Bills & Legislation

PFAS water safety standards.

Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to establish state maximum contaminant levels for PFAS in water provided by public water systems. Provides that maximum contaminant levels established by the state department: (1) must be protective of public health, including the health of vulnerable subpopulations; and (2) may not be less stringent than any maximum contaminant level or health advisory promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Ryan DvorakDemocrat

Automated tractor-trailers.

Provides that an automated tractor-trailer may not be operated on a highway to transport passengers or goods unless a human operator who meets all state and federal qualifications to operate a tractor-trailer is physically present in the automated tractor-trailer to monitor the performance of the automated tractor-trailer and to take control of all or part of the automated tractor-trailer's operation if necessary. Provides that an automated tractor-trailer operated in Indiana must meet federal motor vehicle standards and regulations.

Cindy LedbetterRepublican

Exclusion of discharged student loans as income.

Provides that the Indiana adjusted gross income add back of forgiven federal student loan debt that is excluded under the Internal Revenue Code applies only to the 2021 taxable year and does not apply to forgiven federal student loan debt forgiven in subsequent taxable years.

Gregory PorterDemocrat

Ballot access for major and minor parties.

Provides, for purposes of certain laws, that the term "major political party" refers to: (1) with respect to the state, any of the parties whose nominees received more than 2,500 votes statewide for secretary of state in the last election; or (2) with respect to a political subdivision, any of the parties whose nominees received more than 250 votes in that political subdivision for secretary of state in the last election. Provides that a political party whose nominee received at least 2,500 votes but less than 25% of the votes cast for secretary of state at the last election shall nominate the party's candidates at a state convention and for certain local offices at a county convention. Permits a petition of nomination for an independent or minor political party to be signed by 250 registered voters in the election district that the candidate seeks to represent.

Ryan DvorakDemocrat

Bed bug remediation in rental units.

Requires the tenant of a dwelling unit to notify the tenant's landlord if the tenant knows or reasonably suspects that the tenant's dwelling unit contains bed bugs. Requires the landlord, upon receiving the tenant's notice, to have the dwelling unit inspected by a qualified inspector. Requires the landlord, after receiving the inspection report, to provide to the tenant written notice indicating whether the dwelling unit contains bed bugs. Requires the landlord to begin taking reasonable measures to treat the bed bug presence if an inspection indicates the presence of bed bugs. Establishes responsibilities for the tenant and landlord concerning: (1) notice; (2) access to the dwelling unit; and (3) the payment of costs; associated with the inspection for, and treatment of, bed bugs. Authorizes the state chemist to adopt rules to implement these provisions. Requires the state chemist to establish requirements for the certification of a bed bug inspector.

Gregory PorterDemocrat

Repeal of the death penalty.

Repeals the law concerning the imposition and execution of death sentences and makes conforming amendments. Specifies that if a person was sentenced to death and is awaiting execution of the death sentence, the person's death sentence is commuted to a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Provides that when a defendant is charged with a murder for which the state seeks a sentence of life imprisonment without parole, the defendant may file a petition alleging that the defendant is an individual with an intellectual disability. Provides that if a defendant who is determined to be an individual with an intellectual disability is convicted of murder, the court may sentence the defendant only to a fixed term of imprisonment.

Robert MorrisRepublican

Health finance matters.

Adds capital projects, technology upgrades, and operational expenses for certain county hospitals to the definition of "public safety" for purposes of local income tax revenue use. Increases the maximum local income tax that may be imposed in certain counties if a tax rate is adopted for purposes related to certain hospitals located in the county. Establishes the rural hospital clinically integrated network grant program to provide grants to rural hospital clinically integrated networks. Establishes the Indiana rural hospital and critical health care services fund (rural health care services fund) for the purpose of awarding grants to certain rural hospitals. Provides that the Indiana department of health (state department) administers the rural health care services fund. Establishes the following: (1) The health workforce student loan repayment program (program). (2) The health workforce advisory board (advisory board). (3) The health workforce student loan repayment program fund (repayment program fund) for the purpose of providing funds to repay outstanding student loans of certain health providers who meet the program requirements. Provides that the state department shall administer the program and repayment program fund. Establishes: (1) the imposition of fees at the time a license is issued or renewed for certain health profession licenses; and (2) qualifications to receive a student loan repayment award under the program. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, the state department and each board included in the program may award a student loan repayment to an eligible applicant who is a provider licensed by the board. Provides that money in the repayment program fund is continuously appropriated. Repeals provisions concerning the following: (1) The primary care physician loan forgiveness program. (2) The mental health services development programs. (3) The dental underserved area and minority recruitment program. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying topics related to the rural health care services fund. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study committee the task of studying certain topics related to health care services.

