HB 1166 Summary

• Courts in Indiana may not apply, enforce, or grant legal effect to foreign laws, rulings, or judgments if doing so would violate fundamental constitutional liberties, rights, and privileges (including due process, freedom of religion, speech, and press).

• Contractual provisions requiring application of foreign law or selection of foreign forums are void and unenforceable if the foreign jurisdiction would not guarantee the same constitutional protections as the U.S. and Indiana constitutions.

• Courts cannot grant motions for forum non conveniens or dismissal based on comity to proceedings outside the United States if doing so would likely violate the constitutional rights of the non-moving party.

• Courts may not adjudicate ecclesiastical matters of religious organizations or interpret religious doctrine, except where necessary to comply with federal constitutional law.

• Effective July 1, 2012; does not apply to businesses contracting to subject themselves to foreign law outside Indiana or the United States.