Rep. Garrett Bascom

Maddy summaryHB 1188 increases penalties for individuals who resist law enforcement officers during lawful arrests or investigations. The bill directly affects people who physically obstruct or oppose police actions, raising the severity of potential criminal charges. Key provisions involve raising the level of offenses (e.g., elevating some resistances to higher misdemeanor or felony classifications) and increasing potential sentencing ranges. This bill focuses on modifying penalty structures without changing definitions of resistance or adding new enforcement requirements.

Allows an attorney who: (1) performs court appointed legal services on a full-time or full-time equivalent basis; (2) regularly performs court appointed legal services in more than one county that receives reimbursement from the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys; and (3) is not eligible to join an employee health plan in any state or local unit; to participate in the state employee health plan. Establishes eligibility, enrollment, and coverage requirements. Provides that the cost of coverage shall be shared between the Indiana commission on court appointed attorneys and the eligible attorney. Establishes the public defender health benefit fund. Makes conforming changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1112 prohibits insurance companies and health plans from requiring prior authorization for medications treating opioid use disorder. This directly affects patients seeking medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction and the healthcare providers who prescribe these medications. The bill’s key provision blocks insurers from demanding pre-approval before covering these specific treatments, removing a common administrative barrier. This policy change aims to streamline access to critical care without altering insurance coverage requirements for other treatments. The bill is currently pending in committee after being amended and adopted by a committee report.

Maddy summaryHR 11 is a commemorative resolution celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, rights, or regulations. The resolution simply recognizes the union's history and contributions through a formal statement by the Indiana House of Representatives. It was introduced and coauthored by multiple representatives on January 30, 2025, and passed its first reading.

Increases the penalty for operating a motor vehicle without being issued a valid driver's license. Provides that if an unlicensed driver is at fault for a vehicle accident, the driver or the registered owner of the vehicle used by the individual shall pay the insurance deductibles for any person not at fault. Provides that if an individual operates a motor vehicle without financial responsibility, a valid certificate of registration, and valid driving privileges their motor vehicle shall be impounded.

Maddy summaryHB 1166 allocates state funds from the general budget to establish a dedicated therapeutic psilocybin research fund. This bill directly affects researchers and institutions conducting clinical studies on psilocybin for medical purposes, providing them with dedicated funding. The key provision is the specific appropriation from the state general fund to support research into psilocybin's therapeutic applications, without altering existing laws or creating new regulations. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on funding allocation rather than policy changes.

Maddy summaryHB 1655 would ban specific food additives in Indiana, directly affecting food manufacturers, restaurants, and retailers who sell products within the state. The bill prohibits the use of listed additives in food preparation and processing, requiring businesses to remove these ingredients from their products. It focuses on concrete policy changes by establishing a clear regulatory restriction on certain substances in the food supply. The bill was introduced in January 2025 and referred to the Public Health Committee for further review.

Maddy summaryHB 1656 would freeze the property tax amount for homeowners aged 65 or older on their primary residence (homestead). It directly affects seniors who own and live in their homes, preventing annual tax increases tied to rising property values. The bill’s key mechanism locks the tax liability at its current level, meaning the bill amount won’t rise even if the home’s assessed value increases. This is a permanent change to the tax calculation for qualifying homeowners, not a temporary measure.

Provides that a state educational institution may not investigate, threaten disciplinary action regarding, punish, or solicit the reporting of certain student speech. Provides that the race, color, or ethnicity of a student or applicant of a postsecondary educational institution may not be used in certain decision making processes or provided to specified individuals, and establishes a cause of action for a violation of these provisions.

Provides that, when a petition is filed for the appointment of a guardian for two or more minors or incapacitated persons who are children of a common parent, parent and child, or husband and wife, a separate petition must be filed for each minor or incapacitated person. Provides that when a separate petition is required in certain cases, the court may only charge one filing fee for the proceeding. Requires a petition for adoption to include information about the juvenile court if the child is the subject of an open or pending child in need of services (CHINS), termination of parental rights (TPR), or juvenile delinquency proceeding. Provides that the department of child services (department) shall file a notice with the juvenile court in which the open or pending CHINS or TPR proceeding was filed. Requires the department to file a report each year with the legislative council, the office of judicial administration, and the public defender council.