House Bill

HB 1044

Insurance coverage for public safety employees.

In plain English

Limits what a public safety employee pays for group health insurance to the active-employee rate if the employee became disabled on or after January 1, 2020, and receives a Class 1 or Class 2 impairment benefit. Requires a written request before June 1, 2026, or within 90 days after disability benefits begin, whichever is later. Applies the same rate to surviving spouses and dependents of employees who die in the line of duty, and makes other changes.

Written by AI from the official digest below, and checked only by automated rules. If they differ, the official digest and bill text control.

Official digest

Provides that a public safety employee who: (1) becomes disabled on or after January 1, 2020; (2) receives a Class 1 or a Class 2 impairment benefit; and (3) is eligible for group health insurance coverage for the public safety employee and the public safety employee's spouse or dependents; must pay no more than the amount that the public safety employee would have been required to pay if still serving as a current active public safety employee employed by the local unit public employer. Specifies that the public safety employee must file a written request for insurance coverage with the employer before June 1, 2026, or within 90 days after the public safety employee begins receiving disability benefits, whichever is later. Specifies that if a public safety agency closes, merges, or otherwise ceases to exist, the local unit public employer that caused the public safety agency to cease to exist, shall continue to provide certain insurance coverage. Provides that a surviving spouse or dependent of a public safety employee who dies in the line of duty must pay the same amount that the public safety employee would have been required to pay if still serving as a current active public safety employee employed by the local unit public employer for coverage selected by the surviving spouse or dependent under the group health insurance program.

Latest action: Public Law 38, February 26, 2026Full text and history at iga.in.gov

Authors and sponsors

Jim Pressel, Kyle Walker, Michael Crider, Fady Qaddoura

Co-authors and co-sponsors: Ethan Lawson, Lori Goss-Reaves, Michelle Davis, Lonnie Randolph, Andrea Hunley, Shelli Yoder

Roll-call votes

3 recorded votes, oldest first. Third-reading votes decide whether a bill passes a chamber; amendment votes and procedural motions are listed too.

House · Jan 20, 2026

Third reading: vote to pass

Roll call text: HB 1044 - Pressel - 3rd Reading

Passed

92 yes0 no8 did not vote

Republicans: 64 yes, 0 no, 5 did not voteDemocrats: 27 yes, 0 no, 3 did not voteIndependents: 1 yes, 0 no

How each member voted

Yes (92)

Did not vote (8)

Senate · Feb 17, 2026

Third reading: vote to pass

Roll call text: HB 1044 - Walker K - 3rd Reading

Passed

45 yes0 no5 did not vote

Republicans: 37 yes, 0 no, 3 did not voteDemocrats: 8 yes, 0 no, 2 did not vote

How each member voted

House · Feb 19, 2026

Final vote: concurrence or conference report

Roll call text: HB 1044 - Pressel

Passed

93 yes0 no7 did not vote

Republicans: 65 yes, 0 no, 4 did not voteDemocrats: 27 yes, 0 no, 3 did not voteIndependents: 1 yes, 0 no

How each member voted

Yes (93)

Did not vote (7)

Source: Open States, compiled from the Indiana General Assembly's official roll calls. The official record at iga.in.gov controls. Spot an error? Let us know.