Closed captioning. Requires that an owner or operator of a public accommodation must activate closed captioning on all television receivers that are in use during regular hours. Allows the civil rights commission (commission) to investigate violations and enforce compliance. Provides that the commission may impose a civil penalty of $75 for each violation. Establishes certain notice requirements. Requires that the commission waive a civil penalty if an owner or operator complies not later than 30 days after a notice is mailed for the first violation.

Reciprocity and audiology compact. Establishes a procedure to grant licenses and certificates to practice certain health care professions in Indiana. Requires the applicant to hold a current license or certificate from another state or jurisdiction and meet other requirements. Allows the applicant who meets certain requirements to apply for a provisional license or provisional certificate. Requires the provisional license or provisional certificate to be issued within 30 days. Provides for penalties for submitting false information on an application for a provisional license or provisional certificate. Requires a board to make a final decision on a license or certificate application before the expiration of a provisional license or provisional certificate. Provides that if a board has a pending application for initial licensure or certification that requires final approval by the board, the board shall meet not more than 31 days after the application is ready for approval. Provides that the medical licensing board may not issue a physician's license to an applicant using the reciprocity law beginning July 1, 2026. Eliminates certain requirements for an applicant seeking licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, addiction counselor, or clinical addiction counselor. Requires the boards that regulate bachelor's degree social workers, social workers, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, licensed addiction counselors, licensed clinical addiction counselors, and respiratory care practitioners to issue a license by reciprocity within 30 days if certain requirements are met. Requires the speech-language pathology and audiology board to, before January 1, 2023, initiate and make every effort to enter into reciprocity agreements with contiguous states for individuals licensed as: (1) a speech-language pathologist; and (2) an audiologist; to practice the individual's profession under the license from one state in the other state. Adopts the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact. Makes conforming amendments.

Various elections matters. Provides that the security agreement that counties are required to enter into with the secretary of state must be funded by money received from the federal government or from money appropriated by the general assembly. Provides that before an individual can access an absentee ballot application that is submitted in an electronic format using a module of the computerized list, the individual must provide either the individual's Indiana driver's license number or the last four digits of the individual's Social Security number. Provides that under certain circumstances, a person is entitled to vote by absentee ballot by mail if the person is unable to vote: (1) during the period of time a voter may vote by absentee ballot in person before the absentee voter board; (2) on election day; or (3) on election day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open. (Current law provides that under certain circumstances, a person is entitled to vote by absentee ballot by mail if the person is unable to vote on election day or on election day during the entire 12 hours that the polls are open.) Requires that voting before an absentee voter board at the circuit court clerk's office or at a satellite office be referred to as "early voting" on all forms prescribed by the election division and in all communications with voters. Repeals language that requires the circuit court clerk to provide notice containing certain information to each voter who casts a provisional ballot. Changes the term "risk-limiting audit" to "post-election audit". Removes the word "pilot" from the chapter concerning post-election audits. Provides that the secretary of state shall determine the number of elections that are subject to a post-election audit. Makes conforming changes.

Child fatality reporting. Requires the state child fatality review coordinator to provide to each local child fatality review team a data collection form for reporting data regarding child fatalities. Specifies additional information that must be included in the department of child services' annual report regarding child fatalities that are the result of abuse or neglect.

