Rep. Tonya Pfaff

Maddy summaryHR 8 designates February as "American Heart Month" through a congressional resolution. This procedural bill does not create new laws or affect specific groups; it formally recognizes the month to raise public awareness about heart health. The resolution has no direct policy impact, funding changes, or legal obligations. It was introduced by Representative Andrade and co-sponsored by numerous colleagues, with no further legislative action noted.

Requires each board of county commissioners to adopt an ordinance to allow landowners to apply to have land included in an agricultural resource area within the county. Specifies certain procedures and requirements for the agricultural resource area programs. Provides provisions that apply to land within a program, including eminent domain provisions, a prohibition against annexation for nonagricultural purposes, certain priority provisions for specified funding, and authorization for a county option property tax deduction for land located within agricultural resource areas in the county. Authorizes the Indiana state department of agriculture (department) to receive and hold agricultural conservation easements acquired by gift, bequest, or devise and to enter into agreements with nongovernment entities to monitor those easements. Establishes the farmland advisory board for the purpose of advising the department on developing standards for accepting, monitoring, and enforcing agricultural conservation easements it may hold, creating a model agricultural resource area ordinance, collecting feedback on agricultural resource areas, and supporting education and outreach about agricultural resource areas.

Maddy summaryHCR 6 is a symbolic resolution designating January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or directly affect individuals or organizations - its purpose is solely to raise public awareness about human trafficking through official recognition. The resolution was introduced in the Senate and referred to committee in early 2026. As a concurrent resolution, it requires no legislative action to take effect.

Defines a "plug-in solar power system" as a moveable photovoltaic generation device that: (1) has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts; (2) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard outlet; and (3) is intended primarily to offset part of the electricity consumption in the building in which it is used. Provides that electricity generated by a plug-in solar power system is not subject to the Indiana statute concerning distributed generation. Provides that a plug-in solar power system is exempt from the Indiana utility regulatory commission's rules concerning customer-generator interconnection standards. Requires a plug-in solar power system to include a functionality or feature that: (1) is activated during a loss of electrical power to the building in which the plug-in solar power system is used; and (2) prevents the plug-in solar power system from energizing the building's electrical system during the electrical outage. Prohibits an electricity supplier from requiring a customer to do any of the following with respect to the installation or use of a plug-in solar power system that meets certain requirements: (1) Obtain the electricity supplier's approval for the installation or use. (2) Pay any fee or charge related to the installation or use. (3) Install any additional controls or equipment in connection with the installation or use. Provides that an electricity supplier is not liable for any injury or damages caused by a customer's installation or use of a plug-in solar power system.

Requires the department of administration (IDOA) and the Indiana protection and advocacy services commission (IPASC) to jointly study the accessibility of the state house to individuals with disabilities. Requires the IDOA and the IPASC to report on the study to the budget committee, governor, and legislative council before November 1, 2026.

Requires each county to establish and maintain a Project Lifesaver program. Tasks the division of disability and rehabilitative services with ensuring compliance, and requires the division to report to the general assembly.

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.

Requires each school corporation and charter school to develop a plan to conduct developmentally appropriate evidence based: (1) mental health screening; and (2) substance use disorder screening; for students in kindergarten through grade 12. Establishes notification, consent, and data destruction requirements. Requires the department of education to make available to school corporations and charter schools developmentally appropriate evidence based mental health screening and substance use disorder screening tools and resources.

Requires the Indiana department of transportation to take action necessary to construct one or more additional lanes of traffic across Indiana for: (1) eastbound; and (2) westbound; Interstate Highway 70 in areas of Interstate Highway 70 where there are four lanes of traffic. Makes an appropriation.

Provides that the judges of the Marion County juvenile courts may not appoint more than 11 magistrates. Eliminates a court in Blackford County and Monroe County. Eliminates a magistrate in Jennings County. Allows the judges of the Elkhart circuit and superior courts to appoint four full-time magistrates. (Current law allows for the appointment of two magistrates.) Adds two superior courts to Hamilton County. Provides that the first judges of Hamilton superior courts No. 8 and No. 9 shall: (1) be elected at the November 2026 general election; (2) take office January 1, 2027; and (3) serve a term of six years. Allows the judges of the Hamilton circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint two additional magistrates to serve the Hamilton County courts. Allows the judge of the Lawrence County juvenile court to appoint not more than one full-time magistrate. Allows the judges of the Vigo circuit and superior courts to jointly appoint one magistrate to serve the Vigo County courts.