Indiana

Prevention of elder abuse. Precludes certain individuals who have been convicted of particular crimes from providing certain types of in-home care for compensation. Prohibits the division of aging from registering certain individuals for purposes of attendant care services.

Department of child services employees. Provides that salary and wage adjustments or personal service payments for the department of child services (department) that are within established salary classifications and schedules become effective when approved by the director of the department (instead of the budget agency). Specifies that the director of the department is responsible for certain duties related to individuals who are employed in the state public employee civil service in a position with the department (instead of the state personnel department).

Indiana bright start program and fund. Establishes the Indiana bright start program (program) to support the early learning and child care needs of working families with eligible children. Provides that the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) shall develop and implement the program, and may contract with nonprofit corporations to facilitate the program. Establishes the Indiana bright start program fund. Requires the office, beginning October 1, 2027, to annually submit a report to the governor and legislative council with information concerning the program.

Prohibition of race based hair discrimination. Prohibits race discrimination based on traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles.

Designation of gold and silver as legal tender. Requires the treasurer of state (treasurer) to designate one or more established bullion depositories to provide a secure location for the storage of bullion by Indiana consumers. Requires the treasurer to engage an electronic payment system to oversee transactional and administrative procedures on behalf of consumers holding bullion depository accounts in a designated bullion depository. Provides that a consumer may establish a bullion depository account with a designated bullion depository by entering into a depository agreement with the bullion depository. Provides that a designated bullion depository qualifies as a state depository and is eligible to receive public funds of: (1) the state; or (2) a political subdivision; on deposit. Provides that each designated bullion depository must be audited by an independent third party auditor on an annual basis. Requires the treasurer to provide to the members of the general assembly on an annual basis a report concerning the operations and financial status of each designated bullion depository. Provides that the treasurer shall: (1) adopt guidelines; (2) designate one or more bullion depositories; and (3) engage an electronic payment system; not later than December 31, 2027. Provides that bullion is not subject to assessment and taxation under Indiana's property tax statute. Provides that the exchange of one type or form of legal tender for another type or form of legal tender is exempt from the state gross retail tax. Provides that the purchase, sale, or exchange of any type of specie is exempt from the state gross retail tax. Provides that specie is recognized as legal tender in Indiana. Provides that except as otherwise specifically provided by law or contract, a person may not compel any other person to tender or accept specie as legal tender. Provides that a prevailing party in an action for breach of any contract provision that expressly designates a type or form of specie as legal tender is entitled to specific performance of the contract provision.

Various utility matters. Prohibits a utility from charging a customer a reconnection fee to restore terminated service to the customer. Provides that an electric or gas utility may not terminate residential electric or gas service between June 21 and September 23 for residential customers whose residence includes a person who is: (1) 65 years of age or older; or (2) 16 years of age or younger. Requires an electric or gas utility to identify new residential customers who are 62 years of age or older and to provide the identified customers with information concerning relevant assistance programs for seniors. Requires a public utility to provide a residential customer with a bill credit for an electric service interruption.

School chaplains. Allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements are met. Allows a school chaplain to provide: (1) secular advice, guidance, and support services; and (2) nonsecular advice, guidance, and support services if certain conditions are met. Provides that, with exceptions, communications made by a student to a school chaplain are privileged and confidential.

Financial literacy education. Requires a person who is at least 18 years of age and is a member of a family that receives TANF or SNAP benefits to complete a course of instruction on financial literacy that is established by the department of education (department). Requires the department to establish and administer a course of instruction on financial literacy. Requires the department to submit an annual report to the executive director of the legislative services agency for distribution to the members of the general assembly that contains certain information regarding the course of instruction on financial literacy.

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, 2026, for approval of a Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waiver to provide coverage for health related social needs.

Rush County food and beverage tax. Establishes the Rush County food and beverage tax.

Bail matters. Provides that offenses other than murder are not bailable if the state proves: (1) by a preponderance of the evidence that the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) by clear and convincing evidence that the arrestee is dangerous and that no conditions of release will reasonably protect the safety of other persons or the community. Establishes procedures for a bail hearing.

Elimination of sales tax on household utility use. Provides that a power subsidiary or a person engaged as a public utility is not a retail merchant making a retail transaction when the subsidiary or person furnishes or sells electrical energy, natural or artificial gas, water, steam, or steam heating service to a person for domestic consumption.

