Indiana bill protecting first responders' use of mental health resource moves to Senate
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The Indiana House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill on Wednesday that aims to protect the confidentiality of first responders debriefing after a traumatic event.
State Representative Wendy McNamara (R-Evansville) authored House Bill 1118, which states that any first responder using a critical incident services management debriefing would not be compelled to disclose any of those conversations in a civil, criminal or administrative proceeding. McNamara says the legislation could address the mental health needs of first responders who serve our communities.
Jasper students taking classroom project to the Statehouse
'Our firefighters, emergency medical personnel, police officers and other first responders need a way to decompress after facing a traumatic event,' McNamara said. 'This bill would protect what they say during these debriefings so they can feel safe using this mental health resource.'
The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Rep. Tim O'Brien announces law keeping biological males out of female sports
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – According to Indiana House Republicans and Indiana State Representative Tim O'Brien, there's a new law that pertains to keeping biological males out of female sports. Rep. O'Brien explains, 'Ensuring fairness in collegiate sports is essential to protecting opportunities for female athletes. Biological differences impact athletic performance, and a new law I supported this session further protects the integrity of women's sports in Indiana.' WKU votes to extend contract of current president The Indiana House Republicans say House Enrolled Act 1041 ensures 'fair competition' by preventing biological males from competing in female categories at the collegiate level in Indiana. This legislation aligns with an executive order at the federal level signed by President Donald Trump and one at the state level signed by Governor Mike Braun, codifying the language into state law. HEA 1041 was signed into law by Gov. Braun on April 16. Evansville Flag Group and Otters to raise money for Marvin Gray tribute Legislators say Elle Patterson, a former San Jose State volleyball player, testified in support of HEA 1041 in both the House and Senate committee hearings. She stated that she lost a volleyball scholarship to a biological male athlete and was required to share hotel rooms and locker rooms, while being unfairly compared in athletic performance. To learn more about HEA 1041 and other new laws signed by the governor, go here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Kentucky gas tax to see reduction next month
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear says his administration has taken another step to help bring down costs for Kentuckians. Owensboro's blue bridge to close for up to 3 months Starting July 1, the state gas tax will drop by 1.4 cents per gallon. The Beshear administration says it has decreased the gas tax by 12% over the last two years, with a total of 3.7 cents in reduction. Regarding the reduction, Beshear said, 'I am laser-focused on helping bring down costs for our Kentucky families… Whether you are driving to school or work, or setting out on a family trip, you should see these savings at the pump.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
J. Todd Inman speaks about national transportation safety in Owensboro
OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — An Owensboro native who has reached national acclaim returns home to speak to members of the city's chamber of commerce. National Transportation Safety Board Member J. Todd Inman spoke at this morning's rooster booster breakfast. He served in several roles while living in Owensboro. Most recently he was the spokesperson for the investigation into that mid-air collision over the Potomac River. Trump EPA rollbacks would weaken rules projected to save billions of dollars and thousands of lives From the frontlines of national transportation crises, back to Owensboro. J. Todd Inman reflects on what leadership, community and service really mean to him. Inman served as Chair of the Greater Owensboro Chamber board in 2006. He returned Thursday as a proud Western Kentucky University alum and now national figure at the center of transportation safety conversations. 'We would like to be able to prevent disasters from happening rather than investigating them and then making recommendations. I was there on the two Boeing Max crashes occurred. I thought the first was a tragedy. The second was a travesty. So, I wanted to try to make a difference so I could try to help not let that second travesty occur again,' says Inman. Earlier this year, he was the spokesperson for the Potomac River crash investigation. 67 lives were lost when an American Airlines jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter collided. Inman offered transparency and compassion as he addressed the public and family members of crash victims, before helping to implement new safety recommendations regarding helicopter proximity. 'We found that the current configuration around DCA had to high of a level of risk in that planes could get too close. We saw that happen on January 28th…where slight variations outside of parameters were catastrophic. We need to build in additional buffers…You hope something else captures it. In this case, nothing caught it. You saw devastation. It's been 19 years since we've seen something like that. We'll get better. We'll learn from it,' says Inman. Rooster Booster also honored the newest Leadership Owensboro graduates. Future leaders heard from someone who was once in their shoes. 'Calvert City, Kentucky… 3000 people, two stoplights ,a national spokesperson. I came because they asked. I think they're proud, but I also want them to know it could be them at any point,' says Inman. Inman now lives in Arlington, Virginia. He says the streets he walked in Owensboro were the beginnings of his pursuit of purpose. 'I don't know a single person who lives in out building in Arlington, Virginia, I don't know their name, but here you're getting hugs. You're talking about children. You have ties [and] bonds. There are good people around, and I like being around good people,' says Inman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.