Bills & Legislation

Syringe exchange programs.

Amends the definition of "qualified entity" to include the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of provisions governing syringe exchange programs.

J.D. FordDemocrat

Torts involving commercial trucking industry.

Creates a procedure to bifurcate a trial of a civil action filed against the operator of a commercial motor vehicle and the employer of the operator or the owner of the commercial motor vehicle involved in a motor vehicle accident. Allows a defendant to file a motion to bifurcate within a specified period of time. Provides that certain evidence may be presented in the first phase of a bifurcated trial. Allows a plaintiff to pursue punitive damages in the second phase of a bifurcated trial.

Susan GlickRepublican

School counselors.

Provides that, for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years, a school shall ensure that at least 60% of a school counselor's aggregate time performing the counselor's job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Provides that, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, a school shall ensure that at least 80% of a school counselor's aggregate time performing the counselor's job duties is devoted to providing direct services to students. Exempts schools that have a school counselor/student ratio that is not more than one school counselor to 350 students from the school counselor time requirement provisions.

Jean LeisingRepublican

School curriculum.

Requires each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic elementary school to include print handwriting, cursive handwriting, and spelling in its curriculum.

Jean LeisingRepublican

Literacy endorsement.

Provides that the department of education may not renew a practitioner license or an accomplished practitioner license issued to an individual unless the individual receives a literacy endorsement by completing 40 (instead of 80) hours of evidence based professional development. Removes written examination requirements to receive a literacy endorsement for individuals renewing a practitioner license or an accomplished practitioner license. Provides that the state board of education may not require certain individuals to take or pass a written examination to be eligible to receive a literacy endorsement.

Jean LeisingRepublican

Prevention of chronic wasting disease.

Requires the department of natural resources to establish a pilot program to combat chronic wasting disease in deer.

Susan GlickRepublican

Voluntary family leave insurance program.

Requires the department of insurance (department) to establish, not later than January 1, 2026, a voluntary family leave insurance program (program) for the purpose of providing benefits to employees who elect to participate in the program. Sets forth requirements for the program. Allows the department to contract with an outside vendor to administer the program. Requires the department, not later than November 1, 2025, to submit a report to the legislative council and the budget committee concerning the proposed program. Establishes the voluntary family leave insurance program trust fund (trust fund) for the purpose of paying program benefits. Provides that the trust fund consists of employer or employee contributions, appropriations from the general assembly, and money received from any other source. Provides that certain employers are entitled to an adjusted gross income tax deduction equal to the total amount of contributions made by the employer to the trust fund during the taxable year multiplied by 200%.

Lonnie RandolphDemocrat

Department of health contract prohibition.

Prohibits the Indiana department of health from requiring a contracted person to meet additional requirements other than federal requirements specified in the federal Charitable Choice Act in order to receive certain funding.

Mike BohacekRepublican

Economic development and foreign trade.

Requires the governor to terminate any contract or other agreement entered into between the state and an economic development partner that is based in or owned by a foreign adversary. Prohibits the Indiana economic development corporation from establishing a foreign office if the foreign office sought to be opened is located in the territory of a foreign adversary.

Mike BohacekRepublican

Air quality.

Authorizes a town, city, or county to establish or designate an agency to act for the town, city, or county as a local air pollution control agency (agency). Requires the commissioner of the department of environmental management (department) to enter into a contract with the agency of a town, city, or county if the agency is willing to enter into the contract. Provides that a contract between the department and the agency of a town, city, or county must: (1) require the department to advise, consult, cooperate with, and provide technical assistance to the agency; (2) authorize the agency to undertake air pollution control activities on behalf of the department or initiate enforcement of ordinances of the town, city, or county; and (3) provide for the payment of fair monetary compensation for the air pollution control activities performed by the agency. Provides that: (1) the compensation paid to an agency under a contract must be at least sufficient to cover the agency's staffing and operating costs; and (2) the rate of compensation must be adjusted each year according to changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Lonnie RandolphDemocrat

Driver instructions of law enforcement procedures.

Requires the driver education advisory board to consult with the commissioner of the bureau of motor vehicles (commissioner) and the state police department, and advise the commissioner in the administration of the policies of the commission and the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) regarding driver education in: (1) the procedures of a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop; and (2) the actions a person should take during a traffic stop, including appropriate interaction with a law enforcement officer. Requires the bureau to include in any driver education manual published by the bureau the following: (1) A description of the procedures of a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop. (2) An explanation of the actions a person should take during a traffic stop, including appropriate interaction with a law enforcement officer. Provides that driver education curriculum must include instruction about actions to take during a traffic stop and the appropriate interaction with a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop.

