Sen. Scott Baldwin

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing South Bend Police Officer Brian Meador.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing South Bend Police Officer Brian Meador.

A SENATE RESOLUTION to honor Senator Eddie Melton upon his retirement from the Indiana Senate.

Provides that the office of administrative legal proceedings (OALP) is the ultimate authority for agencies subject to the jurisdiction of the OALP. Provides that a court conducting a judicial review hearing shall review questions of law and fact de novo. Makes conforming amendments.

Provides for local income tax certified shares in Hamilton County and Johnson County to be allocated to civil taxing units according to the location and tax liability of each taxpayer.

Provides that recreational vehicles are included within the definition of "motor vehicle" or "vehicle" for purposes of motor vehicle protection laws.

Authorizes the consolidation of a township fire department or fire protection territory in Marion County into the fire department of the consolidated city if the following occur: (1) The mayor of the consolidated city adopts a resolution approving the consolidation. (2) The city-county council adopts an ordinance approving the consolidation. (3) The mayor of the consolidated city approves the ordinance of the city-county council. Provides that a consolidation is effective on the date set forth in the ordinance adopted by the city-county council. Provides for the transfer of cumulative building and equipment fund balances, debt service balances, and firefighting fund balances on the effective date of the consolidation. Makes changes to a provision concerning the transfer of certain types of indebtedness to the consolidated city incurred before the effective date of the consolidation. Relocates language specifying that indebtedness related to fire protection services that is incurred before the effective date of the consolidation by the consolidated city remains the debt of the consolidated city and property taxes to pay the debt may only be levied within the fire special service district. Specifies that to become a firefighter with the fire department of the consolidated city as part of a consolidation, an individual must pass the work performance evaluation administered by the fire department of the consolidated city. Provides that a physician selected by the fire department of the consolidated city may, upon application by the firefighter, grant the firefighter an extension, for medical reasons, of the date by which the firefighter must pass the work performance evaluation. Provides that for purposes of determining the seniority of a merit firefighter who becomes employed by the fire department of the consolidated city through a consolidation: (1) the time served by the individual as a merit firefighter with the consolidated fire department also includes the total time served by the individual as a merit firefighter with the fire department in which the individual was serving at the time of the consolidation; and (2) the hire date of the individual is the date the individual was hired as a merit firefighter by the fire department in which the individual was serving at the time of consolidation. Specifies that if an individual becomes a firefighter employed by the fire department of the consolidated city through a consolidation, the individual's merit rank may not be reduced below the lesser of the merit rank held by the individual on the effective date of the consolidation or the rank of captain. Specifies that the consolidated city may levy property taxes within the area served by the consolidated fire department to provide for the payment of the expenses for the operation of the consolidated fire department. Provides that beginning with the fifth year after the year in which such a consolidation is effective, the total property tax rate imposed for fire protection within the territory formerly served by the fire department that was consolidated may not exceed the total property tax rate imposed for fire protection in other areas served by the fire department of the consolidated city.

Provides that catastrophically disabled veterans may hunt on the same free hunting days as those designated for youth hunters by the director of the department of natural resources. Defines "catastrophically disabled veteran".

