The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard HB 1065 on ban on gratuities for public officials authored by Rep. Slager. The bill makes it a Class A misdemeanor for: (1) a person to offer a payment to a public servant as a reward for an official act taken by the public servant; or (2) a public servant to solicit or accept a payment as a reward for an official act performed by the public servant. The bill also increases the penalty to a Level 6 felony if the fair market value of the reward is at least $750 and exempts: (1) a good or service that is subject to a reporting requirement or otherwise authorized by an applicable rule or code of ethics; (2) a good or service with a value of less than $100; (3) commemorative or ceremonial items, such as plaques, trophies, or framed photos; (4) lawful political contributions; or (5) wages and other forms of work related compensation from the governmental entity employing the public servant that the public servant is legally permitted to receive.
The committee amended the bill by consent to provide that a person who knowingly or intentionally violates a specified provision by commingling the funds of a committee with the personal funds of an officer, a member, or an associate of the committee commits a Class A misdemeanor. The amendment also enhances the penalty to a Level 6 felony if a person commingles at least $50,000 of committee funds.
The amended bill passed 13-0.
Read the bill at https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1065/