Indiana Lawmakers Seek to Expand Abortion Ban with New Legislation

Senate Bill 236 aims to restrict access to abortion-inducing drugs and allow private lawsuits against providers

Jan. 29, 2026 at 11:31pm

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Indiana lawmakers are pushing for a new bill, Senate Bill 236, that would further restrict access to abortion-inducing drugs in the state. The bill would change the legal definitions of abortions and abortion drugs, prevent medications from being shipped into Indiana, and create a private right of action allowing anyone to file a wrongful death lawsuit against those who manufacture, distribute, mail, transport, prescribe or provide abortion-inducing drugs. Supporters say the bill closes loopholes, while opponents argue it is a sweeping prohibition that could allow private citizens to sue Hoosier women.

Why it matters

This legislation is the latest effort by Indiana lawmakers to limit abortion access in the state following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The bill highlights the ongoing debate over reproductive rights and the role of government in regulating access to abortion-related healthcare.

The details

Senate Bill 236, authored by Republican Senators Tyler Johnson and Liz Brown, would change how abortions and abortion drugs are legally defined in Indiana. The bill would prevent abortion-inducing medications from being shipped into the state by non-medical providers. It would also create a private right of action, allowing any person to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against those who manufacture, distribute, mail, transport, prescribe or provide abortion-inducing drugs in violation of the law. If the plaintiff prevails, the court must award at least $100,000 per violation, along with court costs and attorney fees.

  • Senate Bill 236 passed the Indiana Senate 35-10 on January 24, 2026.
  • The bill is now headed to the Indiana House Public Health committee for its first reading.

The players

Sen. Tyler Johnson

A Republican senator from Leo, Indiana, and the primary author of Senate Bill 236.

Sen. Liz Brown

A Republican senator from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a co-author of Senate Bill 236.

Sen. Andrea Hunley

A Democratic senator from Indianapolis who proposed amendments to Senate Bill 236 to provide legal immunity for women seeking abortions across state lines and their family members.

Sen. Shelli Yoder

A Democratic senator from Bloomington who proposed an amendment to remove the qui tam (private right of action) language from Senate Bill 236.

Sen. Greg Taylor

A Democratic senator from Indianapolis who questioned the bill's approach of penalizing people after they have already provided abortion-inducing drugs.

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What they’re saying

“Senate Bill 236 is a vital measure to protect the sanctity of life in Indiana. At its core, the bill clarifies and strengthens our state's commitment to the unborn by establishing meaningful accountability for those who seek to undermine that commitment.”

— Sen. Tyler Johnson (TheStatehouseFile.com)

“This is pregnancy policing at its most extreme. SB 236 replaces trust in medical care with fear, surveillance, and punishment. It will deter people from seeking care and force health care clinicians to practice under constant threat.”

— Haley Bougher, State Director, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates (Indiana Reproductive Health and Access Coalition)

“This is a thinly veiled attempt to scare people away from accessing health care by deputizing and financially incentivizing private citizens to police their own communities. We see right through it. Hoosiers deserve better, and this bill will cause real harm to pregnant people and the people who care for them.”

— Danielle Drake, Advocacy Manager, ACLU of Indiana (Indiana Reproductive Health and Access Coalition)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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