Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1369
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 36-1-33.
Synopsis: Battery charged fences. Prohibits a county, city, or town
from adopting or enforcing an ordinance or resolution that prohibits or
imposes requirements on certain battery charged fences.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Miller D
January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Local Government.
2025 IN 1369—LS 6689/DI 87 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
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Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1369
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local
government.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 36-1-33 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
2 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2025]:
4 Chapter 33. Battery Charged Fences
5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "alarm system" means any
6 electrical, mechanical, or electronic device or sensor to prevent,
7 detect, or alert law enforcement or occupants of burglary, theft, or
8 intrusion of a structure or a vehicle used as a commercial
9 structure.
10 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "battery charged fence" means
11 a fence that:
12 (1) interfaces with an alarm system in a manner that enables
13 the fence to cause the connected alarm system to transmit a
14 signal intended to summon law enforcement in response to an
15 intrusion on the property; and
16 (2) has an energizer driven by battery.
17 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "IEC standards" means the
2025 IN 1369—LS 6689/DI 87 2
1 International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards as
2 published on June 30, 2025.
3 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "unit" means a county, city, or
4 town.
5 Sec. 5. (a) This section applies only to a battery charged fence
6 that:
7 (1) uses a battery that does not exceed twelve (12) volts of
8 direct current;
9 (2) produces an electric charge on contact that does not
10 exceed energizer characteristics set for electric fence
11 energizers by the IEC standards;
12 (3) is completely surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence
13 or wall that is at least five (5) feet in height;
14 (4) is not higher than the greater of:
15 (A) ten (10) feet in height; or
16 (B) two (2) feet higher than the height of the nonelectric
17 perimeter fence or wall described in subdivision (3); and
18 (5) has conspicuous warning signs that:
19 (A) are located at not more than thirty (30) foot intervals
20 on the battery charged fence; and
21 (B) read: "WARNING: ELECTRIC FENCE".
22 (b) A unit may not adopt or enforce an ordinance or resolution
23 that does any of the following with regard to a battery charged
24 fence described in subsection (a):
25 (1) Prohibits the installation or use of a battery charged fence.
26 (2) Requires separate permits issued by the unit for:
27 (A) an alarm system; and
28 (B) a battery charged fence;
29 that are connected to one another. A unit that issues a permit
30 for a battery charged fence must issue a single permit that
31 covers both the alarm system and the connected battery
32 charged fence.
33 (3) Imposes installation or operational requirements
34 inconsistent with IEC standards for:
35 (A) a battery charged fence; or
36 (B) an alarm system connected to a battery charged fence.
2025 IN 1369—LS 6689/DI 87