Postconviction proceedings. Establishes a procedure for postconviction relief.

Education matters. Prohibits a school corporation, public school, governing body of a school corporation, or state educational institution from spending public funds to: (1) hire or contract with, for the purpose of lobbying a member of the general assembly, a person required to register as a lobbyist; or (2) pay a nonprofit association or organization that: (A) primarily represents school corporations, public schools, governing bodies, or state educational institutions; and (B) hires or contracts with a person required to register as a lobbyist. Provides that a taxpayer or resident of Indiana may bring a civil action for a violation of the prohibited conduct. Provides that a school corporation may not convert a scheduled instructional day to virtual instruction because of the planned or coordinated absence of teachers or other personnel for the purpose of participating in a protest, demonstration, or political advocacy event. Provides that a school corporation that violates this provision is subject to a reduction in state tuition support for each day of violation. Provides that a school employer may not deduct any dues, fee, assessment, or other sum of money from the wages or other earnings of an employee to hold for or pay to a school employee organization. Repeals provisions regarding certain deductions of dues from pay by school employers.

Local regulation of no impact home based businesses. Limits municipal regulation of a no impact home based business.

Penalties for certain sex offenses. Defines "aggravated child molesting". Provides that the state may seek either a death sentence or a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for a person convicted of aggravated child molesting. Provides requirements for a jury or court to impose either a death sentence or a sentence of life imprisonment without parole. Makes conforming changes.

Domestic violence investigations. Requires a law enforcement officer to administer a lethality assessment for domestic violence incidents. Requires data to be transmitted to a local domestic violence fatality review team and the statewide domestic violence fatality review committee. Provides that a law enforcement officer responding to the scene of an alleged crime involving domestic or family violence shall use all reasonable means to prevent further violence, including administering a lethality assessment. Provides that all statements communicated in a lethality assessment are not admissible as evidence against the victim in any judicial proceeding and not discoverable in any litigation. Provides that the statewide domestic violence fatality review committee shall collect and analyze data concerning domestic violence lethality assessments. Makes conforming changes.

Child welfare provider protections. Prohibits a governmental entity from discriminating against a person in adoption and foster care matters based on the person's sincerely held religious belief. Allows a person to sue a governmental entity for discriminating against the person and allows for certain remedies. Provides that there is a two year statute of limitation for a discrimination claim.

Prevention of elder abuse. Precludes certain individuals who have been convicted of particular crimes from providing certain types of in-home care for compensation. Prohibits the division of aging from registering certain individuals for purposes of attendant care services.

Department of child services ombudsman. Provides that the office of the department of child services ombudsman (ombudsman office) shall (rather than may, under current law): (1) employ technical experts and other employees to carry out the purposes of the ombudsman office; (2) receive, investigate, and attempt to resolve complaints alleging that the department of child services failed to protect the physical or mental health or safety of a child or failed to follow specific laws, rules, or written policies; (3) issue recommendations if: (A) the ombudsman office determines that a complaint has merit; or (B) an investigation by the ombudsman office reveals a problem with an agency, facility, or program; and (4) take other specified actions and undertake other specified initiatives. Provides that if a local child protection team is involved in the initial investigation of a matter, a different local child protection team shall (rather than may, under current law) assist the ombudsman office in the ombudsman office's investigation of the matter.

Obtaining copies of recorded documents. Prohibits a person from using the person's own equipment to copy a recorded document. Specifies that a county recorder is required to charge the fees in the county recorder's statutes for copying documents.

Indiana bright start program and fund. Establishes the Indiana bright start program (program) to support the early learning and child care needs of working families with eligible children. Provides that the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) shall develop and implement the program, and may contract with nonprofit corporations to facilitate the program. Establishes the Indiana bright start program fund. Requires the office, beginning October 1, 2027, to annually submit a report to the governor and legislative council with information concerning the program.

IURC and utility audits. Provides that every three years, beginning in 2026, the state board of accounts shall conduct an audit of the funds, accounts, financial affairs, and all compliance related matters of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for the state fiscal year ending in the year in which the audit is conducted. Provides that a report of an audit conducted under these provisions must be submitted to the executive director of the legislative services agency for distribution to members of the general assembly. Provides that the IURC: (1) may, with good cause, as part of an examination, inquiry, or investigation authorized by specified statutes conduct a forensic audit of a public utility; and (2) shall as part of a base rate case that is filed with or pending before the IURC after December 31, 2025, for a change in a public utility's basic rates and charges, conduct a forensic audit of the public utility. Authorizes the IURC to appoint: (1) an independent accounting firm; or (2) another qualified agent; with experience or expertise in conducting forensic audits to conduct a forensic audit under these provisions. Specifies the scope of a forensic audit under these provisions. Provides that upon the completion of a forensic audit, the IURC may do the following: (1) Issue an order directing the public utility to take actions to correct or cure certain acts or practices examined as part of the audit. (2) Refer any suspected criminal activities uncovered during the audit to an appropriate law enforcement agency or prosecutorial agency or official. Specifies how expenses incurred by the IURC or the IURC's agent in conducting a forensic audit under this section shall be charged and paid.

