Senate Bill

SB 119

Grooming.

In plain English

Bars sexually violent predators and offenders against children from working or volunteering at facilities or events that mainly offer entertainment or programming for children under 18. Adds entering those places to the crime of unlawful entry by a serious sex offender. Renames "inappropriate communication with a child" as "sexual grooming," and makes other changes.

Written by AI from the official digest below, and checked only by automated rules. If they differ, the official digest and bill text control.

Official digest

Adds a facility or event that provides entertainment or programming primarily directed toward a child less than 18 years of age to the list of facilities at which a sexually violent predator or an offender against children may not work or volunteer. Adds entering a facility or location holding an event that provides entertainment or programming primarily directed toward a child less than 18 years of age by a serious sex offender to the crime of unlawful entry by a serious sex offender. Renames the offense of "inappropriate communication with a child" to "sexual grooming", and provides (in addition to the current elements of the offense) that a person commits the offense if the person engages in a pattern of repeated or continuous contact with an individual whom the person believes to be a child less than 14 years of age, with the intent to condition the individual to be less resistant to future sexual conduct or sexual activity. Specifies that "computer network" includes cellular telephones.

Latest action: Public Law 111, March 5, 2026Full text and history at iga.in.gov

Authors and sponsors

Dan Dernulc, Rick Niemeyer, Liz Brown, Julie Olthoff

Co-authors and co-sponsors: Brett Clark, Rodney Pol, Mike Young, Lonnie Randolph, Blake Doriot, John Bartlett, Becky Cash

Roll-call votes

3 recorded votes, oldest first. Third-reading votes decide whether a bill passes a chamber; amendment votes and procedural motions are listed too.

Senate · Jan 27, 2026

Third reading: vote to pass

Roll call text: SB 119 - Dernulc - 3rd Reading

Passed

46 yes0 no3 did not vote

Republicans: 37 yes, 0 no, 2 did not voteDemocrats: 9 yes, 0 no, 1 did not vote

How each member voted

House · Feb 24, 2026

Third reading: vote to pass

Roll call text: SB 119 - Olthoff - 3rd Reading

Passed

98 yes0 no2 did not vote

Republicans: 68 yes, 0 no, 1 did not voteDemocrats: 29 yes, 0 no, 1 did not voteIndependents: 1 yes, 0 no

How each member voted

Yes (98)

Did not vote (2)

Senate · Feb 25, 2026

Final vote: concurrence or conference report

Roll call text: SB 119 - Dernulc

Passed

48 yes0 no2 did not vote

Republicans: 39 yes, 0 no, 1 did not voteDemocrats: 9 yes, 0 no, 1 did not vote

How each member voted

Source: Open States, compiled from the Indiana General Assembly's official roll calls. The official record at iga.in.gov controls. Spot an error? Let us know.