Grooming., the official text

Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)

PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.

 Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
 Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

  SENATE ENROLLED ACT No. 119

   AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning criminal law and
procedure.

   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

   SECTION 1. IC 35-31.5-2-127.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
[EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 127.7. "Facility or event that
provides entertainment or programming primarily directed
toward a child less than eighteen (18) years of age", or "facility or
location holding an event that provides entertainment or
programming primarily directed toward a child less than eighteen
(18) years of age", means a facility, location, or event for which
admission, participation, or attendance is restricted by policy or
practice to children less than eighteen (18) years of age, or to
children less than eighteen (18) years of age accompanied by a
parent, guardian, or custodian.

   SECTION 2. IC 35-31.5-2-300, AS AMENDED BY P.L.144-2018,
SECTION 15, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 300. (a) "Sexual conduct", for purposes of
IC 35-42-3.5-0.5, and IC 35-42-4-4, and IC 35-42-4-13, has the
meaning set forth in IC 35-42-4-4(a).

   (b) "Sexual conduct", for purposes of IC 35-49, has the meaning set
forth in IC 35-49-1-9.

   SECTION 3. IC 35-42-4-10, AS AMENDED BY P.L.98-2025,
SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE

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JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 10. (a) As used in this section, "offender against
children" means a person who is an offender against children under
section 11 of this chapter.

   (b) As used in this section, "sexually violent predator" means a
person who is a sexually violent predator under IC 35-38-1-7.5.

   (c) A sexually violent predator or an offender against children who
knowingly or intentionally works for compensation or as a volunteer:

      (1) on school property;
      (2) at a youth program center;
      (3) at a public park;
      (4) as a child care provider (as defined by IC 31-33-26-1);
      (5) for a child care provider (as defined by IC 31-33-26-1);
      (6) as a provider of:

         (A) respite care services and other support services for primary
         or family caregivers; or
         (B) adult day care services; or
      (7) in any setting where the sexually violent predator or offender
      against children:
         (A) has more than incidental and occasional contact with a
         child who is not accompanied by the child's parent, guardian,
         or custodian;
         (B) has supervisory or disciplinary power over a child; or
         (C) is expected to touch a child on a more than incidental and
         occasional basis; or
      (8) at a facility or event that provides entertainment or
      programming primarily directed toward a child less than
      eighteen (18) years of age;
commits unlawful employment by a sexual predator, a Level 6 felony.
However, the offense is a Level 5 felony if the person has a prior
unrelated conviction under this section or based on the person's failure
to comply with any requirement imposed on an offender under
IC 11-8-8.
   SECTION 4. IC 35-42-4-13, AS AMENDED BY P.L.168-2014,
SECTION 74, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 13. (a) This section does not apply to the
following:
      (1) A parent, guardian, or custodian of a child.
      (2) A person who acts with the permission of a child's parent,
      guardian, or custodian.
      (3) A person to whom a child makes a report of abuse or neglect.
      (4) A person to whom a child reports medical symptoms that
      relate to or may relate to sexual activity.

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   (b) As used in this section, "sexual activity" means sexual
intercourse, other sexual conduct (as defined in IC 35-31.5-2-221.5),
or the fondling or touching of the buttocks, genitals, or female breasts.

   (c) A person at least eighteen (18) years of age who knowingly or
intentionally:

      (1) knowingly or intentionally communicates with an individual
      whom the person believes to be a child less than fourteen (14)
      years of age concerning sexual activity with the intent to gratify
      the sexual desires of the person or the individual; or
      (2) engages in a pattern of repeated or continuous contact
      with an individual the person believes to be less than fourteen
      (14) years of age, with the intent to condition the individual to
      be less resistant to future sexual conduct or sexual activity;
commits inappropriate communication with a child sexual grooming,
a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense is:
      (1) a Class A misdemeanor if the person commits the offense by
      using a computer network (as defined in IC 35-43-2-3(a); and
      (2) a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction
      under this section or for a sex offense (as defined in
      IC 11-8-8-5.2).
   SECTION 5. IC 35-42-4-14, AS AMENDED BY P.L.218-2025,
SECTION 18, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 14. (a) As used in this section, "serious sex
offender" means a person required to register as a sex offender under
IC 11-8-8 who is:
      (1) found to be a sexually violent predator under IC 35-38-1-7.5;
      or
      (2) convicted of one (1) or more of the following offenses:

