IndianaIndiana counties would cover ambulance service gaps or opt out
Starting July 1, 2026, county leaders would have to find areas without an emergency ambulance provider and arrange service unless they qualify to opt out.
What it does
County leaders would find areas with no emergency ambulance provider and arrange service there. They could opt out after reasonable efforts fail, and they would need city consent to serve inside a city.
After making every reasonable effort to meet the ambulance duty, county leaders could opt out if they find they cannot comply. They would have to give specific reasons and notify state officials.
If county leaders opt out, they and the county would not have to pay civil damages for injury or death caused by an area lacking emergency ambulance service.
Argument forIf counties can arrange coverage, people in areas without an ambulance provider could get emergency help closer to home.
Argument againstIf a county opts out, people hurt by a lack of ambulance service might be unable to recover damages from the county or its leaders.
More detail
County governing bodies would identify unserved areas and arrange emergency ambulance service there. This covers county areas with no public, private, or nonprofit emergency ambulance provider. County leaders could opt out only after every reasonable effort fails and they find they cannot meet the duty. A city must consent before a county provides, authorizes, or contracts for service inside it. A county need not spend county revenue if it can provide service another way. The proposed requirement would take effect July 1, 2026.
A county governing body could pass an ordinance to opt out of the duty to identify and serve uncovered areas. This option applies to a county that cannot meet the emergency ambulance service duty. Leaders must first make every reasonable effort and determine that they cannot meet the duty. The ordinance must give specific reasons, and the county must send a copy to the state Department of Homeland Security. The proposed opt-out option would take effect July 1, 2026.
A qualifying opt-out would shield the county, its governing body, and its members from civil liability for specified injuries and deaths. The protection covers the county, its governing body, and each member of that body. The protection applies only if the governing body opts out. It covers injury or death resulting from an area of the county having no emergency ambulance service. The proposed protection would take effect July 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Feb 12Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Tax and Fiscal PolicyLatest
- Feb 12Senator Becker added as second sponsor
- Feb 12Senator Bohacek added as third sponsor
- Feb 9Senator Ford J.D. added as cosponsor
- Feb 5First reading: referred to Committee on Local GovernmentMinor
- Feb 3Referred to the SenateMinor
- Feb 2Senate sponsor: Senator Crider
- Vote recorded HB 1251 - O'Brien - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Third reading: passed; Roll Call 177: yeas 83, nays 0Passed House
- Jan 29Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 27Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 15Representatives Gore, Garcia Wilburn added as coauthors
- Jan 12Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
- Jan 12Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
- Jan 12Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 5Authored by Representative O'Brien
- Jan 5Coauthored by Representative Bartels
- Jan 5First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public SafetyIntroduced
HealthcarePublic SafetyEmergency Management