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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HB1251 • 2026

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

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

Healthcare
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Timothy O'Brien
Last action
2026-02-12
Official status
House Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact conditions under which counties can opt out or how the bill will be funded and enforced.

Making Emergency Ambulance Services Essential

This bill makes emergency medical services, including ambulances, essential in Indiana and requires counties to provide these services where they are missing.

What This Bill Does

  • Specifies that emergency medical services, including ambulance services, are essential services in Indiana.
  • Requires county commissioners to identify areas without emergency ambulance services.
  • Needs county commissioners to ensure those areas get emergency ambulance services by setting up their own service or working with others who can provide it.
  • Allows counties to opt out of providing ambulance services if certain conditions are met and grants them immunity from civil liability for personal injury or death resulting from a lack of these services.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County commissioners in Indiana
  • People living in areas without emergency ambulance services

Terms To Know

Essential Services
Services that are very important for the health and safety of people.
Political Subdivisions
Local government areas like counties or cities.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a county chooses to opt out of providing ambulance services.
  • It is unclear how the bill will be funded and enforced.

Amendments

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

HB1251.02.COMH.AMH01

Committee House Bill (H) • Representative Timothy O'Brien

Filed

Plain English: This amendment adds a new section to the Indiana Code that deals with providing emergency ambulance services in areas where such services are not currently available.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code under the health regulations, focusing on emergency ambulance services for unserved areas.
  • The amendment does not specify how these services will be provided or funded, leaving those details unclear.
HB1251.03.COMH.AMS02

Committee House Bill (S) • Senator James Buck

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to add new requirements for health care providers when dealing with certain medical procedures.

  • Adds a requirement that healthcare providers must inform patients about specific risks and alternatives before performing certain medical procedures.
  • The exact details of which medical procedures are covered by this amendment are not specified in the provided text, making it unclear how broadly these requirements will apply.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy

  2. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Becker added as second sponsor

  3. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senator Bohacek added as third sponsor

  4. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Senator Ford J.D. added as cosponsor

  5. 2026-02-05 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

  6. 2026-02-03 House

    Referred to the Senate

  7. 2026-02-02 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 177: yeas 83, nays 0

  8. 2026-02-02 House

    Senate sponsor: Senator Crider

  9. 2026-01-29 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  10. 2026-01-27 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  11. 2026-01-15 House

    Representatives Gore, Garcia Wilburn added as coauthors

  12. 2026-01-12 House

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  13. 2026-01-12 House

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

  14. 2026-01-12 House

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

  15. 2026-01-05 House

    Authored by Representative O'Brien

  16. 2026-01-05 House

    Coauthored by Representative Bartels

  17. 2026-01-05 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 health.
Emergency ambulance services.

Current Bill Text

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

Emergency ambulance services.

Specifies that emergency medical services, including emergency ambulance services, are essential services in Indiana. Specifies that the provision of emergency medical services is an essential purpose of political subdivisions. Requires the county commissioners of each county to: (1) identify areas that are unserved by emergency ambulance services; and (2) provide emergency ambulance services to those areas by establishing a county emergency ambulance service, contracting with a public, private, or nonprofit provider of emergency ambulance services, or by any other available means. Allows a governing body to opt out of the requirement to provide emergency ambulance services to unserved areas in certain cases. Provides that a county governing body that opts out of the provision of emergency ambulance services is immune from civil liability for personal injury or death resulting from a lack of emergency ambulance services in an area of the county.