Provides that if an insurance producer actively participates in a state or national professional insurance organization, the insurance commissioner may apply the insurance producer's participation toward the satisfaction of not more than two hours of the insurance producer's continuing education requirement in every two year licensing period. Prohibits a public adjuster from: (1) filing an insurance claim on behalf of an insured; (2) performing the role of roofing contractor, appraiser, or any other role with respect to the subject of a claim when the public adjuster is providing advice or assistance in the adjustment of the claim; or (3) filing an unfair claim settlement practice complaint unless the person who filed the claim has given written consent for the public adjuster to file the complaint. Requires a public adjuster, before entering into a contract with an insured, to provide a written disclosure concerning any direct or indirect financial interest that the public adjuster has with any other party that is or will be involved in the insured's claim. Requires a public adjuster to provide to an insured a disclosure document containing certain information before the insured enters into a contract with the public adjuster. Provides that a contract between a public adjuster and an insured must be in writing, must contain certain information, and must be prepared on a form filed with and approved by the insurance commissioner. Prohibits the inclusion of certain terms in the contract. Provides that if the insurer, not more than five business days after the date on which the insured's loss is reported to the insurer, either pays or commits in writing to pay to the policy limit of the insured's policy, the public adjuster may not be compensated by receiving a percentage of the total amount paid by the insurer and is entitled only to reasonable compensation for services provided. Allows an insured to void or rescind a contract with a public adjuster. Provides that, with respect to benefits provided by multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) to a public entity: (1) a policy of stop loss insurance issued by a reinsurer to the MEWA must cover claims submitted within the timely filing limit of the policy and the policy provisions of the stop loss coverage; and (2) the department of insurance may not adopt or enforce any rule that would reduce the timely filing limit specified in the policy and the policy provisions of the stop loss coverage. Requires the Indiana Public Employers' Plan, Inc., before December 31, 2026, to apply to the insurance commissioner for a certificate of authority to transact business as a domestic tax exempt reciprocal insurance company. Amends the anti-rebating law to provide that value-added products or services may be offered or provided for free or at a discounted price by an insurer or an insurance producer: (1) if the products or services: (A) are intended to mitigate or reduce the severity or frequency of loss; or (B) are primarily designed to enhance the health, financial wellness, or safety of persons or of persons' lives, health, or property; or (2) if the products or services: (A) are not offered in a manner that is unfairly discriminatory; and (B) are made available based on documented, objective criteria that are maintained for inspection by the insurance commissioner. Requires that a value-added product or service be accompanied by contact information. Requires an insurer that makes a material change to an insured's personal automobile or homeowner's policy to provide a written notice: (1) explaining the principal factors for the material change; or (2) stating that the insured, upon request, has a right to obtain a written notice explaining the principal factors for the material change. Establishes certain requirements for a notice of material change. Requires the insurance commissioner to adopt rules to implement the notice of material change requirements. Requires an insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) that provides coverage under an Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan (Marketplace plan) to provide to each individual covered under the Marketplace plan, not earlier than six months and not later than two months before the individual will become 65 years of age, a notice that includes: (1) a statement that the individual may be eligible to enroll in Medicare during the individual's initial enrollment period; (2) a statement that, in most cases, someone covered by a Marketplace plan will want to end their Marketplace plan coverage upon becoming eligible for Medicare; and (3) detailed instructions for canceling the individual's Marketplace plan. Provides that the plan sponsor of a health benefit plan may, on behalf of all covered individuals, provide consent: (1) to all communications related to the health benefit plan being sent to covered individuals by electronic means; and (2) to the electronic delivery of health insurance identification cards. Repeals the current mutual insurance holding company law (IC 27-14) and replaces it with a new mutual holding company law (IC 27-14.5). Requires the insurance commissioner to conduct an examination of an HMO domiciled in Indiana at least once every five years (instead of once every three years) and provides that an examination of the quality management program of an HMO must be conducted at least once every five years (instead of once every three years). Amends the health benefit exchange law to provide that an individual who continues to pay premiums for a policy or contract offered by a qualified health plan issuer in a benefit year that follows the benefit year in which the individual purchased the original policy or contract is considered to have purchased a new policy or contract for the purposes of the federal regulation providing that Medicare entitlement or enrollment is not a basis to nonrenew an individual's health insurance coverage in the individual market under the same policy or contract of insurance.

Makes certain changes to the nonprofit organization sales tax exemption threshold after which nonprofit organizations are required to collect state sales tax. Authorizes a county to impose a local income tax (LIT) rate for county staff expenses of the state judicial system in the county. Provides that the expenses paid from the LIT revenue may not comprise more than 50% of the county's total budgeted operational staffing expenses related to the state judicial system in any given year. Requires certain reporting requirements related to the use of the LIT revenue. Specifies a three business day grace period following the postmark date of a document during which the department of state revenue will consider the document received to be timely filed for purposes of a due date. Makes certain changes to the nonprofit organization sales tax exemption threshold after which nonprofit organizations are required to collect state sales tax.