KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HB1048 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Representative Randy Novak
Last action
2026-02-24
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify when the allowance increase takes effect or provide details on which volunteer fire departments it impacts.

Volunteer Firefighter Allowance Increase

This law increases the money given to volunteer firefighters for their clothes and cars from $100 to $250.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the clothing and automobile allowance for active members of volunteer fire departments from $100 to $250.
  • Requires units served by volunteer fire departments to pay this allowance directly to each active and participating member.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Volunteer firefighters in Indiana
  • Units or organizations served by volunteer fire departments

Terms To Know

volunteer fire department (VFD)
A group of unpaid people who help fight fires and respond to emergencies.
allowance
Money given by an organization or unit to cover expenses for a specific purpose, like buying clothes or paying for car maintenance.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify when the allowance increase will take effect.
  • It is unclear how many volunteer fire departments in Indiana this change will impact.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1048.03.COMS.AMS001

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Eric Koch

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to allow local governments more flexibility in managing their finances.

  • Adds new provisions that give local governments additional options for financial management.
  • The specific details of how local governments can use these new financial management options are not provided, making it unclear exactly what changes will be implemented.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-24 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-02-24 House

    Public Law 21

  3. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-02-19 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  5. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  6. 2026-02-18 House

    House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 274: yeas 91, nays 0

  7. 2026-02-16 House

    Motion to concur filed

  8. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  9. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 155: yeas 48, nays 0

  10. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Alting added as cosponsor

  11. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Becker added as cosponsor

  12. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Deery added as cosponsor

  13. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Koch added as cosponsor

  14. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

  15. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Schmitt added as cosponsor

  16. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  17. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Amendment #1 (Koch) prevailed; voice vote

  18. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senator Glick added as cosponsor

  19. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Senators Buck, Byrne, Tomes added as cosponsors

  20. 2026-02-03 Senate

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  21. 2026-02-02 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation

  22. 2026-01-29 House

    Referred to the Senate

  23. 2026-01-28 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 147: yeas 89, nays 0

  24. 2026-01-28 House

    Senate sponsors: Senators Crider, Pol, Leising

  25. 2026-01-28 House

    Cosponsors: Senators Bohacek, Niezgodski, Ford J.D.

  26. 2026-01-27 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  27. 2026-01-22 House

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  28. 2026-01-20 House

    Representatives Moseley, Pressel removed as coauthors

  29. 2026-01-20 House

    Representatives Pressel, Bartels, Moseley added as coauthors

  30. 2026-01-05 House

    Representative Moseley added as coauthor

  31. 2026-01-05 House

    Representative Pressel added as coauthor

  32. 2025-12-05 House

    Authored by Representative Novak

  33. 2025-12-05 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
VFD clothing and automobile allowances.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

VFD clothing and automobile allowances.

Increases, from $100 to $250, the clothing and automobile allowance for an active member of a volunteer fire department (department). Provides that a unit served by a volunteer fire department shall pay the clothing and automobile allowance directly to each active and participating member of the department.