The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard HB 1303 on child sexual abuse material crimes authored by Rep. McNamara. The bill removes provisions concerning possession of child sex abuse material (CSAM) from the statute containing the offense of child exploitation, and makes a new section for CSAM offenses. The bill creates a new crime for distribution of CSAM and generally conforms the sentencing enhancements for possession of CSAM, distribution of CSAM, and child exploitation. The bill also specifies that certain restrictions on CSAM in discovery also apply in civil proceedings (under current law, they only apply in criminal proceedings).
The Committee amended the bill by consent to increase penalties consistent with federal law and to add the offense of child exploitation producing or creating CSAM. The amendments also replace “disseminate” with “distribute” for consistency and provide that the enhancement relating to a child less than 12 years of age also applies to a child who appears to be less than 12 years of age.
The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, Indiana State Police, Shelby County Prosecutor, Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault, and an exploitation victim 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/2026/bills/house/1303/