Attachments to utility poles. Defines an "attachment request" as a request made: (1) by an attaching entity, other than an electricity supplier, to the owner (pole owner) of an electric distribution pole (pole) for authorization to install, within a period of not more than 30 days, communications service equipment on 300 or more poles owned by the pole owner; and (2) in connection with, and using funds obtained from, a state or federal program directly related to the expansion of communications services to unserved, underserved, or rural areas (program). Defines a "process management agreement" as a written agreement entered into by: (1) an attaching entity that has been awarded funding under a program; and (2) a pole owner that owns at least 300 poles with respect to which the attaching entity intends to submit an attachment request in connection with a project under the program; for the purpose of establishing processes, timelines, mutual performance obligations, and conflict resolution options for timely completing attachment requests. Provides that not later than five business days after the execution of a contract that: (1) is entered into by an attaching entity and a governmental agency; and (2) sets forth the terms and conditions for a project for which funding has been awarded under a program; the Indiana broadband office (office) shall publish the contract on the office's website. Provides that not later than 60 days after a contract is executed: (1) the attaching entity that executed the contract; and (2) each pole owner that owns at least 300 poles with respect to which the attaching entity intends to submit an attachment request in connection with a project under the program; shall hold a meeting for the purpose of discussing general project plans. Provides that not later than four months after the National Telecommunications Information Administration approves the office's final proposal for funding under the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, if an attaching entity that has been awarded funding under a program does not have a process management agreement in effect with a pole owner that owns at least 300 poles with respect to which the attaching entity intends to submit an attachment request in connection with a project under the program, the attaching entity and the pole owner shall negotiate an agreement that sets forth specified processes, timelines, mutual performance obligations, and conflict resolution options. Provides that if the attaching entity and a pole owner do not reach an agreement as to the terms, conditions, and timelines for a process management agreement, or otherwise have the prescribed negotiated agreement in effect, within the required four month period, certain conditions apply with respect to the dealings between the attaching entity and the pole owner with respect to any application for a pole attachment permit that does not seek the attachment of more than 3,000 poles within a period of not more than 30 days. Authorizes the office to adopt a rapid response mediation process to be followed if a dispute arises between an attaching entity and a pole owner regarding the processes and timelines for the timely completion of an attachment request. Provides that these provisions expire July 1, 2030.

State educational institution administration. Prohibits use of public funds by a state educational institution for policies or programs and campus activities outside the classroom that: (1) advocate for campus diversity, equity, and inclusion; or (2) promote or engage in political or social activism. Makes related changes.

Various agency administrative procedures. Provides that the department of natural resources is subject to the jurisdiction of the office of administrative law proceedings. Provides that the secretary of family and social services is the ultimate authority for Medicaid applicants and recipient eligibility appeals. Provides that in Medicaid applicant eligibility cases, except in certain circumstances, the order from the administrative law judge is final after 61 days without further affirmation from the ultimate authority. Provides that the review of certain professional disciplinary reviews are not subject to the office of administrative law proceedings. Sets forth the process to select a hearing officer for the professional disciplinary reviews. Makes changes to motor vehicle dealer services statutes to be consistent with the jurisdiction of the office of administrative law proceedings. Provides that the department of child services (DCS) is the ultimate authority of the review of decisions concerning residential child care base rates. Removes the duty of DCS to adopt rules concerning the administrative review by DCS of a proposed or approved substantiated report of child abuse or neglect, before or after an administrative hearing is available or conducted. Makes conforming changes. Makes technical corrections and conforming amendments required by HEA 1003-2024 concerning the office of administrative law proceedings.

