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Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana Establishes Criminal Offense of Sex with a Minor and Adjusts Age Thresholds for Related Offenses
Last action · January 12, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal LawSponsor: Mike Bohacek
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What This Bill Proposed
Senate Bill 290 creates the criminal offense of sex with a minor, classifying sexual intercourse or conduct as a and fondling or touching as a when committed by adults meeting specific age thresholds with 16- or 17-year-olds. The bill also updates age-related restrictions across multiple criminal, family, and parole statutes from 16 to 18 years of age, effective July 1, 2026.
The measure establishes new felony classifications for specific relationships between adults and minors, while altering sex offender registration requirements, community supervision rules, and adoption consent provisions across state statutes.
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.
Minors aged 16 and 17
The bill establishes new criminal protections and modifies age thresholds governing sexual offenses and related family law provisions.
Adults aged 24 and older
Individuals meeting specific age thresholds face potential Level 5 or Level 6 felony charges under the newly created offense.
Registered sex offenders and parolees
Supervision conditions, internet restrictions, and contact prohibitions are updated to reflect the new 18-year age threshold.
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 does Senate Bill 290 do?
Are there any defenses to the new offense?
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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 Senate committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 12, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law
- Jan 12, 2026SenateAuthored by Senator Bohacek
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.
Standardization of Age Thresholds to 18
The bill systematically replaces existing references to 16 years of age with 18 years of age across multiple chapters concerning parole, probation, and community transition programs.
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 80)
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
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