# Indiana HB 1202: Various public safety matters. Indiana HB 1202, Various public safety matters., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) House bill sponsored by Ethan Lawson (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-02-24 (Public Law 28); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1202-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Indiana HB 1202 - State: Indiana - Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) - Title: Various public safety matters. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-05 - Last action: 2026-02-24, Public Law 28 - Sponsor: Ethan Lawson (Republican) - Cosponsors: 5 - Subjects: veterans affairs and public safety, the senate, homeland security and transportation - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (130 yes, 5 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 15 ## Summary Requires a vendor or provider of an ignition interlock device to register an ignition interlock device with the department of toxicology. Eliminates a requirement for the director of the state department of toxicology to provide periodic reports to the Indiana criminal justice institute (institute) regarding the number of ignition interlock devices used in Indiana. Provides that a registered ignition interlock device must be installed in a motor vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for installing the registered ignition interlock device. Codifies administrative rules adopted by the state department of toxicology relating to ignition interlock devices. Provides that prior to being issued an initial license to operate a child care center, the child care center must be inspected and found to be in substantial compliance with applicable building and fire safety laws by the department of homeland security. (Current law provides that a license may be issued only if the child care center is in substantial compliance with the fire and life safety rules as determined by the state fire marshal under rules adopted by the division of family resources (division) or in accordance with a variance or waiver approved by the division.) Provides that prior to being issued an initial registration to operate a child care ministry, the unlicensed child care ministry must be inspected and found to be in substantial compliance with applicable building and fire safety laws by the department of homeland security. Provides that the department of homeland security shall perform inspections of: (1) child care ministries; (2) child care centers; (3) child caring institutions; and (4) group homes. Provides that a license or registration to operate a child care center or child care ministry may be revoked if the division determines that the operator has failed to comply with an order of the department of homeland security. Provides that the operator of an unlicensed child care ministry shall maintain a copy of the most recent department of homeland security inspection findings in a conspicuous place in the unlicensed child care ministry. Provides that the department of child services is not required to consult with the fire prevention and building safety commission when adopting administrative rules pertaining to the licensing and inspection of child care institutions, foster family homes, group homes, and child placing agencies. Provides that administrative rules of the fire prevention and building safety commission must include minimum building and safety requirements applicable for child caring institutions. Provides that prior to being issued an initial license to operate a child caring institution or group home, the child caring institution or group home must be inspected and found to be in substantial compliance with applicable building and fire safety laws by the department of homeland security. Provides that a license or registration to operate a child caring institution or group home may be revoked if the department of child services determines that the operator has failed to comply with an order of the department of homeland security. Provides that in order for an individual to receive a license from the emergency medical services commission, the individual must obtain a national criminal history background check and authorize release of the results of the check to the department of homeland security. Eliminates the requirement for the institute to adopt administrative rules relating to the child restraint system account. Provides that inspections conducted by the department of homeland security shall be conducted periodically in lieu of established periods. Changes a reference, from the department of education to the office of school safety, relating to the duties of a school safety specialist. Repeals: (1) provisions relating to public safety improvement areas; (2) a provision requiring the board of trustees of the institute to adopt rules relating to the law enforcement assistance fund; (3) a provision that authorizes the state fire marshal to charge a child care ministry a $50 fee for processing a registration; (4) a provision requiring the institute to review characteristics of offenders committed to the department of correction over such period of time it deems appropriate and of the offenses committed by those offenders in order to ascertain norms used by the trial courts in sentencing; (5) a provision requiring the bureau of motor vehicles and the institute to enter into a memorandum of understanding to administer the provisions relating to ignition interlock devices; and (6) a provision that requires the institute to adopt rules relating to ignition interlock devices. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Prison health and fire checks continue: benefit, low. Correctional facilities without nationally recognized accreditation must receive Department of Health inspections at least annually. Homeland Security handles fire-safety inspections and reporting instead of the state fire marshal. These rules cover Department of Correction facilities and protect p… - Care providers get clearer repair-plan paths: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the child care licensing division approves centers' probationary corrective plans instead of the state fire marshal. Group homes can submit plans to either the Department of Child Services or the Department of Health for approval. This option applies only when problems do no… - Child care centers get safety checks: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Homeland Security must inspect child care centers before their first license. Centers must substantially meet building and fire-safety laws before receiving that license. The licensing division conducts annual onsite inspections and keeps records, and centers must allow anno… - Explosives factories follow state inspection framework: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the state must run its regulated-explosives manufacturing inspection program under the specified state inspection law. This applies to places where regulated explosives are made. The provision sets no inspection frequency or funding amount. - State expands building safety inspection reach: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Homeland Security's periodic inspection program reaches beyond government and school property to buildings and property more broadly. The department sets inspection frequency. It can