Lawmakers send needle exchange program extension bill, ‘Carmen’s Law’ to Gov. Braun’s desk

(WPTA, WTHR) - Among the bills passed by the Indiana General Assembly on Wednesday were two pieces of public safety legislation.

They now head to Governor Mike Braun’s desk.

Needle exchange program extension bill

Senate Bill 91 passed 38-10, with all opposing votes coming from Republicans.

The legislation would place Indiana’s needle exchange program under tighter restrictions, requiring participants to present identification proving residency in the exchange program’s region while also limiting operators to providing one sterile needle for each used one provided.

Currently, Allen County, as well as five other of the state’s 92 counties, participate in the program.

The legislation would also extend the program’s use through July 2031.

According to its supporters, the bill limits the spread of disease among people using intravenous drugs.

‘Carmen’s Law’

House Bill 1248 passed unanimously in the House, after being returned from the Senate with amendments.

The legislation would allow families to request advanced DNA testing in cold cases through approved nonprofits, with fundraising to assist with covering the cost.

The cost of the testing usually ranges between $20,000 to $40,000.

According to the bill’s author, the legislation gives investigators additional resources and families another opportunity for justice.

The bill has been coined ‘Carmen’s Law’, named after 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss, who was killed in her northwest Indianapolis apartment in 1993.

Carmen’s case went cold until 2024, when Dana Shepard was arrested, following DNA testing.

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