Connections to water and sewer systems. Prohibits: (1) a local unit; or (2) a water or wastewater utility; that is not under the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for the approval of rates and charges from charging or collecting from a property owner a capacity related fee or a tap fee either of which is established after June 30, 2022, and that includes contributions in aid of construction. Provides that if a local unit or a utility charges a property owner a capacity related fee or a tap fee that is established after June 30, 2022, and that is based, in whole or in part, on contributions in aid of construction, the property owner is entitled to request to meet with the local unit or the utility to review: (1) the engineering and financial analyses the fee was based on; and (2) if applicable, the ordinance adopting the fee. Requires a local unit or a utility to meet with a property owner for such a review not later than 30 days after receipt of the property owner's request. Provides that if a meeting and review does not result in a satisfactory resolution, the property owner may file with the IURC a petition challenging the fee. Provides that if the IURC determines the capacity related fee or tap fee is based in whole or in part on contributions in aid of construction, the IURC shall: (1) invalidate the fee; or (2) modify the fee to comply with these provisions. Amends the statute that provides an exemption from the requirement to connect to a regional sewer district's sewer system to a property owner whose septic tank soil absorption system was new at the time of installation as follows: (1) Provides that the local health department's designee or a qualified inspector (in addition to the local health department) may approve the property owner's septic tank soil absorption system at the time of installation. (2) Provides that the 10 year exemption is measured from the date of the required written determination of the local health department, the department's designee, or a qualified inspector that the property owner's septic tank soil absorption system is not failing. (Current law provides that the 10 year exemption is measured from the date the new septic tank soil absorption system was installed.) Defines "residential onsite sewage system" as the term is defined by the state department of health (department) in the department's rule concerning residential onsite sewage systems (department's rule). Changes instances of the term "residential septic system" in current law to the term "residential onsite sewage system". Prohibits a local health department from refusing an application for a permit for a residential onsite sewage system solely because the residential onsite sewage system has not been used previously in the jurisdiction of the local health department or is unfamiliar to the local health department, if the residential onsite sewage system has been approved for general use in Indiana by the department's technical review panel. Provides that if the local health department in one jurisdiction has issued a permit for a particular type of residential onsite sewage system, the local health department in another jurisdiction may not refuse to issue a permit for a residential onsite sewage system of that same type if: (1) a registered professional engineer; (2) a registered soil scientist; (3) a residential onsite sewage system installer; and (4) (if applicable) the designer of the residential onsite sewage system; approve of the use of that type of system in the second jurisdiction. Provides that if a registered professional engineer certifies: (1) that the location, design, proposed construction, and proposed installation of a planned residential onsite sewage system comply with the department's rule, a local health department may not disapprove an application for a permit for the residential onsite sewage system; (2) that the design, construction, installation, location, maintenance, and operation of an existing residential onsite sewage system comply with the department's rule, a local health department may not issue an order on the basis that the residential onsite sewage system is a failed system; and (3) that an existing residential onsite sewage system is not functioning properly but can be restored to proper functioning through repair, a local health department must allow the repair of the residential onsite sewage system to be made in accordance with the certification of the professional engineer. Provides that a local health department may not deny a permit for a residential onsite sewage system in a particular location on the grounds that the soil of the location is too heavily compacted if a registered soil scientist certifies that the soil can be made suitable for the residential onsite sewage system in not more than two years through the planting of plants that loosen and aerate the soil or through other means. Provides that after June 30, 2023, a local ordinance or a local health department may not impose residential onsite sewage system requirements, restrictions, or conditions that are more stringent than those of the department's rule. Requires a local health department to issue, in certain circumstances, a permit for a residential onsite sewage system not more than 30 business days after receiving the application for the permit. Effective July 1, 2023, voids a provision of the department's rule stating that the rule does not prohibit local ordinances from imposing requirements more stringent than the requirements of the department's rule. Changes population parameters used in an Indiana Code section concerning the installation of a residential onsite sewage system in fill soil, so as to reflect the population count determined under the 2020 decennial census. Amends the Indiana Code section governing the procedures for a proposal to amend or partially repeal a zoning ordinance to require a plan commission to vote on the proposal not later than 60 days after holding the public hearing on the proposal. Provides that a property owner whose property is incorporated into the territory of a municipal sanitation district (regardless of whether the property owner has filed a written remonstrance or an appeal with respect to the incorporation) is exempt from a requirement to connect to the district's sewer system and to discontinue use of a sewage disposal system on the property owner's property if: (1) the property owner's sewage disposal system: (A) was new at the time of installation; and (B) was approved in writing by the local health department, the department's designee, or a qualified inspector; and (2) the property owner obtains a written determination from the local health department, the department's designee, or a qualified inspector that the property owner's sewage disposal system is not failing. Provides that a property owner who qualifies for this exemption may not be required to connect to the district's sewer system for a period of 10 years beginning on the date of the required written determination of the local health department, the department's designee, or a qualified inspector that the property owner's septic tank soil absorption system is not failing. Provides that a property owner may apply for two five-year extensions of the exemption. Limits the total period during which a property may be exempt from the requirement to connect to a district's sewer system to not more than 20 years, regardless of ownership of the property. Sets forth certain time frames and requirements that apply to a property owner who seeks to claim the exemption. Provides that this exemption does not apply to a property owner whose property is incorporated into a district if: (1) the district has received approval from the Indiana finance authority before January 1, 2022, of a preliminary engineering report: (A) for a project to construct the sewer line to which the property owner's property is being required to connect; and (B) in connection with funding from the wastewater or drinking water revolving loan program; and (2) the timing and requirements for connection to the district's sewer system are the same for all property owners being required to connect to the district's sewer system under the terms of the project.