         (A) Child molesting (IC 35-42-4-3).
         (B) Child exploitation (IC 35-42-4-4(b) or IC 35-42-4-4(c)).
         (C) Possession of child sex abuse material (IC 35-42-4-4(d) or
         IC 35-42-4-4(e)).
         (D) Vicarious sexual gratification (IC 35-42-4-5(a) and
         IC 35-42-4-5(b)).
         (E) Performing sexual conduct in the presence of a minor
         (IC 35-42-4-5(c)).
         (F) Child solicitation (IC 35-42-4-6).
         (G) Child seduction (IC 35-42-4-7).
         (H) Sexual misconduct with a minor (IC 35-42-4-9).
   (b) A serious sex offender who knowingly or intentionally enters:
      (1) school property; or
      (2) a:

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         (A) facility; or
         (B) location holding an event;
      that provides entertainment or programming primarily
      directed toward a child less than eighteen (18) years of age;
commits unlawful entry by a serious sex offender, a Level 6 felony.
   (c) It is a defense to a prosecution under subsection (b) that:
      (1) a religious institution or house of worship is located on the
      school property; and
      (2) the person:
         (A) enters the school property or other entity described in
         IC 35-31.5-2-285(1)(A) through IC 35-31.5-2-285(1)(D) when
         classes, extracurricular activities, or any other school activities
         are not being held:

            (i) for the sole purpose of attending worship services or
            receiving religious instruction; and
            (ii) not earlier than thirty (30) minutes before the beginning
            of the worship services or religious instruction; and
         (B) leaves the school property not later than thirty (30)
         minutes after the conclusion of the worship services or
         religious instruction.
   SECTION 6. IC 35-43-2-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.32-2019,
SECTION 28, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 3. (a) As used in this section:
   "Access" means to:
      (1) approach;
      (2) instruct;
      (3) communicate with;
      (4) store data in;
      (5) retrieve data from; or
      (6) make use of resources of;
a computer, computer system, or computer network.
   "Computer network" means the interconnection of communication
lines or wireless telecommunications with a computer or wireless
telecommunication device through:
      (1) remote terminals;
      (2) a complex consisting of two (2) or more interconnected
      computers; or
      (3) a worldwide collection of interconnected networks operating
      as the Internet.
The term includes a cellular telephone or other wireless or cellular
communications device.
   "Computer system" means a set of related computer equipment,

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software, or hardware.
   "Hoarding program" means a computer program designed to bypass

or neutralize a security measure, access control system, or similar
system used by the owner of a computer network or computer system
to limit the amount of merchandise that one (1) person may purchase
by means of a computer network.

   (b) A person who knowingly or intentionally accesses:
      (1) a computer system;
      (2) a computer network; or
      (3) any part of a computer system or computer network;

without the consent of the owner of the computer system or computer
network, or the consent of the owner's licensee, commits computer
trespass, a Class A misdemeanor.

   (c) A person who knowingly or intentionally uses a hoarding
program to purchase merchandise by means of a computer network
commits computer merchandise hoarding, a Class C infraction. A
person commits a separate infraction for each item of merchandise
purchased. However, the violation is a Class A misdemeanor if the
person has a prior unrelated adjudication or conviction for a violation
of this section within the previous five (5) years. It is a defense to a
prosecution under this subsection that the person used the hoarding
program with the permission of the person selling the merchandise.

   (d) A person who knowingly or intentionally sells, purchases, or
distributes a hoarding program commits unlawful distribution of a
hoarding program, a Class C infraction. A person commits a separate
infraction for each sale, purchase, or distribution of a hoarding
program. However, the violation is a Class C misdemeanor if the
person has a prior unrelated adjudication or conviction for a violation
of this section within the previous five (5) years. It is a defense to a
prosecution under this subsection that the hoarding program was sold,
purchased, or distributed for legitimate scientific or educational
purposes.

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President of the Senate

President Pro Tempore

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Governor of the State of Indiana

Date:                             Time:

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