Lonnie RandolphDemocrat

Election of Lake County superior court judges.

Provides that the superior court judges of Lake County are elected as are other superior court judges. Provides that the change to the election of a judge does not occur until the general election that occurs immediately before the expiration of the term of a judge sitting on the court under current law. Repeals superseded provisions.

Lonnie RandolphDemocrat

Expulsion and suspension.

Provides that a student may be suspended or expelled only upon: (1) a determination that the student's suspension or expulsion will prevent or substantially reduce the risk of interference with an educational function or school purposes, disruption of the school learning environment, or physical injury to the student, other students, school employees, or school visitors; and (2) in the case of an expulsion, a determination that all other available and appropriate disciplinary and behavioral interventions have been exhausted. Provides that notice to a parent of: (1) a student's suspension or expulsion must include the rationale for the length of the suspension or expulsion; and (2) the right to appear at an expulsion meeting must include the behavioral and disciplinary interventions attempted, if any, and the rationale for the length of the expulsion. Provides that if a student is suspended, the student must be provided: (1) appropriate and available support services, as determined by the school, during the suspension period; and (2) an opportunity to receive credit for completion of make up work.

Lonnie RandolphDemocrat

Ban on e-liquids and vapor products.

Prohibits a person from distributing, selling, offering to sell, making a delivery sale of, or offering for barter or exchange an e-liquid or vapor product in Indiana after June 30, 2025.

Elizabeth RowrayRepublican

Prosecuting attorneys.

Provides that the prosecuting attorney of a county in which is located an institution operated by the department of correction that houses between 100 and 1,500 offenders may appoint one additional deputy prosecuting attorney. Repeals a provision that allows the prosecuting attorney of Cass County to appoint one additional deputy prosecuting attorney.

Elizabeth RowrayRepublican

Land banks.

Allows a county to adopt an ordinance requiring a person who wishes to participate in a tax sale as a bidder to pay a neighborhood investment fee of not more than $150 and specifies the manner in which neighborhood investment fees collected are to be distributed to land banks. Allows a county to adopt an ordinance to impose, in addition to the 5% penalty for delinquent real property taxes, an additional penalty of not more than 3% for a total penalty that may not exceed 8% of the amount of delinquent real property taxes (additional penalty ordinance). Specifies the manner in which the amounts collected attributable to an additional penalty ordinance are to be distributed to land banks. Allows a county to adopt an ordinance imposing a $15 fee for each document recorded on a tract located in the territory of a land bank and specifies the manner in which the fee shall be distributed to land banks. Makes various changes to the statutes governing land banks that concern certain land bank powers, objectives, and duties. Provides that a majority of the directors of a land bank's board must have demonstrated competency in an occupation or discipline that is relevant to the primary purpose of a land bank. Allows a land bank to establish advisory committees composed of specified community members to consult with and advise the land bank on: (1) properties within the territory of the land bank that are imposing the greatest harm on residents and neighborhoods; (2) resident and neighborhood priorities for new uses of land bank properties; and (3) options for potential transferees of land bank properties. Provides, subject to certain limitations, that a land bank may use an interlocal agreement to establish processes to improve the quality of title and marketability of property the land bank owns by extinguishing any liens that exist on the property. Provides that, if a land bank enters into an interlocal agreement, any employees of an eligible unit who may be contracted to provide staffing services to the land bank pursuant to the interlocal agreement retain their status as public employees of the eligible unit. Requires a county executive to provide a land bank in the county with a list of tracts located in the territory of the land bank that: (1) are delinquent on property taxes; and (2) have been offered for public sale at least two times and remain unsold; on an annual basis. Specifies that list must be provided to the land bank within 60 days after the end of the last tax sale for which the tracts went unsold. Allows the county executive to transfer its interest in a tract on the list to a land bank if requested by the land bank not later than 90 days after it receives the list.

Elizabeth RowrayRepublican

Prohibition of certain abortion funding.