Health matters. Specifies that the Medicaid fraud control unit's (MFCU) investigation of Medicaid fraud may include the investigation of provider fraud, insurer fraud, duplicate billing, and other instances of fraud. Permits the attorney general to enter into a data sharing agreement with specified state agencies and authorizes the MFCU to analyze this data to carry out its investigative duties. Provides that all complaints made to the MFCU are confidential until an action is filed concerning the complaint. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to establish: (1) metrics to assess the quality of care and patient outcomes; and (2) transparency and accountability safeguards; for a specified long term care risk based managed care program. Requires, not later than July 31, 2026, a clinical laboratory and diagnostic imaging facility to post certain pricing information for services determined by the department of insurance. Allows: (1) a manufacturer to provide; and (2) a patient to receive; individualized investigational treatment if certain conditions are met. Requires an Indiana nonprofit hospital system to report a list of facilities that may submit a bill on an institutional provider form and report the facility code for each facility. Adds provisions concerning payments by insurers, health maintenance organizations, employers, and other responsible persons to qualified providers that are providing services in an office setting. Requires good faith estimates for health care services to be provided at least two business days (rather than five business days) before the health care services are scheduled to be provided. Removes language concerning the disclosure of a trade secret from provisions that allow for a health plan sponsor to access and audit claims data. Provides that when a health carrier is in the process of negotiating a health provider contract with a health provider facility or provider, the health carrier must provide certain information to the health provider facility or provider. Prohibits certain provisions from being included in a health provider contract. Allows the department of insurance to: (1) enter into partnerships and joint ventures to encourage best practices in the appropriate and effective use of prior authorization in health care; and (2) receive information regarding prior authorization disputes. Requires the department of insurance to prepare a report with findings and recommendations related to the prior authorization dispute information. Requires, not later than September 1, 2025, the department of insurance to issue a request for information concerning ways to better enable medical consumers to compare and shop for medical and health care services. Provides that an insurer or a health maintenance organization may not deny a claim for reimbursement on the sole basis that the referring provider is an out of network provider. Requires, if a fully credentialed physician becomes employed with another employer or establishes or relocates a medical practice in Indiana, an insurer and health maintenance organization to provisionally credential the physician for 60 days or until the physician is fully credentialed, whichever is earlier. Requires the Indiana department of health, in consultation with the office of technology, to study the feasibility of developing certain standards regarding medical records and data.

FSSA matters. Adds additional duties to a workgroup currently organized concerning the pathways for aging risk based managed care program (program). Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to determine the base reimbursement rate structure, methodology, and reimbursement rates for provider payment by managed care organizations under the program. Allows the office of the secretary to perform claims reviews of claims under the program. Requires a managed care organization participating in the program to do the following: (1) Contract with nursing facilities if certain conditions are met under the same terms for a specified time frame. (2) Submit monthly reports for claims that had a denial rate of at least five percent in the previous month. (3) Pay minimum reimbursement rates to providers. (4) Pay interest on unpaid claims that are later determined to be clean claims. Sets forth the powers and duties of the office of the secretary concerning Medicaid home and community based services waivers. Requires a provider of services under a home and community based services waiver to follow any waiver requirements under federal law and developed by the office of the secretary. Establishes requirements for home and community based services waivers. Relocates provisions requiring reimbursement for assisted living services for individuals who are aged and disabled and receiving services under a Medicaid waiver. Specifies that: (1) these provisions apply to a home and community based services waiver that included assisted living services as an available services before July 1, 2025; (2) these provisions apply to an individual receiving services under a home and community based services waiver; and (3) reimbursement is required for certain services that are part of the individual's home and community based service plan. Relocates provisions establishing limitations concerning assisted living services provided in a home and community based services program. Relocates a provision requiring the office of the secretary to annually determine any state savings generated by home and community based services. Removes a provision allowing the division of aging to adopt rules concerning an appeals process for a housing with services establishment provider's determination that the provider is unable to meet the health needs of a resident and allows the office of the secretary to adopt rules concerning the appeals process. Requires an individual who provides attendant care services for compensation from Medicaid to register with the office of the secretary. Removes the requirement that the division of aging administer programs established under Medicaid waivers for in-home services for treatment of medical conditions. Provides that provisions of law concerning the statewide waiver ombudsman apply to an individual who has a disability and receives services administered by the bureau of disabilities services. (Current law specifies that these provisions apply to an individual who has a developmental disability and receives services under the federal home and community based services program.) Specifies that these provisions do not apply to an individual served by the long term care ombudsman program. Changes references from "statewide waiver ombudsman" to "statewide bureau of disabilities services ombudsman". Requires the unit of services for the deaf and hard of hearing and the division (rather than the unit and the board of interpreters) to adopt rules creating standings for interpreters. Removes provisions concerning the board of interpreters. Repeals a provision providing that licensed home health agencies and licensed personal services agencies are approved to provide certain services under a Medicaid waiver granted to the state under federal law that provides services for treatment of medical conditions. Repeals language concerning a long term care services eligibility screen for purposes of the Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled program (CHOICE). Authorizes the division of disability and rehabilitative services to charge an authorized service provider that employs a direct service professional an annual fee. Establishes the direct support professional training program fund and appropriates money in the fund.

Facilities and transportation pilot programs. Establishes a three school year: (1) centralized school facilities pilot program; and (2) student transportation pilot program. Requires school corporations that meet certain criteria to participate in the centralized school facilities pilot program and student transportation pilot program, as applicable. Allows: (1) not more than three school corporations, as selected by the department of education (department), to voluntarily participate in the centralized school facilities pilot program; and (2) not more than three school corporations, as selected by the department, to voluntarily participate in the student transportation pilot program. Establishes a: (1) local centralized school facilities board; and (2) local student transportation board; for each participating school corporation and grants the local boards certain powers and duties. Provides that, after the three year pilot program period, each local centralized school facilities board and local student transportation board maintain the powers and duties of the board and may impose property tax levies. Requires the department of local government finance, in consultation with the department, to prepare recommendations regarding legislation and procedures to ensure the permanent transition of powers and duties to the centralized school facilities boards and local student transportation boards, as applicable.