Criminal justice study committee and reform. Establishes the criminal justice study committee (committee) to conduct a multiyear, comprehensive study of the criminal justice system. Establishes the criminal justice reform commission (commission). Provides for the: (1) membership; (2) membership terms; (3) appointing authorities; (4) quorum requirements; (5) reporting requirements; (6) member per diems; and (7) study topics; for the commission.

Child care provider employees. Requires the department of child services (department) to provide the criminal history check results obtained by the department in connection with an individual's employment with the department to a child caring institution, group home, or child placing agency (child care provider) with which the individual is employed or has applied for employment. Provides that an individual may be employed by a child care provider before the state mandated criminal history check of the individual is completed if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) The individual's: (A) fingerprint based check of national crime information data bases; (B) national sex offender registry check; (C) in-state local criminal records check; and (D) in-state child protection index check; have been completed. (2) If the individual has resided outside Indiana at any time during the five years preceding the individual's date of hire, the individual's: (A) out-of-state child abuse registry check; and (B) out-of-state local criminal records check; have been requested. (3) The individual's employment before the completion of the state mandated criminal history check is limited to training during which the individual: (A) does not have contact with children who are under the care and control of the child care provider; and (B) does not have access to records containing information regarding children who are under the care and control of the child care provider. (4) The individual completes an attestation, under penalty of perjury, disclosing: (A) any abuse or neglect complaints made against the individual with the child welfare agency of a state other than Indiana in which the individual resided within the five years preceding the date of the attestation; and (B) any contact the individual had with a law enforcement agency in connection with the individual's suspected or alleged commission of a crime in a state other than Indiana in which the individual resided within the five years preceding the date of the attestation. Provides that if: (1) an individual who applies for employment with a child care provider was previously employed by the child care provider; and (2) the child care provider still possesses the results of any criminal history check of the individual conducted in connection with the individual's previous employment with the child care provider; the criminal history check of the individual may be limited to a check of the state records of each state in which the individual resided after the date on which the individual's previous employment with the child care provider ended. Allows a child care provider to provide the criminal history check results obtained by the child care provider in connection with an individual's employment with the child care provider to another child care provider with which the individual is employed or has applied for employment.

Home based vendors. Specifies the requirements for the preparation and sale of food products as a home based vendor. Reorganizes provisions concerning the sale of certain food products by an individual vendor at a farmers' market or roadside stand. Requires an individual who sells poultry, rabbits, and eggs at a farmers' market or roadside stand to comply with certain requirements. Makes conforming changes.

Subdividing land. Requires a unit to allow a property owner to subdivide the owner's property by deed if certain requirements are met. Requires the property owner to file an application with the plan commission accompanied by a plat drawing, the recorded deed of the parent parcel, and any application fee. Provides that the application must be reviewed and approved by the plan commission staff or the plan director, without a public hearing or the approval of the plan commission. Provides that approval of the application does not exempt the property owner from complying with any other requirements regarding construction of a new single family residential home, including obtaining a building permit. Provides that if the number of lots that are created by the subdivision make the provisions of the subdivision ordinance applicable, the property owner must comply with the ordinance, except for any provisions controlling lot size.