Provides that except when the state or a political subdivision is allowed to use funds under its control for the performance of an abortion necessary to preserve the life of a pregnant woman, an Indiana governmental entity is prohibited from doing any of the following: (1) Making a payment from any fund for the performance of or costs associated with procuring an abortion. (2) Allowing the use of funds controlled by a hospital or ambulatory outpatient surgical center affiliated with the Indiana governmental entity for the performance of or costs associated with procuring an abortion. (3) Making a payment or grant from any fund under its control to an organization that performs abortions, makes referrals for individuals to obtain abortions, or uses public funds for the performance of or costs associated with procuring an abortion. Provides that the prohibition does not apply to a private entity's funds controlled by the private entity.

Peggy MayfieldRepublican

Student behavior.

Establishes the behavioral health fund (fund) for the purpose of improving funding for individualized education programs that have a behavioral intervention plan component for certain schools. Provides that the department of education, in coordination with the behavioral health commission, shall administer the fund. Creates an application and review process for the disbursement of a grant from the fund. Defines certain terms. Provides a procedure for a principal to place an aggressive student, who has been removed from a class, into the aggressive student's original class, another appropriate class or placement, or in-school suspension.

Elizabeth RowrayRepublican

Space science and technology grant program.

Establishes the space science and technology grant program to provide grants to eligible entities to develop and implement high quality, innovative educational opportunities in schools, with a focus in atmospheric and outer space exploration. Provides a procedure for eligible entities to apply to the department of education (department) to receive a grant. Establishes the space science and technology fund. Provides that the department shall develop criteria to award grants to eligible entities.

Lori Goss-ReavesRepublican

Reimbursement of ambulatory surgical centers.

Requires, beginning January 1, 2026, Medicaid reimbursement for dental procedures performed where the patient is under anesthesia at an ambulatory outpatient surgical center at a rate that is equal to 100% of the Medicare reimbursement rate for the same service.

Lori Goss-ReavesRepublican

Fertility insurance coverage.

Requires a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract to provide coverage for fertility preservation services. Requires a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract to provide coverage for fertility treatment if certain conditions are satisfied.

Maureen BauerDemocrat

Digital alert pilot program.

Establishes the digital alert pilot program administered by the department of homeland security to provide grants to fire service providers for the use of digital alert technology to notify motorists regarding the location of fire apparatuses. Establishes the digital alert pilot program grant fund.

Maureen BauerDemocrat

Medicaid coverage for treatment of obesity.

Requires Medicaid coverage for the treatment of obesity, including specified services and medication approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Requires written notice regarding the coverage to be provided annually to Medicaid recipients, providers, and prescribers.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Mental health support for law enforcement officers.

Requires a political subdivision to contract with mental health providers for the purpose of supplementing existing crisis intervention teams with mental health professionals. Specifies certain eligibility requirements for mental health professionals' rapid response assistance. Requires a mental health professional who is appointed to accompany responding law enforcement or police officers to a call or be separately dispatched to an emergency involving a mental health or substance use disorder crisis. Provides that a law enforcement officer or police officer (officer) may not be held liable for damages, including punitive damages, for any act or omission related to a mental health professional's contribution to a crisis intervention team or a crisis intervention team response. Specifies that no other person or entity may be held liable for certain damages by reason of an agency relationship with an officer. Defines certain terms.

John BartlettDemocrat

Pornographic material.

Requires a specified school to adopt policies and procedures concerning material alleged to be pornographic, obscene, or harmful to minors. Provides that a specified school or an employee, a contractor, or a third party vendor of a specified school may not knowingly make available or provide pornographic material, obscene matter, or matter harmful to minors to a student.

David AbbottRepublican

Watershed development commissions.

Alters the membership of a watershed development commission (commission) board. Allows a county to join a commission if any part of the designated watershed lies within boundaries of the county. Alters what must be considered regarding the membership and the activities of a commission. Provides that a commission may take certain actions with respect to certain flood plains. Expands permitted uses for certain funds collected by a commission and establishes certain budget limits. Provides that the department of natural resources's division of water shall provide a commission with a written summary of the division's review of certain public works projects within 30 days of the review. Makes conforming changes.

Mike AylesworthRepublican

Athletic trainers.

Establishes the rural athletic trainer support program (program) to address the shortage of health care providers in rural communities by providing grants to athletic trainers committed to working for schools located in rural communities. Establishes the rural athletic trainer support fund (fund). Requires the Indiana department of health, in consultation with the Indiana state office of rural health, to develop criteria to award grants from the fund for allowable expenses. Requires an athletic trainer who receives an award to repay all allowable expenses if the athletic trainer fails to meet certain commitments.

Steve BartelsRepublican

State chemist.