Township reorganization. Provides that on January 1, 2028, certain townships are dissolved and their powers, duties, offices, and property are transferred to a municipality or county. Requires a township to adopt a resolution not later than June 1, 2026, that designates the municipality or county (designated unit) that will reorganize with the township. Requires the appointment of a joint board consisting of representatives of the township and the designated unit to prepare a plan of reorganization. Provides that a township must reorganize with the county if: (1) the township does not adopt a resolution by June 1, 2026; or (2) the municipality that the township designated in its resolution does not adopt a reorganization plan by December 31, 2026. Provides that if: (1) the designated unit is a municipality; and (2) part of a township is located outside the municipality; the municipality must establish an urban township services district and a rural township services district. Requires the county fiscal body to approve the budget, tax rate, and tax levy imposed by the municipality within the boundaries of the rural township services district. Provides that a designated unit has all of the powers of the government modernization act in reorganizing the township. Amends the government modernization act to require a political subdivision to respond to a resolution that names the political subdivision as a participant in a proposed reorganization. Provides that a township that operates a fire department is not subject to dissolution. Provides that a township does not operate a fire department if the township is a participating unit (not a provider unit) in a fire protection territory (territory) or is within a fire protection district (district). Provides that after a reorganization: (1) the area within the boundaries of the dissolved township remains in the territory or district; and (2) the designated unit succeeds the dissolved township in its role in the territory or district.

Public notices. Requires the Indiana office of technology (office) to establish a state public notice website not later than July 1, 2028. Prohibits the office from charging a fee for publishing or viewing notices. Allows a person to satisfy any notice statute by publishing notice in any of the following forms of media: (1) Newspaper, including print edition or electronic edition. (2) Locality newspaper, including print edition or electronic edition. (3) The state public notice website. (4) Political subdivision website. (5) The Hoosier State Press Association public notice website. Requires the Indiana archives and records administration (administration) to establish standards and guidelines and enter into memoranda of understanding with agencies for the transfer and preservation of public notices from the state public notice website to the administration to preserve public notices for historical purposes.

Sale of hemp containing products. Provides that a person selling certain hemp products may not permit an individual less than 21 years of age to enter the retail premises, and makes a violation a Class C infraction.

Health and human services matters. Amends the duties of the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) concerning Medicaid home and community based services waivers (waiver). Requires: (1) a provider of waiver services to provide certain documentation to a waiver recipient; (2) a waiver recipient to review the documentation and report errors or inconsistencies; and (3) the recipient's case manager to provide assistance to the recipient in reviewing the documentation and reporting any errors or inconsistencies. Requires certain Medicaid recipients to choose the recipient's provider of integrated health care coordination. Provides that integrated health care coordination provided by a provider of assisted living services is not duplicative of certain other services. Establishes a time frame in which the bureau of disabilities services must review and approve or deny requests for an increase in service units provided to certain individuals with a disability. Requires the office to apply to the federal government for: (1) a new Medicaid waiver to provide assisted living services; and (2) an amendment to a specific Medicaid home and community based services waiver to establish an individual cost limit of not more than the institutional cost of nursing facility services. Specifies that provisions concerning reimbursement for assisted living services for individuals who are aged and disabled and receiving services under a Medicaid waiver apply to the new assisted living Medicaid waiver. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2027, an individual is no longer a member of the covered population upon receiving nursing facility services for 100 consecutive days. Provides that on the one hundredth day, the individual is not a member of the covered population and shall receive Medicaid services under a fee for service program. Provides that a provision prohibiting the office from reducing reimbursement for home health services expires June 30, 2027. Requires the office to collaborate with certain entities to develop a new reimbursement methodology for home health services. Specifies that public notice of at least six months (rather than one year) must be provided before a health facility service reimbursement that results in a reduction in reimbursement may be changed. Amends the definition of "bulk drug substance" for provisions concerning drug compounding. Provides that a claim by the estate recovery unit of the office of Medicaid policy and planning (estate recovery unit) is forever barred unless the estate recovery unit files a claim in the court in which the decedent's estate is being administered not later than nine months after the date of death of the decedent.