Ethan ManningRepublican

Medicaid coverage for health related social needs.

Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply, not later than October 1, 2025, for approval of a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver to provide coverage for health related social needs.

Gregory PorterDemocrat

Tax credit for teacher's classroom supplies.

Increases the maximum amount of the income tax credit for an individual employed as a teacher for amounts expended for classroom supplies from $100 to $300 per taxable year.

Mike AndradeDemocrat

Sexual predator employment.

Prohibits a sexually violent predator or an offender against children from working in any setting where the offender: (1) has more than incidental and occasional contact with a child who is not accompanied by the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; (2) has supervisory or disciplinary power over a child; or (3) is expected to touch a child on a more than incidental and occasional basis.

Mitch GoreDemocrat

Indiana economic development corporation.

Provides for appointment to the board of the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) of two nonvoting, advisory members who are members of the general assembly. Requires the IEDC, before purchasing land that exceeds 100 acres in a county, to first give notice to the county or municipality, or both, in which the land is located not later than 30 days before the closing date for the purchase. Specifies additional procedures that the IEDC must take when acquiring land. Requires the IEDC to establish a mechanism to track the impacts of economic development projects based on: (1) wages paid to employees; and (2) financial impacts to local governments. Sets forth the information required to be reported on the tracking mechanism, which must be updated quarterly and posted quarterly on the IEDC's transparency portal. Requires the IEDC to provide an annual report of the information reported on the tracking mechanism and other information related to economic development to the general assembly. Requires the IEDC to dedicate at least 5% of the funds appropriated to the IEDC for economic development purposes in state fiscal years 2026 and 2027 for economic development projects located in communities that meet specified criteria.

Matt CommonsRepublican

Coverage of prescription pain medications.

Provides that the office of the secretary of family and social services may not place greater coverage restrictions on a non-opioid drug prescribed for the treatment or management of pain than the coverage restrictions placed on an opioid drug prescribed to treat or manage pain with respect to the Medicaid program or the children's health insurance program. Provides that a policy of accident and sickness insurance and a health maintenance organization contract may not place greater coverage restrictions on a non-opioid drug prescribed for the treatment or management of pain than the coverage restrictions placed on an opioid drug prescribed to treat or manage pain.

Gregory PorterDemocrat

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment program.

Extends the Indiana department of veterans' affairs (department) hyperbaric oxygen treatment pilot program (program) to June 30, 2027. Provides that, upon exhaustion of funding provided by the department to the Indiana department of health prior to January 1, 2025, funding for the program is paid from the military family relief fund. Provides that the funding from the military family relief fund ceases in the event the United States Department of Veterans Affairs expands its coverage of hyperbaric oxygen treatment to include providers located in Indiana.

Cindy LedbetterRepublican

Abortion.

Reestablishes the licensure of abortion clinics. Changes statutes concerning when an abortion may be performed. Removes the eight week limitation on the use of an abortion inducing drug. Allows, rather than requires, the revocation of a physician's license for the performance of an abortion in violation of the law.

Shelli YoderDemocrat

Vehicle Bill.

None

Shelli YoderDemocrat

Repayment of medical school loans.

Requires the Indiana department of health (department) to establish and administer a medical school loan forgiveness pilot program (program) for the purpose of attracting physicians to practice medicine in Indiana. Establishes the medical school loan forgiveness fund (fund). Sets forth criteria for the program. Requires the department to, not later than November 1, 2026, and each November 1 thereafter, prepare and submit a report to the general assembly regarding the program. Makes an appropriation to the fund.

Earl HarrisDemocrat

High value workforce ready credit-bearing grants.

Provides that, in addition to eligible certificate programs, a workforce ready credit-bearing grant may be used for costs of enrolling in an English as a new language program or course.

Victoria Garcia WilburnDemocrat

Testing of drinking water.

Requires a local health department to provide a free water quality test kit, upon request and subject to certain limits, to an individual residing within the local health department's jurisdiction. Provides that the water quality test kits must have the capacity to detect arsenic, fluoride, lead, mercury, and nitrate.

Matt HostettlerRepublican

Minimum wage.

Provides that, for any work week beginning on or after July 1, 2025, the minimum wage paid to certain employees is 0.008% of the governor's annual salary. (Under current law, the minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.)

Ryan DvorakDemocrat

Age of compulsory attendance.

