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HB1145 • 2026

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

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

Education Labor
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Representative Michael Karickhoff
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text is very brief and does not provide detailed information about the specific amounts or conditions for the thirteenth check.

Indiana Pension Act

This act allows certain Indiana public employees to choose a joint survivor option for their retirement benefits and provides an additional payment in 2026 for specific pension funds.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows participants in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan to elect a joint and survivor benefit when they retire.
  • Provides an extra payment (thirteenth check) in calendar year 2026 for members or beneficiaries of several pension funds.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Participants in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan.
  • Members or beneficiaries from specific pension funds including Indiana state teachers' retirement fund, Indiana public employees' retirement fund, and two state police benefit systems.

Terms To Know

Joint and survivor option
A choice that allows a retired person to receive benefits even after their death, ensuring another person continues to get payments.
Thirteenth check
An extra payment given in addition to regular retirement checks for certain pension members or beneficiaries.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact amount of the thirteenth check.
  • It only applies to calendar year 2026 and may not continue beyond that year.

Amendments

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

HB1145.03.COMH.AMS01

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Linda Rogers

Filed

Plain English: The amendment changes the Indiana Code to provide benefits for survivors of certain public employees.

  • Adds provisions in the Indiana Code to ensure that survivors of specific public employees receive pension benefits.
  • The official text does not specify which public employees or what exact type of survivor benefits will be provided.
HB1145.04.COMS.AMS02

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator Ryan Mishler

Filed

Plain English: This amendment is filed but does not provide specific details about changes to the Indiana Code concerning pensions.

  • The official text of the amendment does not specify any concrete changes or updates to the bill, making it unclear what modifications are intended.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-04 House

    Public Law 79

  3. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  4. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  5. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  6. 2026-02-25 House

    House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 375: yeas 95, nays 0

  7. 2026-02-25 House

    Motion to concur filed

  8. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 236: yeas 39, nays 9

  9. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senator Alting added as cosponsor

  10. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senator Koch added as cosponsor

  11. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senator Niezgodski added as cosponsor

  12. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  13. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  14. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senator Raatz added as cosponsor

  15. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

  16. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Senator Yoder added as cosponsor

  17. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  18. 2026-02-19 Senate

    Senator Qaddoura added as cosponsor

  19. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

  20. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Rogers added as second sponsor

  21. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Goode added as third sponsor

  22. 2026-02-05 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Pensions and Labor

  23. 2026-02-03 House

    Referred to the Senate

  24. 2026-02-02 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 192: yeas 97, nays 0

  25. 2026-02-02 House

    Senate sponsor: Senator Buchanan

  26. 2026-01-29 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  27. 2026-01-27 House

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  28. 2026-01-15 House

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  29. 2026-01-15 House

    Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3

  30. 2026-01-08 House

    Representatives Porter, Olthoff added as coauthors

  31. 2026-01-05 House

    Authored by Representative Karickhoff

  32. 2026-01-05 House

    Coauthored by Representative VanNatter

  33. 2026-01-05 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Employment, Labor and Pensions

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning pensions.
Thirteenth check.

Current Bill Text

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

Thirteenth check.

Allows a participant in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan to elect a joint and survivor option for the payment of the participant's retirement allowance. Provides for a thirteenth check in calendar year 2026 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.