IndianaHB 1044Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)HouseWALLET

Insurance coverage for public safety employees.

Sponsored By: Jim Pressel (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Provides that a public safety employee who: (1) becomes disabled on or after January 1, 2020; (2) receives a Class 1 or a Class 2 impairment benefit; and (3) is eligible for group health insurance coverage for the public safety employee and the public safety employee's spouse or dependents; must pay no more than the amount that the public safety employee would have been required to pay if still serving as a current active public safety employee employed by the local unit public employer. Specifies that the public safety employee must file a written request for insurance coverage with the employer before June 1, 2026, or within 90 days after the public safety employee begins receiving disability benefits, whichever is later. Specifies that if a public safety agency closes, merges, or otherwise ceases to exist, the local unit public employer that caused the public safety agency to cease to exist, shall continue to provide certain insurance coverage. Provides that a surviving spouse or dependent of a public safety employee who dies in the line of duty must pay the same amount that the public safety employee would have been required to pay if still serving as a current active public safety employee employed by the local unit public employer for coverage selected by the surviving spouse or dependent under the group health insurance program.

insurancethe senateinsurance and financial institutions

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Family health coverage for disabled safety workers

Eligible local public safety employees can choose health coverage for a spouse, dependents, or both. They must have become disabled on or after January 1, 2020, and receive Class 1 or Class 2 impairment benefits. Written requests are due by June 1, 2026, or within 90 days after disability benefits begin, whichever is later. Employees pay no more than their active-employee share for the chosen coverage; the employer may help pay premiums. A spouse's eligibility ends upon Medicare eligibility, the active-employee plan ending, or job-based health insurance becoming available. A local employer that causes an agency to close, merge, or end must continue this required coverage.

Health premium protections for safety workers’ survivors

Eligible surviving spouses and dependents of local public safety employees can elect to keep group health coverage. They must file a written request within 90 days after the employee's death. Their payment cannot exceed what the employee paid toward the chosen coverage as an active employee. The employer may pay some or all of the premiums.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jim Pressel

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Andrea Hunley

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ethan Lawson

    Republican • House

  • Fady Qaddoura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kyle Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Goss-Reaves

    Republican • House

  • Michael Crider

    Republican • Senate

  • Michelle Davis

    Republican • House

  • Shelli Yoder

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 230 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2026

House concurred with Senate amendments

Yes: 93 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/17/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 45 • No: 0

House vote • 1/20/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 92 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 38

    2/26/2026House
  2. Signed by the Governor

    2/26/2026House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/25/2026Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/24/2026Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    2/23/2026House
  6. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 295: yeas 93, nays 0

    2/19/2026House
  7. Motion to concur filed

    2/19/2026House
  8. Returned to the House with amendments

    2/18/2026Senate
  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 176: yeas 45, nays 0

    2/17/2026Senate
  10. Amendment #1 (Walker K) prevailed; voice vote

    2/16/2026Senate
  11. Senator Yoder added as cosponsor

    2/16/2026Senate
  12. Senator Hunley added as cosponsor

    2/16/2026Senate
  13. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    2/16/2026Senate
  14. Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

    2/12/2026Senate
  15. Senator Qaddoura added as third sponsor

    2/12/2026Senate
  16. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    2/12/2026Senate
  17. First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions

    1/26/2026Senate
  18. Referred to the Senate

    1/21/2026House
  19. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 54: yeas 92, nays 0

    1/20/2026House
  20. Senate sponsors: Senators Walker K, Crider

    1/20/2026House
  21. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    1/15/2026House
  22. Committee report: do pass, adopted

    1/13/2026House
  23. Representative Davis added as coauthor

    1/8/2026House
  24. Representatives Lawson, Goss-Reaves added as coauthors

    1/5/2026House
  25. First reading: referred to Committee on Insurance

    12/2/2025House

Bill Text

  • Engrossed House Bill (H)

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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