The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 151 on statute of limitations sponsored by Rep. Zimmerman and Rep. Prescott. Author Sen. Alexander introduced the bill which allows the prosecution of Level 3 felony rape and Level 3 and Level 4 child molesting offenses to be commenced at any time. The bill also establishes a defense of laches for Level 3 felony rape and Level 3 and Level 4 felony child molesting if the state unreasonably delayed in filing charges and certain other conditions are met.
The bill was amended by consent to remove the laches provision from the bill and specify that a prosecution for rape as a Level 3 felony that is barred by the statute of limitations may still be brought within 10 years from the discovery of DNA evidence.
Multiple sex crime victims testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified but remained neutral. The amended bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/151