Mobile home communities and manufactured homes. Provides that, for purposes of the Indiana department of health's enforcement of statutes governing mobile home communities, if the owner of a mobile home community is provided written notice from a water utility that the mobile home community will be disconnected from water service, the mobile home community is in violation of the mobile home community's statutory obligation to provide water as of the date on which the owner is provided the notice. Provides that the owner of the mobile home community and the Indiana department of health must receive written notice at least 30 days before the notice that the water service will be disconnected. Authorizes a court to appoint a receiver upon request by a utility providing electric, gas, water, or wastewater utility service to a mobile home community when the property owner has failed to pay: (A) invoiced utility bills for a period greater than 90 days from the due date; or (B) amounts due under a curative payment plan for a period of at least 60 days from the initial due date prescribed under the payment plan. Specifies that a comprehensive plan or ordinance adopted by a county, city, or town may not categorically preclude installation of all manufactured homes that meet specified requirements as permanent residences on a lot on which any other type of dwelling unit may be placed. Provides units may adopt standards and requirements in the comprehensive plans and ordinances that preclude manufactured homes that exceed 12 feet in width and 500 square feet of occupied space but may not preclude manufactured homes that exceed the standards and requirements in current law of 23 feet in width and 950 square feet of occupied space.

Prohibition on noncompete agreements. Prohibits an individual, person, or other entity from entering into a noncompete agreement after June 30, 2025.

Child custody orders. Requires the following to be included in a custody order: (1) a trial court shall include the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the custody order is based; and (2) an appellate decision shall include the facts upon which the appellate court relied to affirm or reverse an order.

Human services matters. Provides that provisions of law concerning the statewide waiver ombudsman apply to an individual who has a disability and receives services administered by the bureau of disabilities services. (Current law specifies that these provisions apply to an individual who has a developmental disability and receives services under the federal home and community based services program.) Specifies that these provisions do not apply to an individual served by the long term care ombudsman program. Changes references from "statewide waiver ombudsman" to "statewide bureau of disabilities services ombudsman". Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to prepare an annual report on the provision of Medicaid home and community based waiver services. Specifies the information that must be included in the report. Requires the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council to provide recommendations to the division of disability and rehabilitative services to ensure the delivery of appropriate high quality services to recipients. Requires the office of the secretary to provide to the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council reports on the office of the secretary's plans to provide services to individuals who require extraordinary care and specifies the timing of the reports.

Athletic event payment method. Requires school corporations and charter schools to offer a cash payment option at athletic events beginning July 1, 2025.