Possession of firearms. Repeals provisions concerning the: (1) confiscation and retention of firearms from a dangerous person; (2) compilation and publication of statistics related to the confiscation and retention of firearms from a dangerous person; and (3) making of a false report that a person is dangerous. Modifies a provision concerning a petition to find that an individual is no longer dangerous.

Child placement and permanency. Provides that a juvenile court in a child in need of services (CHINS) proceeding: (1) may extend the time to complete the required factfinding hearing: (A) for good cause shown; and (B) if the court determines that the extension is in the child's best interests; (2) may (rather than shall, under current law) dismiss a CHINS case without prejudice if the factfinding hearing is not held before the statutorily required deadline; (3) may not enter a dispositional decree approving or ordering placement of a child in another home if an: (A) individual who resides in the home; or (B) individual with whom a person residing in the home is engaged in a dating relationship or other ongoing, nonfamilial relationship (household member); has committed one or more specified offenses; and (4) may not approve a permanency plan under which the child would be placed: (A) with the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; or (B) with an adoptive parent; if a person who is currently residing in the home in which the child would reside has committed an act resulting in a substantiated report of child abuse or neglect or has committed one or more specified offenses. Provides that before reunifying a child with the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, the department of child services (department) shall (rather than may, under current law): (1) conduct a criminal history check of: (A) the parent, guardian, or custodian; and (B) a household member of the parent, guardian, or custodian; and (2) consider the results of the criminal history check in deciding whether it is safe for the child to return home. Provides that if the circumstances that prompted the removal of a child from the home of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian included danger to the child's physical or mental health or safety related to the use of alcohol or a controlled substance by the parent, guardian, or custodian, or by a household member of the parent, guardian, or custodian, the department may require as a condition of reunification of the child with the parent, guardian, or custodian that the parent, guardian, custodian, or household member: (1) successfully complete a substance abuse treatment program; and (2) submit to periodic, random testing for alcohol or controlled substances. Amends and adds to the conditions under which reasonable efforts to reunify a child with the child's parent, guardian, or custodian, or preserve a child's family, are not required. Provides that if a hearing regarding a petition to terminate the parent-child relationship is not held before the statutorily required deadline: (1) upon filing of a motion with the court by a party to the proceeding; and (2) absent good cause shown for the failure to hold the hearing before the statutorily required deadline; the court shall dismiss the petition without prejudice.

Alleys. Requires cities to use a percentage of the funds distributed from the motor vehicle highway account for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, and maintenance of alleys. Provides that the percentage allocated for the construction, reconstruction, improvement, and maintenance of alleys is based on population parameters.

Gary Community Schools. Establishes procedures to appoint members to the governing body of the Gary Community School Corporation. Establishes procedures for transferring responsibility of financial and academic matters from the emergency manager to the governing body. Provides that the Gary Community School Corporation is not subject to collective bargaining. Removes obsolete provisions and makes conforming amendments. Provides that, before October 31, 2024, and before each October 31 thereafter, the governing body must submit a report to the distressed unit appeal board summarizing the financial position and operations of the school corporation for the previous state fiscal year. Repeals provisions relating to the election of advisory board members for the Gary Community School Corporation.

Health matters. Amends the definitions of "practitioner", for purposes of the health professions and professional standards of practice laws, to include individuals who held a license, certificate, registration, or permit when the alleged violation of the standard of practice occurred. Makes technical corrections and conforming changes to certain health related laws.

Newborn safety device. Modifies the newborn safety device requirements that apply to a fire department. Modifies the immunity provisions applicable to certain individuals and entities that take custody of a child or operate a newborn safety device. Makes conforming changes.