Provides that a student is bound by compulsory school attendance requirements from the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the student is six years of age on August 1 of that school year. (Current law provides that a student is bound by compulsory school attendance requirements from the beginning of the fall school term for the school year in which the student becomes seven years of age.) Makes conforming amendments.

Renee PackDemocrat

Criminal penalties.

Increases the penalty for reckless homicide and criminal recklessness if a person commits aggressive driving that results in the death or catastrophic injury of another person.

Mitch GoreDemocrat

State revenue and expenditure information.

Requires the department of state revenue (department) to, within a reasonable time after the filing of an Indiana tax return by a taxpayer, issue a letter in hard copy form to every taxpayer who: (1) filed an Indiana tax return for the previous taxable year; and (2) had a state tax liability of at least $1 for the previous taxable year. Provides that the letter must not exceed two pages and must include: (1) the amount of total state income tax the taxpayer remitted for the previous taxable year; (2) information regarding any change to the state income tax rate that occurred over the previous two taxable years; (3) a summary, categorized by revenue source, of income tax revenues received by the state during the previous taxable year; (4) a summary, categorized by expenditure type, of expenditures funded by income tax revenues during the previous taxable year; (5) a proportional categorized breakdown showing an estimate of how the taxpayer's income tax dollars remitted for the previous taxable year were or will be spent; and (6) any other objective information the department determines appropriate in helping to educate the taxpayer about the state's budget, spending, or fiscal wellness. Requires the state comptroller to provide the department assistance with any data or records necessary for the department to prepare the letter.

Andrew IrelandRepublican

Medicaid for over-the-counter birth control.

Specifies that the Medicaid program covers over-the-counter birth control. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply for any Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver necessary to include over-the-counter birth control as a covered supply.

Shelli YoderDemocrat

PFAS chemicals.

Requires the department of environmental management to publish a registry of persons that discharge PFAS chemicals into waters of the state.

Becky CashRepublican

Anatomical gifts.

Requires a person who makes certain anatomical gifts to: (1) designate on a form prescribed by the state board of funeral and cemetery service the funeral home licensee to whom custodial care of the decedent's body will be granted following the recovery of the donated organ or tissue; and (2) submit the designation to the appropriate procurement organization. Requires a procurement organization to provide notice and certain information to the designated funeral home licensee before the body of the decedent subject to the anatomical gift is transported and recovery of the donated organs or tissue begins.

Mark GendaRepublican

U.S.S. Indianapolis CA-35 Day.

Establishes July 30 each year as "U.S.S. Indianapolis CA-35 Day".

Renee PackDemocrat

Restrictions on train length.

Prohibits a railroad from operating a train longer than 8,500 feet in length on a main line or a branch line.

Mitch GoreDemocrat

Display of political signs on certain properties.

Amends as follows the statute governing the display of political signs on property subject to restrictive covenants or homeowners association rules: (1) Expands the scope of the statute to include additional communities. (2) Replaces the term "homeowners association" with the term "community association" and makes similar conforming changes to the statute's terminology. (3) Extends the beginning of the period within which a community association may not prohibit a community member from displaying a political sign on the community member's property from 30 days to 60 days before the date of the election to which the sign relates. (4) Removes the provision that authorizes a community association to adopt and enforce rules restricting the number of political signs that may be displayed on a community member's property. (5) Prohibits a community association from restricting the number of political signs that a community member may display on the community member's property, subject to specified exceptions. (6) Removes an exemption for gated communities from the statute's prohibition against community association rules or covenants that prohibit candidates or elected officials (or their spouses or volunteers) from entering onto community association property to conduct political activity. (7) Provides that a member of a homeowners association who is aggrieved by an alleged violation of the statute by a homeowners association may assert a claim against the homeowners association or its board under the grievance resolution procedures set forth in the statute governing homeowners associations. (8) Provides that: (A) a community member; or (B) a candidate or an elected official; who is aggrieved by an alleged violation of the statute may seek any remedy available to the person under applicable law, including an action for damages or injunctive relief in a court with jurisdiction.

Becky CashRepublican

Background checks of maintenance workers.

Requires a landlord to adopt a policy requiring individuals who apply for certain employment positions that include access to the rental premises during the term of a tenant's lease to submit to a national criminal history background check before the landlord may hire the prospective employee.

Renee PackDemocrat

Public works projects.

Provides that a contractor that employs 10 or more employees on a design-build public works project must provide its employees access to a training program applicable to the tasks to be performed in the normal course of the employee's employment with the contractor on the public project. Provides that a tier 1 or tier 2 contractor that employs 50 or more journeymen must participate in an apprenticeship or training program that meets certain standards. Requires design-builders and any member of a team working on a design-build public works project to comply with certain statutes. Provides that a public agency awarding a contract for a construction manager as constructor project may not take certain actions based on a bidder's, offeror's, or contractor's entering into, refusing to enter into, adhering to, or refusing to adhere to an agreement with a labor organization.

