Monday, March 23, 2026
As states across the country face billions of dollars of welfare fraud, Senate Republicans made it their top priority during the 2026 legislative session to protect Indiana from bad actors and preserve programs like SNAP and Medicaid for the Hoosier families that need them most.
Senate Enrolled Act 1 is a comprehensive reform package, taking steps to aggressively dismantle waste, fraud and abuse in the state's public assistance programs.
One important step this bill takes to protect Hoosiers’ benefits is increasing eligibility checks for public assistance programs. This will help verify that the neediest Hoosiers are getting benefits while weeding out others who do not qualify. Additionally, SEA 1 requires the state government to verify the immigration status of people applying for Medicaid and SNAP to ensure illegal immigrants do not receive benefits.
It also closes the "broad-based categorical eligibility" loophole in Indiana’s system, which has allowed individuals to bypass financial scrutiny and receive benefits they do not qualify for. SEA 1 ensures everyone goes through the proper application process to make sure only those who are truly eligible receive the state’s benefits.
This legislation also builds upon work Senate Republicans did during the 2025 legislative session to reform Medicaid. The new 2026 law now includes a work requirement for able-bodied, working-age adults and improves verification of recipients' eligibility.
Senate Republicans remain dedicated to enacting laws that help ensure Indiana's public assistance programs are run with financial integrity and preserved for Hoosiers who truly need them.
