.
The Committee amended the bill to provide that a governmental entity may not organize or host an obscene performance or fund an obscene performance using public funds and to specify the intent of the general assembly concerning P.L.115-2023. The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council provided neutral testimony. The amended bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/326