Moves the office of the state chemist to the department of agriculture beginning January 1, 2027. Provides that employees of the state chemist will become employees of the state. Removes funds currently going to Purdue University to carry out the functions of the state chemist. Establishes several funds to carry out the functions of the state chemist within the department of agriculture.

Steve BartelsRepublican

Income tax credit for volunteer firefighters.

Provides that an individual who is a volunteer firefighter is entitled to a credit of $200 against the individual's adjusted gross income tax liability each taxable year.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Choice of physician for worker injury or disease.

Permits an employee to choose the attending physician who will provide services and goods resulting from an employment injury or occupational disease for purposes of the worker's compensation law.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Worker classification on public projects.

Requires a contractor in any contractor tier except for tier 1 (a general or prime contractor) on a: (1) public works project; or (2) tax advantaged construction project; to complete a weekly report of wages and hours of the contractor's employees who work on the project. Requires the department of labor to employ an investigator to investigate complaints of employee misclassification. Provides that the investigator shall be located at the Marion County prosecuting attorney's office. Extends certain protections to an employee who reports, complains, or testifies about employee misclassification.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Mental health care for veterans with PTSD.

Establishes the returning Hoosier warrior mental health wellness pilot program (pilot program). Provides that the Indiana department of veterans' affairs shall administer the pilot program. Provides that a qualified service member may receive certain financial assistance from the military family relief fund (fund) for treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Provides that the pilot program is funded by the fund. Requires, for the state fiscal year beginning after June 30, 2025, and ending before July 1, 2026, that the department of insurance deposit $10,000,000 of insurance premiums tax collected into the fund.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Blue envelope program.

Establishes the blue envelope program for the purpose of enhancing effective communication between law enforcement and drivers with autism spectrum disorder.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Medical marijuana.

Permits the use of medical marijuana by persons with serious medical conditions as determined by their physician. Establishes a medical marijuana program to permit the cultivation, processing, testing, transportation, and dispensing of medical marijuana by holders of a valid permit. Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to implement and enforce the medical marijuana program. Requires that permit holders undertake steps to prevent diversion of medical marijuana to unauthorized persons. Requires that medical marijuana and medical marijuana products be properly labeled, placed in child resistant packaging, and tested by an independent testing laboratory before being made available for purchase. Prohibits packaging medical marijuana in a manner that is appealing to children. Authorizes research on medical marijuana in accordance with rules set forth by the state department. Prohibits discrimination against medical marijuana users. Prohibits harassment of medical marijuana users by law enforcement officers, and prohibits cooperation with federal law enforcement officials seeking to enforce federal laws that criminalize the use of marijuana authorized in Indiana. Establishes the medical marijuana oversight committee to review appeals and grievances concerning the medical marijuana program. Provides a defense to prosecution for a person who operates a vehicle or motorboat with marijuana or its metabolite in the person's blood under certain conditions that involve medical marijuana. Makes conforming amendments.

Jim LucasRepublican

Home ownership.

Provides that Indiana law regulating telephone sales calls applies to a telephone solicitation that: (1) is made by a telephone solicitor that is not a licensed real estate broker; and (2) communicates to a consumer: (A) an offer to purchase; (B) an offer to broker, or otherwise assist or act as an intermediary in, the sale of; or (C) an inquiry regarding the consumer's interest in selling; residential real property that was not publicly offered for sale, or advertised as being for sale, at any time during the 30 days preceding the date on which the telephone solicitation is made (unsolicited home purchase inquiries). Provides that a telephone solicitor that is not a licensed real estate broker may not make more than one unsolicited home purchase inquiry to the same consumer in a single calendar year. Provides that an investment firm may not enter into an executory contract for the purchase of a single family residence until not less than 90 days after the residence is listed for sale. Requires an investment firm to be represented by a licensed real estate broker who is not an employee of the investment firm or any of its subsidiaries to enter into an executory contract for the purchase of a single family residence. Makes a technical correction.

Cherrish PryorDemocrat

Repair of residential rental properties.

Requires a landlord to repair or replace an essential item not later than 24 hours after being notified by a tenant that the tenant's rental unit is without certain essential services. Provides that a tenant may request an agency tasked with enforcing unsafe building provisions (enforcement authority) to conduct an inspection and replace or repair an essential item within 24 hours of the inspection. Authorizes the enforcement authority to replace or repair an essential item within 24 hours and to charge the landlord for certain costs and to order a $500 civil penalty to be paid. Requires any civil penalties to be placed in a repair fund to be used for costs incurred by the enforcement authority to replace or repair an essential item. Establishes appeal procedures. Requires a rental agreement entered into after June 30, 2025, to include a provision allowing a tenant to be reimbursed for any deposits paid by the tenant and to terminate the rental agreement if certain repairs are not made within seven days. Allows a court to order that a tenant's regular rental payments are paid into an attorney trust account or to the clerk of the court during the pendency of an enforcement action brought by the tenant.

