IndianaSB 180Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)SenateWALLET

Various health care matters.

Sponsored By: Liz Brown (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Eliminates a requirement that home health aide competency evaluation program training include at least 75 hours of training and 16 hours of classroom training before supervised practical training. Amends the educational requirements for dental hygienists. Amends the requirements for administration of nitrous oxide by a dental hygienist. Allows the state board of dentistry to establish additional requirements for an applicant who has failed the licensure examination at least three times. Amends the licensure and temporary permit requirements for respiratory care practitioners. Provides that a current or former police officer or firefighter (first responder) may recover medical benefits from the first responder's employer for an employment related injury or illness without first proceeding with a worker's compensation claim. Provides that if a first responder pursues a worker's compensation claim for medical benefits and the claim is withdrawn or denied, the first responder is not precluded from recovering medical benefits from the employer. Repeals the penalty in Title 16 concerning the crime of transferring contaminated semen. (Current statute contains a transferring of contaminated body fluids crime in Title 35 remains in law.)

health and provider servicesappropriationsthe housepublic health

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Paid medical care for police and firefighters

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana cities, towns, and special service districts must cover specified duty-related care for eligible police and firefighters. Fire protection districts and townships must cover eligible firefighters; provider units also have this duty. Coverage includes current and former full-time, paid workers, with town fire coverage applying to current or retired members. Covered costs include medical care, surgery, medicines, lab tests, X-rays, treatment, and recovery services. Hospital and special nursing care are covered when the attending doctor considers them necessary for recovery. Workers need not seek workers’ compensation first; a withdrawn or denied claim does not block this separate coverage. Cities, towns, and special service districts pay from general funds; fire districts and townships use their specified fire-service funds. Paying entities can seek repayment from responsible third parties without replacing workers’ own civil remedies. City responders and town firefighters also receive applicable legal presumptions that qualifying disability or death occurred in the line of duty.

Foreign-trained dentists gain dental hygiene pathway

Beginning July 1, 2026, foreign dental school graduates gain a route to an Indiana dental hygiene license. The Board must approve their degree as equal to at least an Indiana doctorate in dental surgery or dental medicine. Applicants must submit transcripts, English translations when needed, and a satisfactory credential assessment from the Board or an accepted evaluator. They must meet the criminal-conviction requirement and pass a Board-approved exam in no more than three attempts. The existing route through an approved dental hygiene school remains available.

More respiratory students qualify for permits

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana recognizes an additional respiratory care school or program for student permits. Students must still apply, pay the Board-set fee, and provide written proof of good standing in a qualifying program. They must also provide the required information about disqualifying convictions and disciplinary actions.

HIV-related semen transfer felony repealed

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana repeals a specific felony involving semen containing HIV antibodies intended for artificial insemination. It covered recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally donating, selling, or transferring that semen. The former offense was a Level 5 felony, or a Level 4 felony if transmission resulted. The repeal removes this specific criminal liability.

Home health aide training minimums removed

Retroactive to September 1, 2025, Indiana removes its stated 75-hour minimum for home health aide competency evaluation programs. It also removes the requirement for at least 16 classroom hours before supervised practical training. Programs must still follow federal rules and cover all topics required by the state chapter. The change reduces state training requirements but removes a defined amount of required instruction.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Liz Brown

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Ed Charbonneau

    Republican • Senate

  • Jeff Raatz

    Republican • Senate

  • Julie McGuire

    Republican • House

  • La Keisha Jackson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lindsay Patterson

    Republican • House

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Goss-Reaves

    Republican • House

  • Vaneta Becker

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 179 • No: 4

Senate vote • 2/25/2026

Senate concurred with House amendments

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 2/16/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 87 • No: 4

Senate vote • 1/27/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 45 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor

    3/5/2026Senate
  2. Public Law 118

    3/5/2026Senate
  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

    2/27/2026House
  6. Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 280: yeas 47, nays 0

    2/25/2026Senate
  7. Returned to the Senate with amendments

    2/17/2026House
  8. Motion to concur filed

    2/17/2026Senate
  9. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 253: yeas 87, nays 4

    2/16/2026House
  10. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/12/2026House
  11. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/10/2026House
  12. Representative Patterson added as cosponsor

    2/9/2026House
  13. First reading: referred to Committee on Public Health

    1/29/2026House
  14. Referred to the House

    1/28/2026Senate
  15. House sponsor: Representative Goss-Reaves

    1/27/2026Senate
  16. Cosponsor: Representative McGuire

    1/27/2026Senate
  17. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 100: yeas 45, nays 0

    1/27/2026Senate
  18. Senators Raatz, Becker added as coauthors

    1/27/2026Senate
  19. Senator Randolph added as third author

    1/27/2026Senate
  20. Senator Jackson L added as coauthor

    1/27/2026Senate
  21. Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

    1/26/2026Senate
  22. Amendment #1 (Brown L) prevailed; voice vote

    1/26/2026Senate
  23. Senator Charbonneau added as second author

    1/22/2026Senate
  24. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/22/2026Senate
  25. Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

    1/15/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Engrossed Senate Bill (H)

  • Enrolled Senate Bill (S)

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (S)

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