IndianaHB 1145Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)HouseWALLET

Thirteenth check.

Sponsored By: Michael Karickhoff (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Allows a participant in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan to elect a joint and survivor option for the payment of the participant's retirement allowance. Provides for a thirteenth check in calendar year 2026 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.

employmentthe senatepensions and laborappropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

One-time checks for state police retirees

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana’s State Police 1987 Benefit System provides a one-time payment from its trust. Eligible employee beneficiaries must have retired or become disabled after June 30, 1987, and before July 2, 2025. They must also be entitled to a monthly benefit on September 1, 2026. The trustee must pay them by October 1, 2026. The check equals 1% of the maximum basic annual pension for a trooper with 25 years of service, measured July 1, 2026. It does not raise monthly pensions, and the payment authority expires January 1, 2028.

State pension election limits other survivor benefits

Beginning July 1, 2026, choosing the affected Indiana pension plan’s joint-and-survivor option generally rules out its existing survivor allowances. An exception applies when the participant dies before retirement. In that case, the named beneficiary can receive existing survivor benefits only if otherwise eligible under those rules.

State retirees gain options with lower checks

Beginning July 1, 2026, participants in the affected Indiana state pension plan can choose a new survivor payment option. It applies to those retiring after June 30, 2026. Retirees accept lower lifetime checks so a named beneficiary receives lifetime payments after their death. They choose survivor payments equal to the reduced check, two-thirds of it, or half. The combined payments must have the same actuarial value as the standard pension. If the beneficiary dies before retirement, the election ends automatically; the participant can name someone else and elect again. If the participant dies before retirement, the beneficiary receives existing survivor benefits only if separately eligible.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Michael Karickhoff

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Brian Buchanan

    Republican • Senate

  • David Niezgodski

    Democratic • Senate

  • Eric Koch

    Republican • Senate

  • Fady Qaddoura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Greg Goode

    Republican • Senate

  • Gregory Porter

    Democratic • House

  • Heath VanNatter

    Republican • House

  • Jeff Raatz

    Republican • Senate

  • Julie Olthoff

    Republican • House

  • Linda Rogers

    Republican • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Ron Alting

    Republican • Senate

  • Shelli Yoder

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 231 • No: 9

House vote • 2/25/2026

House concurred with Senate amendments

Yes: 95 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 39 • No: 9

House vote • 2/2/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 79

    3/4/2026House
  2. Signed by the Governor

    3/4/2026House
  3. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/27/2026Senate
  4. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/27/2026Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    2/26/2026House
  6. Motion to concur filed

    2/25/2026House
  7. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 375: yeas 95, nays 0

    2/25/2026House
  8. Senator Niezgodski added as cosponsor

    2/24/2026Senate
  9. Senator Koch added as cosponsor

    2/24/2026Senate
  10. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 236: yeas 39, nays 9

    2/24/2026Senate
  11. Returned to the House with amendments

    2/24/2026Senate
  12. Senator Alting added as cosponsor

    2/24/2026Senate
  13. Senator Yoder added as cosponsor

    2/23/2026Senate
  14. Senator Raatz added as cosponsor

    2/23/2026Senate
  15. Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

    2/23/2026Senate
  16. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/23/2026Senate
  17. Senator Qaddoura added as cosponsor

    2/19/2026Senate
  18. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/19/2026Senate
  19. Senator Goode added as third sponsor

    2/12/2026Senate
  20. Senator Rogers added as second sponsor

    2/12/2026Senate
  21. Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

    2/12/2026Senate
  22. First reading: referred to Committee on Pensions and Labor

    2/5/2026Senate
  23. Referred to the Senate

    2/3/2026House
  24. Senate sponsor: Senator Buchanan

    2/2/2026House
  25. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 192: yeas 97, nays 0

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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