Sen. J.D. Ford

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 11) formally honors Cradle Indy for its efforts in raising awareness and reducing infant mortality rates across Indiana. It directly recognizes the organization's work without creating new laws or allocating funds. The resolution was introduced by Senator Ford J.D. and passed unanimously on January 27, 2026, as a symbolic gesture of legislative appreciation.

Requires that: (1) certain health care providers; (2) hospitals; and (3) the office of the secretary of family and social services or a managed care organization that has contracted with the office under the Medicaid program; ensure that a Medicaid recipient or an individual eligible for Medicaid who gives birth schedules a follow-up appointment for postpartum care that is not later than 60 days from the date the woman gives birth. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services.)

Provides that a person who commits a criminal offense commits a separate offense for each victim of the offense. Requires the department of correction to weekly transport sentenced offenders from the Marion County adult detention center to the appropriate correctional facility. Removes a provision allowing an automatic change of judge when a judge rejects a plea agreement in a misdemeanor case. Allows the state to appeal a sentence in a criminal case. Makes sentences nonsuspendible for: (1) crimes of violence; and (2) persons charged with a felony who have a prior felony conviction. Provides that an inmate may earn not more than six months of educational credit for participating in an individualized case management plan. Increases the penalty for invasion of privacy if the crime is committed by a person against whom domestic battery charges are pending. Provides that crimes committed against different victims during the same episode of criminal conduct do not count against the sentencing cap that applies to crimes committed as part of the same episode of criminal conduct. Specifies that persons convicted of certain crimes may not participate in a community corrections program. Increases the penalty for: (1) reckless homicide; (2) involuntary manslaughter; and (3) reckless supervision; to a Level 4 felony. Establishes the public prosecution fund and a prosecuting attorney compensation fee of $40, which will be deposited in the public prosecution fund. Provides that a county may be reimbursed for certain prosecutorial expenses from the fund, unless the prosecuting attorney in the county is a noncompliant prosecuting attorney. Requires the Indiana prosecuting attorney's council to set standards for reimbursement. Makes it malicious littering, a Class A misdemeanor, for a person to place refuse on the property of another person with the intent to cause the owner or occupant of the property to reasonably fear for their physical safety.

Provides that electricity generated by a plug-in home solar unit is exempt from Indiana law regarding distributed generation. Prohibits an electricity supplier from requiring a customer to: (1) obtain the electricity supplier's approval before installing or using; (2) pay any fee or charge related to the customer's use of; (3) make modifications to; or (4) install additional equipment as a result of the customer's installation or use of; a plug-in home solar unit that meets specified requirements. Requires a plug-in home solar unit to incorporate functionality that, in the event of a power outage, disconnects the plug-in home solar unit from the electrical system of the building to which the plug-in home solar unit is connected. Provides that an electricity supplier is not liable for any injury or damages caused to a customer by a plug-in home solar unit.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors the late Timothy Faulk through a ceremonial gesture by the Senate. It does not create new laws or affect any specific individuals, groups, or policies. The bill is purely symbolic, memorializing a person who has passed away. As a Senate resolution, it has no legal force or binding effect on government actions.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 3) honors Alice Wong through a formal memorial. Authored by Senator Ford J.D. and adopted on January 20, 2026, it serves as a ceremonial tribute with no binding policy impact. The resolution directly recognizes Alice Wong's contributions but does not enact new laws or affect any specific group. It is a standard procedural gesture to acknowledge an individual's service or legacy.

Requires a group health insurance program for firefighters to provide coverage for the screening of certain forms of cancer. Requires a local unit public employer to provide cancer insurance for active firefighters, retired firefighters, and firefighters who are receiving disability benefits. Allows the board of trustees of the Indiana public retirement system to enter into agreements with one or more insurance companies to provide group cancer insurance for active firefighters, retired firefighters, and firefighters who are receiving disability benefits. Requires the department of homeland security to develop a firefighter cancer awareness and prevention program to provide relevant information to fire department personnel and volunteers concerning best practices for reducing the risk of cancer.

Maddy summarySB 21 designates the breaded tenderloin sandwich as Indiana's official state sandwich. This ceremonial bill has no practical policy impact and does not affect residents or change laws, instead serving as a symbolic recognition of a local food item. It passed the Indiana Senate with 37-11 support and is now under review in the House.

Establishes redistricting standards for state legislative congressional districts. Requires the initial proposed plans for congressional and state legislative districts to comply with the redistricting standards. Allows the general assembly, during the process by which the initial proposed plans become effective by being enacted as a law, to consider and adopt modifications to the initial proposed plans that deviate from the redistricting standards as long as the reason or reasons for each deviation are publicly explained and documented. Specifies that the general assembly may not establish or modify legislative or congressional districts other than at the first regular session of the general assembly convening immediately following the federal decennial census, except in response to a court order that has invalidated some part of a redistricting plan.

Requires, subject to federal approval of any necessary plan, amendment, or waiver, the Indiana department of health (state department) to provide for: (1) a recipient of benefits under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to receive triple value for the recipient's SNAP benefits; and (2) a recipient of benefits under the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) to receive triple value for the recipient's WIC benefits; when used to purchase produce at a farmers' market that participates in one or more specified federal programs administered by the state department.