Timothy WescoRepublican

Restricted address program.

Adds: (1) public safety telecommunicators; and (2) 911 emergency call dispatch center administrators; to the persons who may restrict access to their home address on a local government's public property data base website.

Michael CriderRepublican

Landlord nexus.

Provides that, after June 30, 2025, a landlord may not manage a rental property in Indiana unless the landlord: (1) is authorized to do business in Indiana; (2) maintains an office at one or more physical locations in Indiana; or (3) appoints an Indiana licensed real estate broker or broker company to manage the rental property.

Fady QaddouraDemocrat

Prohibited government abortion assistance.

Prohibits the state or a political subdivision of the state from assisting an individual in seeking or obtaining an abortion. Allows for the state or a political subdivision to inform an individual of alternatives to an abortion.

Michael YoungRepublican

Removal of squatters.

Defines "squatter" as an individual who occupies the property of another and who does not and has never had: (1) a rental agreement; (2) permission of the owner; or (3) another legal interest in the property. Permits a property owner to execute an affidavit stating that a squatter is occupying the person's property, and requires a law enforcement agency to dispatch one or more law enforcement officers to remove the squatter within 48 hours (or a later period if necessary for reasons of public safety). Requires a dispatched law enforcement officer to remove the squatter from the property unless the law enforcement officer discovers credible written evidence that the person is not a squatter.

James TomesRepublican

Access to employee restrooms.

Provides that if a retail establishment has a restroom facility on its premises for the use of the retail establishment's employees, a customer who suffers from an eligible medical condition must, upon request, be allowed to use the restroom facility during normal business hours if certain conditions are met. Specifies that a customer who uses the retail establishment's employee restroom facility is responsible for leaving the restroom facility in the same condition as when the customer entered the restroom facility. Provides immunity from civil liability for any act or omission in allowing a customer to use an employee restroom facility if all of the specified conditions for use of the facility are met, provided that the act or omission: (1) is not willful or grossly negligent; and (2) occurs in an area of the retail establishment that is not accessible to the public. Imposes a maximum $100 civil penalty on an owner, operator, or employee of a retail establishment for violating these provisions.

J.D. FordDemocrat

Medicaid value based contracting.

Allows a managed care organization to enter into a value based contract with a Medicaid provider to provide services under a risk based managed care program.

Michael CriderRepublican

Dependent child exemptions.

Provides that a fetus is considered a dependent child for purposes of the dependent child state adjusted gross income exemptions.

Andy Zay

School based health centers.

Requires the department of education, in consultation with the Indiana department of health, to establish a program to provide technical assistance to public schools, including charter schools, that are interested in establishing a school based health center.

Mark SpencerDemocrat

Medicaid matters.

Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to report specified Medicaid data to the Medicaid oversight committee. Requires the office to receive and review data from specified federal and state agencies concerning Medicaid recipients to determine whether circumstances have changed that affect Medicaid eligibility for recipients. Prohibits the office from accepting self-attestations of certain information in the administration of the Medicaid program. Requires the office to apply for a Medicaid state plan amendment to remove references to coverage under the Medicaid plan of a certain population. Requires the office to establish: (1) performance standards for hospitals that make presumptive eligibility determinations and sets out action for when hospitals do not comply with the standards; and (2) an appeals procedure for hospitals that dispute the violation determination. Modifies eligibility categories and requirements for the healthy Indiana plan (plan). Specifies limitations for enrollment in the plan.

Tyler JohnsonRepublican

Child welfare provider protections.

Prohibits the state from discriminating against adoption agencies, foster parents, or adoptive parents on the basis of religious beliefs. Defines certain terms. Waives sovereign immunity for purposes of the prohibition, except that state courts retain immunity. Allows suit under these provisions without exhausting administrative remedies. Provides for a private right of action and civil remedies.

Tyler JohnsonRepublican

Commercial motor vehicle defendant liability.

Provides that noneconomic damages awarded in a civil suit involving a commercial motor vehicle may not be more than $1,000,000. Provides exceptions.

Mike GaskillRepublican

Prohibition on copay accumulator adjustments.

