A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning motor vehicles.
HB 1027 would restrict how the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) may sell personal information from motor vehicle records. The bill prohibits the BMV from selling the personal information of individuals under 21, individuals 65 and older, and anyone who opts out of sale. It also requires the BMV to provide a clear and accessible opt-out process for individuals who do not want their information sold.
The bill also limits downstream use of BMV data by barring recipients from selling, reselling, disclosing, or redisclosing protected personal information covered by the new age/opt-out restrictions. Existing rules allowing disclosure of motor vehicle records for a wide range of government, business, insurance, legal, research, and consent-based purposes remain largely intact, but the bill adds a new layer of protection for certain individuals and records. It includes a temporary funding backstop allowing the state board of finance, with gubernatorial approval, to transfer funds to the BMV through July 1, 2028, if the sales restriction causes a shortfall.
In practical terms, the bill would amend Indiana Code chapter 9-14-13 governing disclosure of BMV records and create a new section limiting sale of personal information. It would affect the BMV, data purchasers, and any entities that receive and redistribute BMV information, while preserving many existing permitted uses of motor vehicle data. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and the funding-offset authority expires July 1, 2028.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the overall sentiment cannot be measured from debate or roll call history. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears privacy-protective and consumer-oriented, with a focus on limiting commercial use of personal data. The main point of potential contention is likely the tradeoff between privacy protections and BMV revenue, which the bill addresses through a temporary state funding mechanism.
HB 1027 would amend Indiana’s motor vehicle records law to create new restrictions on the sale and redisclosure of BMV personal information. It adds a new statutory section barring the BMV from selling personal information for individuals under 21, individuals 65 and older, and anyone who opts out, and it requires recipients of protected information to stop selling, reselling, disclosing, or redisclosing that information. The bill also preserves existing lawful disclosures for government, insurance, legal, research, and other authorized uses, while adding an opt-out mechanism and a temporary fiscal backstop for the BMV through July 1, 2028.
No committee discussion or vote history was provided, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment to summarize from debate or roll call. On its face, the bill reflects a privacy-focused approach to BMV data sales and appears intended to protect certain age groups and opt-out individuals from commercial data use. The inclusion of a temporary funding offset suggests an effort to balance privacy concerns with agency revenue needs.
The likely point of contention is the tension between personal privacy and BMV revenue generation. Supporters would likely favor limiting the sale of personal information for minors, older adults, and opt-out individuals, while opponents may be concerned about reduced revenue for the BMV and the administrative burden of implementing and enforcing opt-outs and downstream resale restrictions. The bill’s temporary authority for the state board of finance to offset funding shortfalls indicates lawmakers anticipated that revenue loss could be a significant issue.