A bill advancing in the Indiana legislature, Senate Bill 270, could have significant implications for fire protection and emergency medical services (EMS) across the state. According to the bill's official page, it would mandate the merger of townships whose services are deemed underperforming.

The legislation, authored by Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R-Lowell), directs the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance to evaluate townships based on a point system. Factors include whether a township directly manages its own fire protection or EMS. Townships scoring below a set threshold would be required to merge with a higher-scoring neighbor by January 1, 2028. This could lead to the absorption of smaller, volunteer-based fire departments into larger municipal or regional entities.

Proponents argue the consolidation will improve government efficiency. However, local officials have raised concerns about the potential loss of local control and the impact on emergency response times. The bill passed the Senate Local Government Committee and now moves forward for further consideration.