Provides that under certain circumstances, the administrator of the state employee health plan shall include any amount paid by a covered individual or another person on behalf of the covered individual for a prescription drug when calculating a covered individual's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under the covered individual's state employee health plan. Provides that under certain circumstances, a pharmacy benefit manager shall include any amount paid by a covered individual or another person on behalf of the covered individual for a prescription drug when calculating a covered individual's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under the covered individual's health plan. Provides that under certain circumstances, an insurer who issues a policy of accident and sickness insurance shall include any amount paid by an insured or another person on behalf of the insured for a prescription drug when calculating an insured's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under the insured's policy of accident and sickness insurance. Provides that under certain circumstances, a health maintenance organization shall include any amount paid by an enrollee or another person on behalf of the enrollee for a prescription drug when calculating an enrollee's overall contribution to an out-of-pocket maximum or cost sharing requirement under the enrollee's individual or group contract.

Andrea HunleyDemocrat

Address protection in recorded documents.

Provides that a county recorder may not disclose recorded documents containing identifying information of an address confidentiality program participant, unless: (1) the participant provides written consent; and (2) the participant's name is redacted. Provides that a person seeking disclosure of a shielded document who: (1) is denied disclosure by the county recorder; or (2) requires an unredacted copy for the person's intended use in the normal course of business; must contact the attorney general to contact the program participant about consenting to disclosure. Provides that if the program participant does not take action within five days after being contacted by the attorney general, the request for disclosure is automatically denied.

Liz BrownRepublican

Discussable items for teachers.

Requires a school employer to discuss certain items with the exclusive representative of certificated employees. Provides that the obligation to discuss does not require either party to enter into a contract, agree to a proposal, or make a concession related to the discussable items. Makes it an unfair practice for a school employer to refuse to discuss certain items with an exclusive representative. Removes language that excludes a discussion or meeting to discuss items between a school employer and an exclusive representative from the provision that establishes instances in which executive sessions may be held.

J.D. FordDemocrat

Cardiac arrest action plans.

Requires a school corporation, charter school, and nonpublic school with at least one employee to develop a venue specific emergency action plan for sudden cardiac arrest, in consultation with an emergency medical services provider, for athletic activities or other extracurricular activities. (Current law provides that a school corporation, charter school, or state accredited nonpublic school may develop a venue specific emergency action plan.) Requires the department of education (department) to disseminate guidelines, information sheets, and forms to each nonpublic school with at least one employee, charter school, and school corporation for distribution to schools to inform and educate coaches, marching band leaders, officials designated by the applicable student's school entity, applicable students, and parents of applicable students of the nature and risk of sudden cardiac arrest to applicable students. (Current law requires the department to disseminate guidelines, information sheets, and forms to each state accredited nonpublic school, charter school, and each school corporation for distribution to schools to inform and educate coaches, marching band leaders, officials designated by the applicable student's school entity, applicable students, and parents of applicable students of the nature and risk of sudden cardiac arrest to applicable students.) Moves existing law that authorizes a school corporation, a charter school, a state accredited nonpublic school, or an accredited nonpublic school to apply for an Indiana secured school matching grant to purchase an automated external defibrillator to a new section. Makes various stylistic and conforming amendments. Repeals a definition of "school".

J.D. FordDemocrat

Employment upon release from prison.

Provides that when an offender preparing for reentry intends to reside within Indiana, the department of correction (department) shall do the following: (1) Take certain actions in coordination with the bureau of motor vehicles to provide a state identification card if the offender does not have a current identification card or driver's license. (2) Provide the offender with particular documents to assist the offender in obtaining employment following the offender's release. Requires the department to: (1) assist certain offenders in preparing a resume and completing a practice job interview; and (2) administer a job skills assessment test for each offender for whom a jail has not completed a job skills assessment test. Requires the department to issue a certificate of employability to an offender preparing for reentry if the offender meets specified conditions. Makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a person who, knowing the statement or representation to be false, intentionally states or otherwise represents that the person has a valid certificate of employability issued by the department. Provides immunity in some instances to the department. Requires the department to submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly.

Mark SpencerDemocrat

School levy referenda.

Provides that: (1) a referendum authorizing a school corporation to impose property taxes to pay debt service on bonds or lease rentals on a lease for a specified controlled project; (2) a school corporation operating referendum tax levy; or (3) a school corporation school safety referendum tax levy; may be placed on the ballot only at a primary election conducted in a general election year or a general election. Provides that a school corporation may not adopt a resolution to place an operating referendum or school safety referendum on the ballot during the second calendar year after the final calendar year in which a previously approved operating referendum levy or school safety referendum levy is imposed. Provides that in a local public question, a school corporation must provide the total amount of property tax revenue expected to be collected each year.

Brian BuchananRepublican