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HB 1281INDIANASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

Indiana Bill HB 1281 Bans Lobbying for Foreign Adversaries and Sets Felony Penalties

Original title: Restrictions on lobbying for a foreign adversary.

Last action · January 6, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative ProceduresSponsors: Chris Judy and 3 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

Beginning July 1, 2026, lobbyists in Indiana are prohibited from registering to represent foreign adversary clients or contracting to represent foreign adversaries. Individuals who knowingly or intentionally violate these restrictions commit a and face potential civil penalties equal to the funds received for the representation.

Why it matters

Changes criminal and civil liability for registered lobbyists by creating a new felony classification for representing specified foreign governments or officials, while depositing recovered civil penalties into the state general fund.

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.

Directly affected

Registered lobbyists

Lobbyists face new prohibitions against representing foreign adversaries or associated clients, accompanied by felony criminal penalties and civil forfeitures for violations.

Directly affected

State general fund

Civil penalties collected from individuals who violate the lobbying prohibitions are deposited directly into the state general fund.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What countries or entities are classified as foreign adversaries under this bill?

The bill designates the People's Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), the Republic of Cuba, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Venezuelan regime of Nicholas Maduro, as well as any agencies, instrumentalities, or controlled entities associated with them.

What are the penalties for a lobbyist who violates these restrictions?

A person who knowingly or intentionally violates the prohibition commits a . Additionally, courts can impose a civil penalty equal to the funds received for the representation and bar the person from lobbying for up to ten years.

Who is considered a foreign adversary client?

Foreign adversary clients include current or former foreign government officials, officials of foreign political parties, corporate executives of foreign adversaries, businesses formed for their benefit, and close family members such as spouses, children, parents, and siblings.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

3 actions

Jan 6, 2026HouseIntroduced
First reading: referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedures
Jan 6, 2026House
Coauthored by Representatives Haggard, Commons, Morris
Jan 6, 2026House
Authored by Representative Judy

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.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expansion of Lobbying Disqualification

The bill extends existing lobbying regulations by incorporating specific geopolitical restrictions tied to designated foreign adversaries and associated individuals.

General Assembly

Connected Entities

Syrian Arab Republic, Craig Haggard, Robert Morris and 8 more

locationSyrian Arab Republic“Defined as a foreign adversary.”Map →

PersonCraig Haggard“Co-sponsor of House Bill 1281.”Map →

PersonRobert Morris“Co-sponsor of House Bill 1281.”Map →

OrganizationGeneral Assembly“The legislative body enacting the bill.”Map →

PersonMatt Commons“Co-sponsor of House Bill 1281.”Map →

PersonChris Judy“Primary sponsor of House Bill 1281.”Map →

locationRussian Federation“Defined as a foreign adversary.”Map →

locationIslamic Republic of Iran“Defined as a foreign adversary.”Map →

OrganizationVenezuelan regime of Nicholas Maduro“Defined as a foreign adversary.”Map →

locationPeople's Republic of China“Defined as a foreign adversary, including Hong Kong and Macau.”Map →

locationRepublic of Cuba“Defined as a foreign adversary.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

iga.in.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
Controversy60
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz35
Current news / social attention level

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