STATEHOUSE (March 13, 2025) – State Rep. Ben Smaltz's (R-Auburn) bipartisan bill strengthening protections against registered sex offenders and bolstering community safety recently passed the full House and is now with the Senate for further consideration.
House Bill 1687 strengthens probation requirements for sex offenders seeking to move to other counties by adding additional criteria for judges to consider before approving the transfer. That includes if they have a close relative, spouse, parents or adult children in the community, employment waiting for them and if they have stable living arrangements. Smaltz said these standards could prevent unchecked movements of sex offenders into communities where they may pose an increased risk to public safety.
"Far too often we read discouraging headlines like 'man arrested, sex offender on the run, offender fails to register," Smaltz said. "Many of the offenders living in Northeast Indiana are not from here. There are 296 registered sex offenders in Noble, Steuben and DeKalb counties, 50 percent of whom are not from those communities. In DeKalb County alone, there are 117 registered sex offenders and 61 percent aren't from DeKalb County. They are transplants from other states and other Indiana counties."
Smaltz said the safety and security of Hoosier communities continues to be one of his top priorities.
House Bill 1687 also proposes that if a sex offender wants to move to another county, the supervising court in the transferring county has to issue an order authorizing the move and the supervising judge in the receiving county must issue an order approving the transfer. The receiving county judge has to explicitly agree to accept the sexual or violent offender in the community. The legislation also adds employment restrictions by preventing sexually violent predators and offenders against children from working anywhere they could have significant contact with children.
"Current Indiana law doesn't adequately address the public safety risks associated with sexual predators, especially if they are moving into new communities without effective oversight," Smaltz said. "Enough is enough. I am concerned about our sons and daughters who are being put at risk."
House Bill 1687 passed out of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee 13-0 and out of the full House 95-0.
To view registered sex and violent offenders in the area, click here. To learn more about House Bill 1687, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) represents House District 52,
which includes all of DeKalb County, and portions of Noble and Steuben counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
