State Sen. Mike Bohacek is stepping up efforts to further protect Indiana's youth with a new legislative proposal. In a move to strengthen the state's stance against sexual predators, Bohacek has authored a bill aimed at updating the current age of consent laws in Indiana. The bill, Senate Bill 290, would criminalize sexual activity between a person over the age of 24 and a 16-year-old child, as well as between someone over 25 and a child who is 16 or 17 years old.
"All children deserve to be protected from predators seeking to exploit them, and our current laws simply aren't doing a good enough job at ensuring Hoosier children are protected," Bohacek said in a statement obtained by IndianaSenateRepublicans.com. The current age of consent in Indiana sits at 16, with some close-in-age exemptions, but this legislation would further restrict adults from engaging with minors in sexual conduct. If the bill passes, offending adults would face criminal charges and be required to register as sex offenders.
Child protection has been a focus of Bohacek’s legislative work. After sponsoring similar bills in 2023 and addressing age verification on pornography websites in 2024, SB 290 is his latest effort. The bill has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law.
Bohacek reaffirmed his commitment to protecting minors, saying it is the legislators’ duty to prevent exploitation. He encourages constituents in Senate District 8 to share feedback via his online contact form or by phone.
Residents can contact Sen. Bohacek with questions or comments via the "Contact Me" form on his website or by phone at 800-382-9467. SB 290, which aims to better protect Indiana children from sexual predators, is open for public input.
