By Marilyn Odendahl
The Indiana Citizen
February 12, 2026
The bill providing security for Indiana’s appellate judges passed easily through the Indiana House this week after the measure was amended to clarify the language regarding campaign finance reports.
In presenting Senate Bill 291 to the lower chamber in the state legislature, Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon, outlined the provisions in the measure, which seeks to ensure the safety and security of the Indiana Supreme Court justices, along with the judges of the Court of Appeals of Indiana and the Indiana Tax Court, and each court’s staff. The bill allows the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals to each appoint a court marshal who can then hire a team to protect the justices and judges at their offices, off-site venues, and personal residences.
“Sadly, we’re in those times,” Steuerwald, the House sponsor of the bill, said, referring to the rise in political violence.
Authored by Sen. Scott Baldwin, R-Noblesville, SB 291 has moved through the Indiana General Assembly without picking up any opposition. The House passed the bill on Tuesday with a 93-to-0 vote, mirroring the Senate vote of 44-to-0 on Jan. 26.
Following the House vote, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Elizabeth Tavitas issued a statement, saying her court’s judges appreciated the legislature’s consideration of the bill.
“We know that a strong judiciary depends on public confidence and on the ability of judges to serve without fear or distraction,” Tavitas said in her statement. “Judicial security is about preserving the integrity of our courts so judges can focus fully on delivering justice to the people of Indiana. When we safeguard those entrusted with upholding the law, we strengthen trust in our institutions and reaffirm our shared commitment to keeping our communities safe.”
Even so, SB 291 will not be heading immediately to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk.
A provision covering the personal information of all state and federal court judges in Indiana was added to the bill when it reached the Senate floor, in response to the wounding of Tippecanoe County Superior Court Judge Steven Meyer and his wife in a Jan. 18 shooting at the Lafayette home. However, the language was questioned and subsequently amended when the bill arrived in the House.
Specifically, the provision blocks public access to “personal information” about judges and justices, including their home addresses, cellphone numbers, license plate number, birth certificate and marital record. The Senate version also shielded the election and campaign finance reports of the judges.
Rep. Andrew Ireland, R-Indianapolis, concerned that campaign finance information could be withheld from the public, successfully amended that provision to limit its scope. Rather than keeping the entire campaign finance report from the public, only the judges’ home address is redacted from those reports as well as from voter registrations and property tax information.
Ireland described his amendment as a “technical correction” to SB 291. It passed on a voice vote.
Also, Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, offered an amendment which clarified another provision in the bill. Originally, the measure allowed court marshals to carry a weapon. Gore, noting that the marshals could run into trouble when they accompany the judges and justices to places that restrict firearms, presented language that explicitly expanded the definition of weapon in the bill to include a firearm.
Steuerwald supported the amendment, calling it a “good, clarifying motion.” Like Ireland’s amendment, this one also passed on a voice vote.
SB 291 has been returned to the Senate for further consideration.
Dwight Adams, an editor and writer based in Indianapolis, edited this article. He is a former content editor, copy editor and digital producer at The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and worked as a planner for other newspapers, including the Louisville Courier Journal.
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org
