All Roll Calls
Yes: 230 • No: 0
IndianaHB 1044Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)HouseWALLET
Insurance coverage for public safety employees.
Sponsored By: Jim Pressel (Republican)
Became Law
insurancethe senateinsurance and financial institutions
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Health coverage for retirees and survivors
If your local employer offers group health to active public safety workers, it must also offer it to retirees, to workers who became disabled on or after January 1, 2020, and to surviving spouses and dependents. Retired or other disabled workers can ask to cover a spouse and dependents by filing a written request within 90 days after retirement or after disability benefits begin. They must pay the full active premium (employer plus employee share), though the employer may pay some of the employer share. For Class 1 or Class 2 impairments that began on or after January 1, 2020, you may file by June 1, 2026 or within 90 days after benefits start, whichever is later, and your monthly premium cannot be higher than what an active employee pays for the same coverage. Coverage ends for retirees or disabled workers at Medicare eligibility or if the employer ends the active plan. A surviving spouse’s coverage ends at Medicare eligibility, plan termination, remarriage, or new job insurance; a dependent’s coverage ends at Medicare eligibility, plan termination, loss of dependent status, or new job insurance. If the public safety agency closes because the local unit caused it, the employer must keep providing the required insurance. Employers may also offer retiree coverage to others not required by law and may use better terms than the minimum rules.
How local employers provide coverage
A local employer may give group health by buying a policy, running a self-insurance plan, or (for school corporations) joining the state employee plan. Any self-insurance plan for other group coverage needs approval from the unit’s fiscal body. Employers can pay part of group insurance costs and must pay part of any group life insurance they offer. They cannot cancel an insurance contract in the middle of its policy term.
Health coverage during unpaid leave
If you are on unpaid leave, you can stay on the employer health plan for 90 days. You must pay the full active premium for that time. Your employer may choose to pay some or all of the employer share. Your employer can also choose to keep your coverage longer than 90 days and keep paying some or all of its share.
Who is covered for public safety insurance
This law covers full-time firefighters, police officers, county police, and sheriffs who work for local units. It only applies to local public employers. A dependent child is your natural, step, or adopted child who is under 18, or age 18+ with a Social Security–recognized disability, or age 18–22 and in school full time. These rules decide which family members can get coverage.
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
House vote • 2/19/2026
Roll Call 295 on HB1044.04.ENGS.CON01
Yes: 93 • No: 0 • Other: 2
Senate vote • 2/17/2026
Roll Call 176 on HB1044.03.COMS
Yes: 45 • No: 0 • Other: 4
House vote • 1/20/2026
Roll Call 54 on HB1044.02.COMH
Yes: 92 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Public Law 38
2/26/2026HouseSigned by the Governor
2/26/2026HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
2/25/2026SenateSigned by the President Pro Tempore
2/24/2026SenateSigned by the Speaker
2/23/2026HouseMotion to concur filed
2/19/2026HouseHouse concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 295: yeas 93, nays 0
2/19/2026HouseReturned to the House with amendments
2/18/2026SenateThird reading: passed; Roll Call 176: yeas 45, nays 0
2/17/2026SenateAmendment #1 (Walker K) prevailed; voice vote
2/16/2026SenateSenator Yoder added as cosponsor
2/16/2026SenateSenator Hunley added as cosponsor
2/16/2026SenateSecond reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2/16/2026SenateSenator Randolph added as cosponsor
2/12/2026SenateSenator Qaddoura added as third sponsor
2/12/2026SenateCommittee report: do pass, adopted
2/12/2026SenateFirst reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions
1/26/2026SenateReferred to the Senate
1/21/2026HouseThird reading: passed; Roll Call 54: yeas 92, nays 0
1/20/2026HouseSenate sponsors: Senators Walker K, Crider
1/20/2026HouseSecond reading: ordered engrossed
1/15/2026HouseCommittee report: do pass, adopted
1/13/2026HouseRepresentative Davis added as coauthor
1/8/2026HouseRepresentatives Lawson, Goss-Reaves added as coauthors
1/5/2026HouseFirst 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)