Amends the definition of "electronic payment" for purposes of the statute governing electronic payments to a governmental body (defined as the state or a state agency) to include a payment made by means of any of the following: (1) Interactive voice response. (2) A digital wallet. (3) A digital currency. Provides that after June 30, 2025, a governmental body may not enter into or renew a contract: (1) that is made with a provider or vendor of payment processing services; and (2) the terms of which provide that any: (A) vendor transaction charge; (B) discount fee; or (C) other service charge or fee; assessed in connection with the contract is payable by the person who makes an electronic payment.
Provides that a transfer on death transfer: (1) is subject to the spousal elective share; and (2) must be allocated to the estate of the decedent solely for the purpose of computing the spousal share.
Prohibits a political subdivision or agency of a political subdivision from imposing a requirement inconsistent with, in addition to, or more stringent or restrictive than the requirements of the public works statute.
Defines "PFAS chemicals" and requires the environmental rules board to use the definition in certain rules concerning industrial processes and research and development.
Establishes the gaming revenue fund (fund). Provides that tax revenue collected after June 30, 2025, from the imposition of the wagering tax, the supplemental wagering tax, the graduated slot machine wagering tax, the county gambling game wagering fee, the sports wagering tax, and taxes and fees imposed on pari-mutuel wagering, except for tax revenue collected from an operating agent, is deposited in the fund. Provides that the state comptroller administers the fund. Provides for distribution of the money in the fund. Makes corresponding changes. Makes an appropriation. Reconciles conflicting statutes.
Prohibits step therapy protocol for prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of postpartum mental health conditions. Requires a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract to provide coverage for: (1) postpartum mental health conditions; (2) a tubal ligation procedure; and (3) a vasectomy procedure; for certain individuals. Establishes a grant program to promote the installation of lactation rooms in public buildings. Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority (IHCDA) to administer the grant program. Authorizes public agencies to apply for grants. Establishes the Officer Breann Leath Memorial Prison Nursery (nursery) within a correctional facility determined by the commissioner of the department of correction (DOC). Specifies the criteria for operation, design, and implementation of the nursery and minimum standards that govern the nursery. Requires the DOC to provide an annual report to the legislative council concerning the nursery. Amends the statute requiring the DOC to adopt rules governing minimum standards for county jails to include the provision of menstrual discharge collection devices to inmates. Establishes the incarcerated women's maternal health fund to provide funds to support the nursery. Provides for Medicaid reimbursement for certified medical interpretation services for Medicaid recipients who have limited English proficiency when receiving Medicaid covered services from a Medicaid provider. Requires Medicaid pregnancy services to include reimbursement for doula services. Establishes the telephone assistance line for mothers program for the purpose of providing a telephone assistance line for mothers who are experiencing behavioral health issues to connect with health care practitioners to obtain behavioral health resources. Establishes the stillbirth prevention through fetal movement pilot program (program) for the purpose of providing evidence based information on the importance of tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy to prevent stillbirths, to be administered by the Indiana department of health (state department). Allows the state department to award grants to increase education and the distribution of materials on tracking fetal movement in the third trimester of pregnancy. Requires grantees to report specified information on a quarterly and annual basis. Creates a fund and appropriates $250,000 for the program. Expires the program on December 31, 2027. Appropriates $5,000,000 to the IHCDA for deposit in the lactation room grant fund. Makes a continuing appropriation.
Prohibits a landlord from doing the following in connection with an applicant's application for the rental of a rental unit: (1) Making a hard inquiry to a consumer reporting agency or to a specialty consumer reporting agency for an applicant's consumer report or for information in an applicant's consumer report. (2) Obtaining or using a tenant screening report that includes information that is obtained through a hard inquiry to a consumer reporting agency or to a specialty consumer reporting agency for an applicant's consumer report or for information in an applicant's consumer report. Defines "hard inquiry" for purposes of these provisions as an inquiry that: (1) is noted on the consumer report of the applicant for a period of time following the inquiry; and (2) negatively impacts the applicant's credit score. Provides that a landlord that violates the bill's provisions commits a deceptive act that is actionable by an applicant and the attorney general under the Indiana statute concerning deceptive consumer sales.
Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply for a Medicaid waiver to allow for Medicaid reimbursement for food and meals.
Repeals a provision that requires a political party to nominate the candidate for the office of lieutenant governor at a state convention and instead requires the candidate for the office of lieutenant governor to be elected jointly in a primary election with a candidate for the office of governor. Specifies that the lieutenant governor shall discharge the powers and duties of the lieutenant governor's office that are designated to the lieutenant governor by the governor. Repeals all statutory duties of the lieutenant governor and designates these duties to the governor. Makes conforming changes.
Provides that: (1) a public utility that provides electric utility service in Indiana (public utility) may not enter into an agreement to sell a coal fired electric generation facility (coal facility) that the public utility plans to retire unless the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) approves the agreement; and (2) a person that purchases from a public utility, under an agreement approved by the IURC, a coal facility that the public utility plans to retire is not a public utility for purposes of IURC jurisdiction solely by reason of the person's operation of the coal facility. Provides that the rates and charges of a public utility, other than a cooperatively owned public utility, may not include any recovery of, or earnings on, the capital costs associated with the construction of an electric generation facility that is built, in whole or in part, to replace the electricity generated from a coal facility retired by the public utility after December 31, 2028, unless the IURC determines that the public utility: (1) made a good faith effort to sell the coal facility to another person; and (2) either: (A) accepted a reasonable offer to purchase the coal facility; or (B) was not able to sell the coal facility for a reason beyond the public utility's reasonable control. Sets forth factors the IURC must consider in determining whether: (1) the public utility made a good faith effort to sell the coal facility; and (2) an offer to purchase a coal facility was reasonable. Provides that the IURC may preapprove a procedure for a public utility's solicitation and review of offers for purchase of a coal facility the public utility plans to retire that, if used by a public utility to sell the coal facility, satisfies the requirements for: (1) a good faith effort to sell the coal facility; and (2) acceptance of a reasonable offer for the coal facility. Provides that, subject to certain conditions, the IURC shall require a public utility, other than a cooperatively owned public utility, to purchase electricity generated by a coal facility that: (1) was acquired from a public utility through an agreement approved by the IURC; and (2) but for the sale of the coal facility, would have been retired by the public utility. Provides that prior to the proposed retirement date for a coal facility, the IURC may determine the avoided cost and other terms and conditions for the purchase of electricity from the coal facility in order to allow potential purchasers of the coal facility to know this information before entering into an agreement to purchase the coal facility.
Provides that a policy of accident and sickness insurance or health maintenance organization contract that provides coverage for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy may not refuse to contract or deny coverage for the administration of any CAR T-cell therapy by any provider that qualifies as a certified health care facility by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the applicable CAR T-cell therapy.
SB 531 prohibits schools from using corporal punishment on students, directly affecting K-12 students in public and private schools within the state. The bill allows school staff to use reasonable force only in specific situations, such as preventing immediate harm to students or others. It replaces previous allowances for physical discipline with a clear ban, except for necessary safety interventions. The bill was introduced by Senator Ford J.D. and referred to the Education Committee for review in January 2025.
