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Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana House Bill 1350 restricts evidence exclusion and allows direct state appeals to the supreme court
Last action · January 6, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal CodeSponsor: Alaina Shonkwiler
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What This Bill Proposed
Indiana House Bill 1350 prohibits courts from excluding otherwise admissible evidence based on constitutional violations unless the evidence was obtained through deliberate, reckless, grossly negligent, or systemic misconduct that violates Fourth Amendment precedents. Effective July 1, 2026, the measure allows the state to appeal evidence-exclusion orders directly to the Indiana Supreme Court and preserves an individual's right to pursue civil damages against law enforcement for unlawful searches.
Changes how criminal evidence is handled in Indiana courts by limiting the application of the to cases involving severe law enforcement misconduct, while granting the state expedited direct appeals to the state supreme court for suppression orders.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
accused individuals
Criminal defendants face stricter limitations on excluding evidence obtained via certain constitutional violations during prosecutions.
law enforcement officers
Officers remain subject to civil liability for civil rights violations arising from unlawful searches and seizures.
the state
Prosecutors gain the ability to appeal evidence-exclusion orders directly to the Indiana Supreme Court with expedited review timelines.
Key Facts
- Evidence that is otherwise admissible may not be excluded due to constitutional or statutory violations unless specific misconduct exceptions are met.
- Evidence may be excluded if obtained through deliberate, reckless, grossly negligent, or recurring systemic negligence violating the Fourth Amendment, and refusal to exclude would contradict a clearly established U.S. Supreme Court holding.
- Indiana courts are barred from recognizing or enforcing an exclusionary rule under state law that extends beyond federal exclusionary rule requirements.
- The state may immediately and directly appeal an order granting a motion to suppress or exclude evidence to the Indiana Supreme Court.
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- When the state appeals an evidence exclusion order, the Indiana Supreme Court must stay trial court proceedings and expedite consideration.
- The bill explicitly preserves a person's right to bring a civil action against law enforcement or a governmental entity for civil rights violations stemming from unlawful searches and seizures.
- If the state acknowledges that a clearly established U.S. Supreme Court holding requires evidence exclusion and appeals solely to seek reconsideration on a writ of certiorari, the state supreme court must summarily affirm without briefs or oral argument.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does House Bill 1350 do regarding evidence in criminal cases?
Can individuals still sue police officers for illegal searches under this bill?
How does the bill change the appeals process for evidence suppression?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 6, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
- Jan 6, 2026HouseAuthored by Representative Shonkwiler
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Alignment with Federal Standards
The legislation explicitly restricts state courts from enforcing broader state-level exclusionary rules than those defined by the United States Supreme Court.
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy80Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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