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HB1202 • 2026

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

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

Children Education Healthcare Labor
Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide specific details on the updates to background check requirements for emergency medical service workers, only that such a requirement exists.

Indiana Public Safety Act

This act changes Indiana's public safety laws by requiring registration of ignition interlock devices, changing inspection requirements for child care facilities and institutions, and removing certain administrative rule requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires companies that make or sell ignition interlock devices to register these devices with the state department of toxicology.
  • Removes the need for the director of the state department of toxicology to report on the number of ignition interlock devices used in Indiana.
  • Changes how child care centers, ministries, and other facilities are inspected by requiring them to meet building and fire safety laws before they can open or continue operating.
  • Updates rules about background checks for people who want to work in emergency medical services.
  • Removes some requirements for the state criminal justice institute to create administrative rules.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who make, sell, or use ignition interlock devices
  • Child care centers and ministries that need inspections before opening
  • Emergency medical service workers needing background checks

Terms To Know

Ignition Interlock Device
A device installed in a car to prevent it from starting if the driver has been drinking alcohol.
Child Care Ministry
An unlicensed child care facility that provides care for children without being officially registered as a child care center.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify when the changes will take effect.
  • Some parts of the law are repealed, but it's unclear what happens to existing rules or how they will be replaced.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-24 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-02-24 House

    Public Law 28

  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 Senate

    Returned to the House without amendments

  7. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 182: yeas 45, nays 0

  8. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Senator Ford J.D. added as cosponsor

  9. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  10. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  11. 2026-01-26 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation

  12. 2026-01-21 House

    Referred to the Senate

  13. 2026-01-20 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 60: yeas 85, nays 5

  14. 2026-01-20 House

    Senate sponsors: Senators Crider, Clark

  15. 2026-01-15 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  16. 2026-01-12 House

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  17. 2026-01-12 House

    Representative Judy added as coauthor

  18. 2026-01-05 House

    Authored by Representative Lawson

  19. 2026-01-05 House

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

  20. 2026-01-05 House

    Representative Bartels added as coauthor

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning public safety.
Various public safety matters.

Current Bill Text

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

Various public safety matters.

Requires a vendor or provider of an ignition interlock device to register an ignition interlock device with the department of toxicology. Eliminates a requirement for the director of the state department of toxicology to provide periodic reports to the Indiana criminal justice institute (institute) regarding the number of ignition interlock devices used in Indiana. Provides that a registered ignition interlock device must be installed in a motor vehicle in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for installing the registered ignition interlock device. Codifies administrative rules adopted by the state department of toxicology relating to ignition interlock devices. Provides that prior to being issued an initial license to operate a child care center, the child care center must be inspected and found to be in substantial compliance with applicable building and fire safety laws by the department of homeland security. (Current law provides that a license may be issued only if the child care center is in substantial compliance with the fire and life safety rules as determined by the state fire marshal under rules adopted by the division of family resources (division) or in accordance with a variance or waiver approved by the division.) Provides that prior to being issued an initial registration to operate a child care ministry, the unlicensed child care ministry must be inspected and found to be in substantial compliance with applicable building and fire safety laws by the department of homeland security. Provides that the department of homeland security shall perform inspections of: (1) child care ministries; (2) child care centers; (3) child caring institutions; and (4) group homes. Provides that a license or registration to operate a child care center or child care ministry may be revoked if the division determines that the operator has failed to comply with an order of the department of homeland security. Provides that the operator of an unlicensed child care ministry shall maintain a copy of the most recent department of homeland security inspection findings in a conspicuous place in the unlicensed child care ministry. Provides that the department of child services is not required to consult with the fire prevention and building safety commission when adopting administrative rules pertaining to the licensing and inspection of child care institutions, foster family homes, group homes, and child placing agencies. Provides that administrative rules of the fire prevention and building safety commission must include minimum building and safety requirements applicable for child caring institutions. Provides that prior to being issued an initial license to operate a child caring institution or group home, the child caring institution or group home must be inspected and found to be in substantial compliance with applicable building and fire safety laws by the department of homeland security. Provides that a license or registration to operate a child caring institution or group home may be revoked if the department of child services determines that the operator has failed to comply with an order of the department of homeland security. Provides that in order for an individual to receive a license from the emergency medical services commission, the individual must obtain a national criminal history background check and authorize release of the results of the check to the department of homeland security. Eliminates the requirement for the institute to adopt administrative rules relating to the child restraint system account. Provides that inspections conducted by the department of homeland security shall be conducted periodically in lieu of established periods. Changes a reference, from the department of education to the office of school safety, relating to the duties of a school safety specialist. Repeals: (1) provisions relating to public safety improvement areas; (2) a provision requiring the board of trustees of the institute to adopt rules relating to the law enforcement assistance fund; (3) a provision that authorizes the state fire marshal to charge a child care ministry a $50 fee for processing a registration; (4) a provision requiring the institute to review characteristics of offenders committed to the department of correction over such period of time it deems appropriate and of the offenses committed by those offenders in order to ascertain norms used by the trial courts in sentencing; (5) a provision requiring the bureau of motor vehicles and the institute to enter into a memorandum of understanding to administer the provisions relating to ignition interlock devices; and (6) a provision that requires the institute to adopt rules relating to ignition interlock devices.