Membership of the general assembly. Increases the membership of the Indiana senate to 100 members and the membership of the Indiana house of representatives to 200 members. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

Term limits. Provides that an individual elected or appointed as a state senator or state representative after November 3, 2026, may serve until the earlier of the following: (1) The date on which the individual completes 20 total combined years of service as a state senator or state representative. (2) The individual's seventieth birthday.

Rape kits. Requires the superintendent of the state police department to: (1) obtain data from law enforcement agencies concerning medical forensic examination kits in the agencies' possession; and (2) report a summary of the data to the legislative council.

Return of firearm to rightful owner. Provides that a person may not waive certain requirements concerning the return of a firearm to the rightful owner as part of a plea agreement. Specifies that any purported waiver is invalid and unenforceable as against public policy.

County officers. Removes the: (1) auditor; (2) recorder; (3) treasurer; (4) coroner; and (5) surveyor (officers); from the list of elected county officers who are to be elected in each county. Requires the general assembly to prescribe, by law, the duties of the officers to the county executive. Provides a schedule for the officers to complete their terms. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly.

Line of duty disability from PFAS exposure. Provides that a health condition that is caused by a PFAS chemical creates a presumption of disability in the line of duty with respect to firefighters under certain circumstances. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming changes.

Prekindergarten program enrollment. Amends the definition of "eligible child" for purposes of the prekindergarten program (program). Removes provisions regarding the program that require: (1) the office of the secretary of family and social services to determine the number of eligible children who will participate in the program; and (2) a percentage of matching funds from other sources. Establishes the prekindergarten expansion grant fund to provide grants to potential eligible providers and existing eligible providers. Makes a continuous appropriation to the prekindergarten program fund from the state general fund in an amount sufficient to carry out the purposes of the fund. Makes an appropriation to the prekindergarten expansion grant fund from the state general fund. Repeals certain provisions regarding the definitions of "eligible child", "extended enrollment period", "limited eligibility child", "priority enrollment period", "child care employee", and "child of a child care employee". Repeals or removes provisions regarding prekindergarten vouchers for limited eligibility children and children of child care employees. Makes conforming changes.

Overdose reversal medication. Provides that, subject to available funding, the division of mental health and addiction may develop an application to provide funds to a school corporation or school maintained by a school corporation to obtain a federal Food and Drug Administration approved opioid overdose reversal medication. Provides that the state health commissioner shall issue a statewide standing order, prescription, or protocol for a federal Food and Drug Administration approved opioid overdose reversal medication for each public school or school corporation.

Assessment of homesteads. Provides that, beginning with the January 1, 2027, assessment date, the assessed value of real property that qualifies as a homestead shall only be adjusted upon the sale, devise, descent, or conveyance of the real property. Provides that the assessed value of such real property may not be adjusted before the sale, devise, descent, or conveyance of the real property unless requested by the owner of the real property.

Use of public restrooms. Makes it a Class B misdemeanor if: (1) a male knowingly or intentionally enters a restroom that is designated to be used only by females; or (2) a female knowingly or intentionally enters a restroom that is designated to be used only by males. Provides certain defenses.

Military protection order. Requires a party to a protective order proceeding to inform the court of any military protective orders issued by a military commander in effect between the parties. Allows a party to file a military protective order as evidence in a protective order proceeding and provides that the court may issue an ex parte protective order based upon this evidence.

Aggravated speeding. Provides for a penalty enhancement for aggravated speeding committed in the commission of certain offenses.

Health facility matters. Requires the state health commissioner to establish a work group to study methods of reducing and preventing health facility resident neglect and submit a report to the general assembly. Requires a health facility to do the following: (1) Designate at least one employee to act as a family advocacy liaison. (2) Establish an independent third party review process for written resident or other individual complaints alleging neglect of a resident. (3) Offer grief support to the family of a deceased resident. Prohibits a health facility from taking retaliatory action against an employee because the employee: (1) discloses actions or practices by the health facility that the employee reasonably believes violate state or federal law; (2) provides information or testifies in investigations or hearings; or (3) assists or participates in proceedings to enforce state law. Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim committee during the 2026 interim the study of requiring health facilities to meet certain staff-to-patient ratios.