# Indiana SB 137: Involuntary treatment of substance use disorder.

Indiana SB 137, Involuntary treatment of substance use disorder., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) Senate bill sponsored by Dan Dernulc (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-01-12 (Senator Charbonneau added as second author) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB137-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Indiana SB 137
- State: Indiana
- Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)
- Title: Involuntary treatment of substance use disorder.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-05
- Last action: 2026-01-12, Senator Charbonneau added as second author
- Sponsor: Dan Dernulc (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: judiciary
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Allows an individual's spouse, legal guardian, friend, relative, or medical service provider to petition a court for involuntary substance use disorder treatment. Requires a petition to include certain information and allows a court to dismiss a petition, without prejudice, if it does not contain the required information. Requires the court to appoint a public defender if the individual subject to a petition seeking involuntary substance use disorder treatment is not represented by an attorney. Requires a court to order the individual to be evaluated by a medical provider if the court finds that: (1) the individual has a substance use disorder; (2) because of the individual's substance use disorder, the individual is experiencing impaired judgment and is unable to independently maintain the individual's activities of daily living or is a danger to self or others; and (3) the individual refuses to voluntarily participate in substance use disorder treatment. Allows a court to order a local law enforcement agency to consider whether an individual meets the criteria for emergency detention under certain circumstances. Requires a medical provider who completes an evaluation concerning an individual's need for substance use disorder treatment to submit the evaluation to the court. Specifies that after receiving an evaluation from a medical provider, the court may dismiss the petition or set a hearing for further evidence to be presented about the individual's need for substance use disorder treatment. Requires a court to order involuntary outpatient substance use disorder treatment for a period, not to exceed 90 days, if medical evidence supports that the individual requires immediate treatment for a substance use disorder and the individual has refused treatment.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dan Dernulc (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ed Charbonneau (Republican), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2026-01-12: Senator Charbonneau added as second author (Senate)
- 2026-01-05: First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-01-05: Authored by Senator Dernulc (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0137/versions/SB0137.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 80: Code publication. (signed)
- HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales. (signed)
- HB 1406: Tax and fiscal matters. (signed)
- 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)

## Sources
- [Introduced Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0137/versions/SB0137.01.INTR?format=pdf)

## Related
- [SB 80: Code publication.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB80-2026)
- [HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1424-2026)
- [HB 1406: Tax and fiscal matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1406-2026)
- [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)
- [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills)
- [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB137-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).