Indiana SB 182: Gender issues.

Bill Text

Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 182
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 1-1-4-5; IC 11-10; IC 16-37-2; IC 24-15-2-14.
Synopsis: Gender issues. Defines "female", "male", "gender", and
"sex" for all Indiana statutes. Provides that the department of correction
shall assign an offender, including a delinquent offender, to a facility
or program that is based on the offender's biological sex at birth.
Clarifies that a local health officer shall mark the sex of an individual
as male or female on a birth certificate. Provides that the Indiana
department of health may make an addition to a birth certificate, for
purposes of paternity, in certain situations. Provides the circumstances
for when the sex designation on a birth certificate can be amended.
Effective: July 1, 2026.
Brown L
January 5, 2026, read first time and referred to Committee on Health and Provider
Services.
2026 IN 182—LS 6808/DI 107

Introduced
Second Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2026)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SENATE BILL No. 182
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
general provisions.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 1-1-4-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.238-2025,
2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2026]: Sec. 5. (a) The following definitions apply to the
4 construction of all Indiana statutes, unless the construction is plainly
5 repugnant to the intent of the general assembly or of the context of the
6 statute:
7 (1) "Adult", "of full age", and "person in his majority" mean a
8 person at least eighteen (18) years of age.
9 (2) "Attorney" includes a counselor or other person authorized to
10 appear and represent a party in an action or special proceeding.
11 (3) "Autism" means a neurological condition as described in the
12 most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
13 Mental Disorders of the American Psychiatric Association.
14 (4) "Bond" does not necessarily imply a seal.
15 (5) "Clerk" means the clerk of the court or a person authorized to
16 perform the clerk's duties.
17 (6) Except as provided in subsection (c), "female", when
2026 IN 182—LS 6808/DI 107

2
1 referencing the human species, means an individual who
2 naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a
3 congenital anomaly, an intentional disruption, or an
4 unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some
5 point produces, transports, and utilizes eggs for fertilization.
6 (7) "Gender", when used alone to refer to males, females, or
7 the natural differences between males and females is a
8 synonym for sex.
9 (6) (8) "Health record", "hospital record", or "medical record"
10 means written or printed information possessed by a provider (as
11 defined in IC 16-18-2-295) concerning any diagnosis, treatment,
12 or prognosis of the patient, unless otherwise defined. Except as
13 otherwise provided, the terms include mental health records and
14 drug and alcohol abuse records.
15 (7) (9) "Highway" includes county bridges and state and county
16 roads, unless otherwise expressly provided.
17 (8) (10) "Infant" or "minor" means a person less than eighteen
18 (18) years of age.
19 (9) (11) "Inhabitant" may be construed to mean a resident in any
20 place.
21 (10) (12) "Judgment" means all final orders, decrees, and
22 determinations in an action and all orders upon which executions
23 may issue.
24 (11) (13) "Land", "real estate", and "real property" include lands,
25 tenements, and hereditaments.
26 (14) Except as provided in subsection (c), "male", when
27 referencing the human species, means an individual who
28 naturally has, had, will have, or would have, but for a
29 congenital anomaly, an intentional disruption, or an
30 unintentional disruption, the reproductive system that at some
31 point produces, transports, and utilizes sperm for fertilization.
32 (12) (15) "Mentally incompetent" means of unsound mind.
33 (13) (16) "Money demands on contract", when used in reference
34 to an action, means an action arising out of contract when the
35 relief demanded is a recovery of money.
36 (14) (17) "Month" means a calendar month, unless otherwise
37 expressed.
38 (15) (18) "Noncode