Garten’s Landmark Reform to End Welfare Waste, Fraud, and Abuse and Protect Taxpayer Dollars Heads to Governor’s Desk

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEHOUSE (Feb. 25, 2026) — Senate Majority Floor Leader Chris Garten’s (R-Charlestown) comprehensive reform package to aggressively dismantle waste, fraud, and abuse within Indiana's Medicaid and SNAP programs passed the Senate today by a vote of 39-9. Senate Enrolled Act 1 now moves to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law.

As the Senate Republican Caucus' top legislative priority, SEA 1 creates a permanent "Hoosiers First" firewall, ensuring that public assistance is reserved exclusively for legal residents and those who play by the rules.

"Hoosiers are a generous people, but that generosity is not a blank check for those who have broken our laws to enter this country," Garten said. "My commitment is simple: every single dollar of SNAP and Medicaid funding must go to the Hoosiers who are actually eligible for them. This bill ensures that not one penny of hardworking taxpayers’ money is diverted to illegal aliens."

SEA 1 strengthens the integrity of Indiana’s safety net through several rigorous enforcement measures:

• Zero Tolerance for Illegal Benefit Access: The bill mandates that any applicant unable to verify legal residency will be barred from receiving benefits and face immediate referral to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for investigation.
• Restoring the Asset Test: The legislation closes the "broad-based categorical eligibility" loophole—a bureaucratic shortcut that previously allowed individuals to bypass financial scrutiny. SEA 1 restores a thorough, mandatory review of every applicant’s assets to ensure only those in true financial need receive assistance.
• Work for Benefits: It reinstates strict work requirements for able-bodied, working-age adults on the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), shifting the focus from government dependency to workforce participation and self-reliance.

"In just four years, Medicaid costs in Indiana have doubled," Garten added. "We cannot allow our system to be bankrupt by fraud or weakened by those who are not legally entitled to be here. By restoring conservative principles and closing these loopholes, we are ensuring these programs remain financially solvent for our most vulnerable neighbors who truly need them."

SEA 1 represents the most significant overhaul of Indiana’s welfare eligibility standards in a generation, prioritizing fiscal responsibility and the rule of law.

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State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) represents Senate District 45,
which includes Clark County and portions of Floyd County.
He serves as the Senate Majority Floor Leader.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.

Contact: Lance Gideon, Senior Press Secretary
Lance.Gideon@iga.in.gov
317-234-9221