Cherrish PryorDemocrat

Self-defense.

Specifies that "reasonable force" includes the pointing of a loaded or unloaded firearm for purposes of arrest or to prevent an escape, or for self-defense.

Jim LucasRepublican

Elimination of gun-free zones.

Provides, with some exceptions, that beginning July 1, 2025, the state of Indiana may not regulate: (1) firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories; and (2) the ownership, possession, carrying, transportation, registration, transfer, and storage of firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories. Specifies that a certain provision of an ordinance, measure, enactment, rule, policy, or exercise of proprietary authority is void. Provides that a person not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a firearm under federal or state law may carry or possess a firearm, without restriction, on certain property affiliated with the following state agencies beginning July 1, 2025: (1) The department of natural resources. (2) The state fair commission. (3) The department of administration. (4) The department of workforce development. Prohibits, with some exceptions, a state educational institution (institution) from regulating the possession or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories in particular places. Allows a person to bring an action against an institution if the person is adversely affected by certain rules concerning firearms.

Jim LucasRepublican

Exemption from certain health care mandates.

Prohibits an individual from being required to: (1) inject; (2) receive an injection of; (3) ingest; (4) inhale; or (5) otherwise incorporate; a qualified substance into the individual's body. Defines "qualified substance".

Jim LucasRepublican

Down payment assistance.

Provides that a person that otherwise meets the qualifications to receive down payment assistance under a down payment assistance program offered by the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority) may pair down payment assistance with a first mortgage issued by a community development financial institution (CDFI) without regard to whether the CDFI is a participating lender for purposes of the authority's mortgage programs and down payment assistance programs.

Justin MoedDemocrat

School transportation.

Provides that the governing body of a school corporation must minimize or eliminate school bus route stops that require a student to cross certain roads. Provides that, not later than July 1, 2026, and annually each year thereafter, the governing body of a school corporation shall review school bus routes to ensure the minimization or elimination of stops that require a student to cross certain roads.

Ryan LauerRepublican

School wellness grant fund.

Establishes the school wellness grant fund (fund) to provide grants to school corporations to support local wellness initiatives developed by the school corporation. Requires the department of education to develop criteria to award grants from the fund. Makes an appropriation.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Rental rate increase control.

Prohibits a landlord from increasing the gross rental rate for certain rental units more than the lesser of: (1) 5%, plus the percentage cost of living increase; or (2) 10%; of the lowest gross rental rate charged for the rental unit during the 12 months prior to the effective date of the increase. Prohibits a landlord from increasing the gross rental rate in more than two increments over a 12 month period. Requires the legislative services agency to submit a report to the general assembly not later than July 1, 2030, analyzing the impact of the rental rate cap on the housing market in Indiana.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Licensure of home health aides.

Provides for the licensure of home health aides by the Indiana department of health (state department). Establishes certain training and competency evaluation requirements for licensed home health aides. Requires the state department to include licensed home health aides in the registry of nurse aides. Makes a technical correction.

Robin ShacklefordDemocrat

Renter's tax deduction for disabled veterans.

Allows a disabled veteran who rents a dwelling as a principal place of residence to claim an additional renter's deduction of up to $3,000 from the disabled veteran's adjusted gross income.

Becky CashRepublican

Participation in the 287(g) program.

Requires each sheriff with regard to a county jail to: (1) enter into a written agreement with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement to participate in the immigration program established under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act not later than January 1, 2026; and (2) beginning October 1, 2025, notify the department of correction quarterly of the status of a written agreement and any reason for noncompliance.

Ryan LauerRepublican

529 college savings distributions.

Excludes from Indiana adjusted gross income distributions made from a 529 college choice education savings plan (529 account) that are not used to pay qualified higher education expenses but that satisfy each of the requirements under Section 126 of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. Provides that such distributions are not subject to the: (1) penalty provisions established by the board of directors of the Indiana education savings authority; or (2) repayment provisions for the income tax credit for contributions to an individual's 529 account.

J.D. PrescottRepublican