exclude property classes already inspected for statewide safety compliance, or when inspecti… - Stronger safety oversight for children's facilities: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, group homes and child caring institutions need Homeland Security inspections before their first licenses. They must substantially meet building and fire-safety laws. Homeland Security periodically inspects child caring institutions and inspects group homes; operators must co… - Schools strengthen safety staffing and planning: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, every school corporation and charter school must name at least one school safety specialist. That specialist cannot be a school resource officer. The Office of School Safety, rather than the Department of Education, sets required annual training days. Schools holding amuseme… - Interlock drivers face stricter device checks: cost, medium. Beginning July 1, 2026, registered ignition interlocks use a 0.02 blood-alcohol-equivalent fail point unless the court sets another level. Devices require random retests 3–15 minutes after startup, then 15–45 minutes after the previous retest while traveling. Startup tests and required retests capt… - Emergency medical applicants need background checks: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, people seeking required emergency medical services certification or licensure must complete a national criminal history check. Indiana State Police must send the results to the relevant commission or Homeland Security. The provision does not specify an applicant fee. - Fireworks sellers need registered, inspected locations: cost, low. Fireworks retailers must apply and hold a valid registration for each sales location. Homeland Security provides the application form and oversees inspections of sales tents and structures. It can delegate inspections to the local fire department under state fire marshal policies. - Driving alternatives bring long interlock requirements: mixed, high. Beginning July 1, 2026, courts can replace suspension with registered ignition interlock orders in specified deferred-charge or referral programs. For defendants without a prior impaired-driving conviction, these orders last 2 to 4 years. Probationary driving in covered deferred cases requires at l… - Child care ministries save, face checks: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, child care ministries no longer pay the $50 processing fee per registration. Before initial registration, Homeland Security must inspect them and find substantial compliance with building and fire-safety laws. Homeland Security's inspection framework replaces the prior arran… - Interlock suppliers lose fees, gain duties: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law ends the old interlock inspection account and its vendor and service-center fees. Suppliers must register models using device details, instructions, and written compliance statements, and provide independent laboratory records on request. Registrations last three yea… - Public safety improvement area framework ends: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana repeals the Public Safety Improvement Areas law. The Criminal Justice Institute also stops administering area applications and approvals for consolidated or second-class cities. The supplied text does not identify the services, funding, or local activities affected. - State removes an existing administrative rule: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, administrative rule 260 IAC 3 is void and must be removed from the state code. The section ordering its removal expires January 1, 2027. The supplied text does not identify the rule's subject or who is affected. ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Ethan Lawson (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Brett Clark (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Chris Judy (Republican), House - Cosponsor: J.D. Ford (Democratic), Senate - Cosponsor: Michael Crider (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Steve Bartels (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-17 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 45 | 0 | | | 2026-01-20 | House | Third reading: passed | pass | 85 | 5 | | ## Actions (20) - 2026-02-24: Public Law 28 (House) - 2026-02-24: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2026-02-23: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Signed by the President Pro Tempore (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Signed by the Speaker (House) - 2026-02-18: Returned to the House without amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 182: yeas 45, nays 0 (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Senator Ford J.D. added as cosponsor (Senate) - 2026-02-12: Second reading: ordered engrossed (Senate) - 2026-02-10: Committee report: do pass, adopted (Senate) - 2026-01-26: First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation (Senate) - 2026-01-21: Referred to the Senate (House) - 2026-01-20: Senate sponsors: Senators Crider, Clark (House) - 2026-01-20: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 60: yeas 85, nays 5 (House) - 2026-01-15: Second reading: ordered engrossed (House) - 2026-01-12: Representative Judy added as coauthor (House) - 2026-01-12: Committee report: do pass, adopted (House) - 2026-01-05: Authored by Representative Lawson (House) - 2026-01-05: First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety (House) - 2026-01-05: Representative Bartels added as coauthor (House) ## Bill text - Enrolled House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.04.ENRS?format=pdf) - House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.03.COMS?format=pdf) - House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.02.COMH?format=pdf) - Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related bills - HB 1266: Department of education and education matters. (signed) - HB 1277: Health and human services matters. (signed) - HB 1210: Department of local government finance. (signed) - HB 1249: Various criminal law matters. (signed) - HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles. (signed) - HB 1115: Homeowners association governance. (signed) ## Sources - [Enrolled House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.04.ENRS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.03.COMS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.02.COMH?format=pdf) - [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1202/versions/HB1202.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related - [HB 1266: Department of education and education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1266-2026) - [HB 1277: Health and human services matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1277-2026) - [HB 1210: Department of local government finance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1210-2026) - [HB 1249: Various criminal law matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1249-2026) - [HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1200-2026) - [HB 1115: Homeowners association governance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1115-2026) - [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills) - [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1202-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).