All Roll Calls
Yes: 212 • No: 1
IndianaHB 1098Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)HouseWALLET
Work based learning liability.
Sponsored By: Matt Commons (Republican)
Signed by Governor
insurancethe senateinsurance and financial institutions
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Unpaid students: no disability pay, $175K benefit
Beginning July 1, 2026, unpaid students in work-based learning cannot get temporary total or partial disability pay. If an unpaid student dies from a covered work injury, a one‑time $175,000 payment goes to dependents or, if none, to the parents. Students under 17 cannot get extra payments just because of age.
Pay formula for paid student injuries
Beginning July 1, 2026, if you are a paid student in an approved training or work‑based learning program, your permanent impairment award uses a set pay formula. Your average weekly wage is your hourly rate times 40 hours.
Insurers can’t rate by student age
For policies entered into, amended, or renewed after June 30, 2026, insurers must use objective, risk‑based, age‑neutral rules when underwriting or setting rates for coverage that includes student participants. Policies that cover employer liability and workers’ comp for work‑based learning must follow these rules. This prevents rating or denials based on a student’s age.
Workers' comp rules for student programs
Beginning July 1, 2026, students in approved work-based learning are treated as employees for workers' comp. They can get benefits under the main workers' comp laws and the occupational disease law. Schools or intermediaries that place a student must sign a written agreement, and the employer must secure the student’s workers’ comp (they may use an employer of record). The law defines which programs count, like apprenticeships and youth apprenticeships, and excludes online or one-off activities. Workers' comp is the student’s exclusive remedy for program injuries (except under IC 5-2-6.1). The state repeals the old school‑to‑work rules and uses this new framework instead.
Volunteer services: employer definition updated
Beginning July 1, 2026, the law updates who counts as an employer in the volunteer services statute. It includes employers that provide on‑the‑job training under the federal School to Work law, as limited by IC 22‑3‑2‑2.5(a). This affects units and volunteer fire departments that use those definitions.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Matt Commons
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Alex Burton
Democratic • House
Jake Teshka
Republican • House
Jeff Raatz
Republican • Senate
Linda Rogers
Republican • Senate
Lonnie Randolph
Democratic • Senate
Robert Behning
Republican • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 2/25/2026
Roll Call 361 on HB1098.03.COMS.CON01
Yes: 79 • No: 0 • Other: 17
Senate vote • 2/19/2026
Roll Call 200 on HB1098.03.COMS
Yes: 44 • No: 1 • Other: 4
House vote • 1/28/2026
Roll Call 146 on HB1098.02.COMH
Yes: 89 • No: 0 • Other: 6
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor
3/3/2026HousePublic Law 51
3/3/2026HouseSigned by the President of the Senate
2/27/2026SenateSigned by the President Pro Tempore
2/26/2026SenateSigned by the Speaker
2/25/2026HouseHouse concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 361: yeas 79, nays 0
2/25/2026HouseMotion to concur filed
2/24/2026HouseReturned to the House with amendments
2/20/2026SenateThird reading: passed; Roll Call 200: yeas 44, nays 1
2/19/2026SenateSecond reading: ordered engrossed
2/16/2026SenateSenator Randolph added as cosponsor
2/16/2026SenateSenator Raatz added as second sponsor
2/16/2026SenateCommittee report: amend do pass, adopted
2/12/2026SenateFirst reading: referred to Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions
2/2/2026SenateReferred to the Senate
1/29/2026HouseThird reading: passed; Roll Call 146: yeas 89, nays 0
1/28/2026HouseSenate sponsor: Senator Rogers
1/28/2026HouseSecond reading: ordered engrossed
1/22/2026HouseCommittee report: amend do pass, adopted
1/20/2026HouseRepresentatives Behning, Teshka, Burton added as coauthors
1/12/2026HouseFirst reading: referred to Committee on Insurance
1/5/2026HouseAuthored by Representative Commons
1/5/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled House Bill (H)
House Bill (H)
House Bill (S)
Introduced House Bill (H)