Bauer introduces 2026 legislation focused on safety, accountability and protecting Hoosiers
State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) introduced her 2026 legislative agenda focused on strengthening public safety, protecting Hoosiers from emerging threats, and ensuring commonsense standards across health care, technology and the criminal justice system.
Bauer’s legislation centers on prevention, accountability and closing gaps in existing law to better reflect the realities Hoosiers face in their homes, workplaces and communities.
“These bills are about protecting people,” Bauer said. “Whether that means ensuring patients are safe in medical settings, helping first responders do their jobs more safely, or responding to new forms of exploitation and violence, Hoosiers deserve laws that work for the world we live in today.”
Bauer’s 2026 legislative agenda includes:
Ensuring proper safety requirements for sonography and ultrasound practices (HB 1014), strengthening patient protections and professional standards in medical imaging facilities.
Digital warnings for first responder safety (HB 1167), expanding digital alert tools to help law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs safely respond to emergency calls.
Criminalizing the possession and distribution of digitally created sexual images (HB 1182), addressing the growing misuse of AI and digitally altered images to exploit and harm individuals.
Court-ordered offender education for unlawful proposition (HB 1269), creating opportunities for intervention and education to reduce repeat offenses and improve community safety.
Preventing domestic violence fatalities through improved data collection (HB 1310), strengthening coordination and data-sharing to identify risk factors and prevent lethal outcomes.
Together, the legislation prioritizes proactive solutions that improve public safety, support victims, and hold offenders accountable while modernizing Indiana law.
Bauer’s agenda aligns with priorities advanced by House Democrats through the Working Hoosiers Agenda, which focuses on protecting working families and ensuring Indiana laws promote safety, fairness, and opportunity.
“Public safety is foundational to strong communities and a strong workforce,” Bauer said. “This legislative package focuses on prevention, accountability and making sure our laws protect the people they are intended to serve.”