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Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana Bill Prohibits Personal Equipment Copying of Recorded Documents in County Recorder Offices
Last action · January 27, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Local GovernmentSponsors: Jennifer Meltzer and 2 others
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What This Bill Proposed
Indiana House Bill 1311 prohibits individuals from using their own equipment to copy documents recorded in a 's office, while requiring county recorders to charge statutory fees for document copies, effective July 1, 2026.
Changes how citizens and businesses can duplicate official land, property, and legal records maintained by s by restricting the use of personal scanners or cameras.
- Indiana's Access to Public Records Act governs the inspection and copying of public records maintained by state and local agencies. context
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.
County Recorder Offices
County recorder offices must enforce the restriction against personal copying equipment and ensure statutory fees are charged for document copies.
General Public and Commercial Searchers
Key Facts
- Prohibits any person from making copies of a document recorded in the office of the county recorder using the person's own equipment.
- Specifies that a county recorder is required to charge the fees specified in county recorder statutes for copying documents.
- Establishes an effective date of July 1, 2026 for the statutory amendments.
- Maintains provisions allowing a public agency to provide copies or allow use of agency equipment for general public records, with exceptions for county recorder documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bring my own scanner or camera to copy deeds at the county recorder's office?
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the House · in Senate committee.
Procedural history
9 actions- Jan 27, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Local Government
- Jan 23, 2026HouseReferred to the Senate
- Jan 22, 2026HouseSenate sponsor: Senator Leising
- Jan 22, 2026HouseFloorThird reading: passed; Roll Call 86: yeas 85, nays 10
- Jan 20, 2026HouseFloorSecond reading: ordered engrossed
- Jan 13, 2026HouseFloorCommittee report: do pass, adopted
Show 3 earlier actions
- Jan 12, 2026HouseRepresentative Zimmerman added as coauthor
- Jan 6, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Local Government
- Jan 6, 2026HouseAuthored by Representative Meltzer
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
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy25Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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