Committee unanimously passes OWI overhaul after victims' families and stakeholders testify

The committee voted unanimously to pass Senate Bill 251, a measure to harmonize operating‑while‑intoxicated procedures across the state and to require chemical testing in serious traffic crashes that cause death or serious bodily injury.

Senator Freeman told the committee SB 251 would allow people to waive initial hearings consistently across counties, let parties seek specialized driving privileges at any time, and require chemical testing in fatal or serious‑injury crashes to avoid loss of critical evidence. "I don't think we should be suspending people's driver's licenses before conviction," Freeman said, explaining the bill's intent to preserve the presumption of innocence in many first‑offense cases while addressing public‑safety gaps.

Witnesses included Charlotte Sterling, whose son Mitchell died after a bicycle crash. Sterling urged mandatory chemical testing after fatalities so families and prosecutors have objective evidence. "My son is gone," she said. "Because such testing was not mandatory, critical information was never obtained."

The Indiana Public Defender Council and the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council both testified in support of the amended bill; public defenders stressed access to counsel and consistency across counties, while prosecutors said the amendments struck a workable balance and preserved tools for serious cases.

The committee adopted the amendments and approved the bill by recorded vote, reporting final passage with a 13–0 tally.

Next steps: SB 251 will move from committee as amended; sponsors said they will continue stakeholder engagement on implementation details.