Sen. Mike Bohacek

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging all relevant agencies and stakeholders to work collaboratively to explore extending the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence Seaway navigation season to advance Indiana’s economic prosperity, grow exports, and support Hoosier jobs.

Specifies that a board of trustees of a regional water, sewage, or solid waste district (board) must notify the district authority in writing before taking certain actions. Provides that a trustee appointed to a board serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Prohibits a regional water, sewage, or solid waste district (district) created after June 30, 2026, from incurring any indebtedness without first obtaining the approval of the county fiscal body. Specifies that if a district created after June 30, 2026, contains territory in more than one county, the district must first obtain the approval of each county fiscal body in which the district contains territory before incurring any indebtedness. Establishes a timeline for the county fiscal body to approve or deny a district's request to incur indebtedness.

Requires a county to offer a program of group insurance to each county elected official if the county offers the program of group insurance to county employees and at least one county elected official.

Authorizes the attorney general to enforce provisions concerning health care debt wage garnishment and principal residence lien restrictions and establish a complaint process. Requires hospitals to do the following: (1) Offer a person who meets certain income guidelines and has received health services the opportunity to pay the charges through a payment plan that satisfies certain requirements. (2) Develop a written notice about a charity care program operated by the hospital, provide the notice to patients, and post the notice. (3) Include certain information concerning financial assistance on a billing statement. (4) Requires a hospital that reports an annual gross patient revenue of at least $20,000,000 to provide written notice and information to a person who has requested an eligibility determination concerning a payment plan or charity care. Provides that the unpaid earnings of a consumer who meets specified income eligibility requirements may not be attached by garnishment if an individual makes 200% of the federal income poverty level or less, and limits the amount to be garnished over a certain amount of the individual's disposable earnings in satisfaction of: (1) health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by the consumer; or (2) any amount of the judgment that represents health care debt determined to be owed by the consumer. Provides that: (1) health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by a consumer; or (2) in an action against a consumer in which a judgment has been entered, the amount of the judgment that represents health care debt determined to be owed by the consumer; does not constitute a lien against the consumer's principal residence for a consumer. Requires the disclosure of whether a debt is a health care debt in the execution of a judgment. Provides that in any action filed in Indiana for the recovery of health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by a consumer, the principal residence of the consumer is not liable to judgment or attachment or to be sold on execution against the consumer.

Provides that a public agency may not enter into or renew a contract for a public works project with a contractor unless, among other requirements, the contractor signs a notarized affidavit affirming that the contractor does not knowingly employ an unauthorized alien. Provides that a contractor for a public works project must take certain actions with respect to the immigration status of employees. Provides that a contractor may not employ an individual for a public works project if the person has no E-verification number, except under certain circumstances. Provides civil immunity for a contractor that in good faith misidentifies the immigration status of a worker to comply with certain provisions of this bill. Makes conforming changes.

Requires, beginning January 1, 2028, a health carrier to: (1) implement a shopping and decision support program; and (2) provide incentives for covered individuals in a health plan who elect to receive a comparable health care service from a network provider that is paid less than the average allowed amount paid by the health carrier to network providers for the comparable health care service. Requires, beginning December 1, 2027, a health carrier to make available an interactive member portal that enables a covered individual to request and obtain certain information. Allows a health carrier to make the information available through a toll free telephone number. Sets forth reporting requirements for health carriers and the department of insurance concerning incentive payments made to covered individuals.

Requires certain pharmacists or pharmacies to provide the amount of the national average drug acquisition cost for a generic drug on the written materials provided to an individual at the point of sale of the generic drug.

Maddy summaryHCR 8 is a symbolic concurrent resolution honoring the longstanding partnership between Indiana and the Province of Québec. It does not create new laws or policies, but formally recognizes the historical and ongoing relationship between the two regions. The resolution expresses legislative support for this partnership through a formal statement of appreciation. As a procedural measure, it directly affects no individuals or entities and has no binding legal effect. This type of resolution typically serves to acknowledge diplomatic or cultural ties without implementing concrete changes.

Prohibits a municipality from charging parking fees at a municipally owned parking lot at a municipal park beach on Lake Michigan, unless the municipality has: (1) a lifeguard on duty at the beach during the hours that swimming is allowed; and (2) public rescue equipment installed on any pier or public access site of the municipality. Allows a municipality to charge parking fees without satisfying the lifeguard requirement while notes, bonds, leases, or other obligations are outstanding that the municipality: (1) issued, incurred, or entered into before July 1, 2026; and (2) pays or pledged to pay from parking fee revenues. Prohibits a municipality from pledging or using parking fees to pay bonds, leases, or other debt obligations issued, incurred, or entered into after June 30, 2026.

Adds the criminal offense of sex with a minor, which is committed when a person who is at least: (1) 24 years of age and who engages in sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct, fondling, or touching with a child who is 16 years of age; or (2) 25 years of age and who engages in sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct, fondling, or touching with a child who is 16 or 17 years of age. Makes conforming amendments.