Senate committee hears testimony on House Bill 11 25 to regulate earned wage access; vote delayed

Senator Kyle Walker, presenting House Bill 11 25, told the Indiana Senate Committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions that the measure "establishes the Indiana Earned Wage Access Act, which creates regulatory framework for earned wage access services," and that the bill would put a regulatory structure around a product already in use in the state.

The bill would require providers to offer a no‑fee option and ban interest, late fees and credit reporting, Senator Walker said. It would license EWA providers through the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), require background checks and surety bonds, and give DFI exam and enforcement powers. "This is not payday lending. This is not a loan," Walker said.

Why it matters: Earned wage access lets employees access wages they have already earned before payday. Proponents argued EWA can reduce late fees, overdrafts and turnover; opponents said without fee limits and stronger transparency it can function like a high‑cost, repeat product that disproportionately affects workers living paycheck to paycheck.

Supporters at the hearing included employer‑integrated and direct‑to‑consumer providers. Andrew Welch, Government Relations Manager at DailyPay, said his firm integrates with payroll systems and that about…