Various elections matters. Modifies the definition of "candidate". Provides that certain documents and material generated for or used by a political party caucus to select a person to fill a vacancy in an elected office are the property of the political party. Provides that the office of the circuit court clerk must remain closed on primary election day and general election day. Provides that the circuit court clerk shall perform required duties to conduct elections on primary election day and general election day. Specifies that the circuit court clerk is not required to perform on primary election day and general election day a duty other than conducting elections. Requires a county, city, town, township, or school to provide to an employee of a local government office who requests leave to serve: (1) on primary election day or general election day; and (2) as a precinct election officer; a paid day of leave to serve as a precinct election officer. Specifies an exception. Requires certain redistricting authorities to redistrict election districts or recertify existing election districts within the statutory deadlines and withholds payment to aa member of a redistricting authority for failure to do so. Prescribes fees to be charged by the election division for particular products and services. Changes the manner in which a copy of a complaint is to be provided to members of the Indiana election commission. Specifies the term of a chairman of a county election board, circumstances under which the chairman is considered to have vacated the office, and the process for electing a member of the board to serve as chairman following a vacancy. Provides that a person must: (1) be at least 18 years of age at the next general, municipal, or special election; (2) be a United States citizen; and (3) reside in a precinct continuously before a general, municipal, or special election for at least 30 days; to register to vote in that precinct and may, upon making a proper application, register to vote in that precinct. Requires absentee activity reports and other election day reports to be provided by a certain time and provides exceptions. Requires the county voter registration official to take certain actions concerning potential nonresidential addresses not later than August 1 of each year. Provides that the county voter registration official may not enter a nonresidential address into the statewide voter registration system as a voter's registration address. Provides that the spouse of a service member may elect to use the same residence as the member. Requires a county voter registration office to conduct a voter list maintenance program within 48 hours of receiving certain information. Allows a county voter registration office to use, for purposes of voter list maintenance: (1) information received by the county voter registration office indicating that a voter has moved to another state; (2) the return of an absentee ballot sent by the county election board to a voter because of an unknown or insufficient address. Requires a county voter registration office that receives information indicating that a voter has moved to another state to mail a specified form to the voter. Specifies that a full-time employee of the department of homeland security who is prohibited from participating in political activities is disqualified from assuming or being a candidate for an elected office. Requires a write-in candidate for a school board office to file a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate with the county election board. Provides, for purposes of stating a candidate's affiliation with a political party in a declaration of candidacy, that if a candidate cast a nonpartisan ballot at an election held at either of the two most recent primary elections in which the candidate voted, a certification by the county chairman is required. Provides that, under certain circumstances, a county election board is not required to compile: (1) the addresses of persons for whom declarations of candidacy have been filed; or (2) information concerning precinct committeemen or state convention delegates. Specifies that a circuit court clerk who is required to conduct a special election is not required to publish the address of a candidate. Requires candidates for school board office and their candidate's committees to file required instruments with the county election board. Requires the names of all: (1) candidates for presidential electors and alternate presidential electors; and (2) nominees for President and Vice President of the United States; to be certified to the election division not later than noon September 1 before the general election. (Current law requires certification not later than noon on the second Tuesday in September before the general election.) Allows the county election board, by unanimous vote of the board's entire membership, to use bound materials instead of a paper envelope or bag in certain circumstances. Requires a voter registration application or absentee ballot application requested through electronic mail by a voter with print disabilities to be provided by electronic mail. (Current law permits providing these documents by fax or mail in certain circumstances.) Allows an individual to submit: (1) a replacement ballot statement request; and (2) a written replacement ballot request; by electronic mail. Repeals a provision that prohibits a voter from: (1) taking a digital image or photograph of the voter's ballot while in a polling place, except in specified circumstances; and (2) distributing or sharing the image using social media or by any other means. Requires that a voter entitled to cast an absentee ballot before an absentee voter board mark the voter's political party ballot selection on the electronic poll book instead of communicating the selection to the poll clerks. Permits a vendor to dispose of a voting system unit or an electronic poll book unit by transferring possession of the unit to a state or county historical society in Indiana. Specifies circumstances in which a candidate filing a petition for a recount or contest is liable for the expenses chargeable to another party. Provides that a petition for a recount or contest may not be filed earlier than noon 10 days after election day. Specifies, with regard to filling a candidate vacancy for a local office, that an authorization to fill vacancies given to a county chairman or a county committee expires at the time of the next election for precinct committeemen for the party with which the county chairman or county committee is affiliated. Provides that action to fill an early candidate vacancy must be taken not earlier than May 8 after the primary election if the vacancy exists on a general or municipal election ballot. Provides that if only one person seeks to fill a vacancy in a local office held by a major political party, a caucus vote is not required and the county chairman may select that person to fill the vacancy. Provides that certain state officers are liable to impeachment for crime, incapacity, or negligence in office. (Current law provides that these officers are liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office.) Specifies, for purposes of nepotism provisions, that the performance of certain duties of an absentee voter board, an absentee ballot counter, a provisional ballot counter, or an absentee ballot courier is not considered employment by a unit.

Ballot tracking commission. Establishes the ballot tracking commission to review data concerning technology to track an absentee ballot using real-time tracking information. Provides that the commission expires June 30, 2026.

Annexation. Allows the Town of Plainfield in Hendricks County (town) to annex a noncontiguous residential development that meets certain requirements. Provides that the annexation is initiated by: (1) the homeowner's association board petitioning the town legislative body for annexation of the residential development; and (2) the town legislative body adopting a resolution approving initiation of the annexation process. Provides that the town may not do the following: (1) Use the annexation territory to annex additional territory. (2) Annex additional territory within the unincorporated area extending 1/2 mile from the boundaries of the annexation territory, unless the annexation is with the consent of all of the landowners within the area to be annexed. (3) Annex, under any type of annexation, within the area that extends from the boundary of the 1/2 mile area to the town. Provides that the town's redevelopment commission may only enact a housing tax increment financing district in Liberty Township in Hendricks County if the district is approved by a resolution passed by the Mill Creek School Corporation.

Facilities regulation. Provides that an employee of a child caring institution is not personally liable, except to the state, for an official act done or omitted in connection with performance of the employee's duties. Requires a child caring institution to be in compliance with certain reporting requirements in order to be issued a license. Requires certain individuals to complete an electronic report not later than one hour after submitting a verbal report of abuse or neglect to the department of child services. Requires the department of child services to create the form for the electronic report.