What you need to know about how bills become law in Indiana & the timeline for this session–from MadVoters.
The Indiana Legislative session has started–and it’s a short one. It will end by Feb. 27. Bills will move fast or die quickly. Bills that have advanced so far have now been referred from their originating chamber to the other. Bills that passed the House are now in the Senate; bills that passed the Senate are now in the House. So far one bill passed both chambers and has been signed into law. Many bills have died–read about some of them here and here. But be vigilant. The language in ‘dead’ bills can be resurrected by being inserted into bills that have progressed. Read more about ‘dead’ bills at Indiana Capital Chronicle. (For example, see SB 4 below–language that could have stripped funding from public libraries was in SB 8, a bill that didn’t pass committee. But that language has now been inserted into SB 4, a sprawling package that will almost certainly be approved. But some of it can be mitigated–see a call to action below!)
Bills are moving quickly. Make your voice heard now!
When a bill reaches the Senate or House floor for a vote, contact your legislator. When a bill passes both chambers, contact the governor.
Bills must pass the House or Senate by early next week. Many bills have been changed in the opposing chamber, such as a House Bill in the Senate. In that case, the changes must be agreed to in the bill’s originating chamber. If that chamber doesn’t agree, a conference committee of members from both chambers work out a compromise.
All bills must be finalized and passed by Feb. 27, the day the session ends.
Signed Into Law
SB 212. State income tax conformity. Amends the definition of “Internal Revenue Code” to conform with certain provisions enacted in Public Law 119-21 (H.R. 1) (commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025). This bill adopts a few of the federal tax breaks to Indiana taxes. (The state tax code generally conforms with federal law for the simplicity of determining taxable income. But lawmakers aren’t yet sure which of the tax breaks in the federal bill will be applied to state taxes. For example, a hefty tax break for businesses included in what Republicans dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” won’t be applied to state taxes under this legislation.)
House Enrolled Act 1007, which requires large load manufacturers to pay at least 80% of the costs for new energy infrastructure needed to power certain buildings, like data centers. Residents would be stuck paying the rest, advocates say. But even those numbers aren’t so straightforward. Ben Inskeep, program director for the Citizens Action Coalition environmental advocacy group, said utility companies only charge data center customers a small percentage of the overall costs of building new power infrastructure. So it’s possible community members could end up footing even more of the bill. (Mirror Indy)
Proposed legislation
The following isn’t a complete list–nearly 600 bills were filed. MadVoters, Hoosier Environmental Council, Chalkbeat Indiana and other groups have focused on the following as some of the more significant bills.
Most of the bills are listed by category. Designations of ‘we support’ and ‘we oppose’ are from MadVoters, the Hoosier Environmental Council and Indivisible NWI. Each bill has been assigned to a committee, but that doesn’t mean it will receive a hearing and a vote. Bills must pass out of committee in order to receive a vote on the House or Senate floor. Many bills die in committee because no hearing or vote is scheduled. If you want a bill to pass, you must apply pressure to the committee chair to schedule a hearing and then a vote. Click on the link to the committee provided for each bill; scroll down to the members of that committee to contact the chairman to urge they schedule a hearing. When a vote is scheduled, contact all members of that committee to let them know how you want them to vote. Use the same tactics for bills you oppose–urge committee chairs not to schedule a hearing and if a vote is scheduled, let committee members know how you want them to vote.
Most of the following information is from MadVoters’ Bill Tracker. Much of the information about the education bills are from Chalkbeat Indiana. Most of the environmental bills are from Hoosier Environmental Council. Another good source to track bills that are of most interest is LegiScan.
The following bills have passed both chambers. Let the governor know what you think.
Affordability
We support:
HB 1002. Electric utility affordability. Seeks to enhance customer financial stability, improve utility accountability, and create a structured rate-making process. These changes include mandating budget billing options, offering opt-out mechanisms without penalties, and implementing multi-year rate plans with performance metrics. Since the bill was amended, it doesn’t yet go to the governor. The House must agree to the changes, or delegates from both chambers will attempt to compromise.
Criminal justice
We oppose:
SJ 1 Amends Indiana’s Constitution to allow judges to deny bail for certain “dangerous” defendants. If it passes the House, it will be on the November ballot for voters to make the final decision. Read more about this resolution and the resolution process at Indiana Capital Chronicle.
SB 002. Bail procedures. Provides the mechanism for the constitutional amendment. Expands a judge’s authority to deny bail to “substantial risk” suspects who were previously guaranteed the right to release. Could lead to higher pretrial detention rates and further overcrowd county jails without providing additional funding. Risks turning pretrial detention into a form of punishment before a person has been convicted of a crime. See also SJR 1 and SB 3. * Read ACLU’s statement.
SB 003. Constitutional amendment ballot language. Prescribes the ballot language for the proposed constitutional amendment concerning bail: “Currently, under the Constitution of the State of Indiana, a person charged with murder or treason is not entitled to be released on bail if the proof is evident or the presumption strong. Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to provide that a person charged with an offense other than murder or treason is not entitled to bail if: (1) the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community.
Education
We oppose
Senate Bill 199. Various education matters. This is a sprawling education package that’s become the House’s vehicle for youth social media regulation. The bill cleared the committee 7-4, with Democrats opposed. Under the amended bill, social media companies would be required to provide parents or guardians with access to a minor’s account upon request, while also meeting new standards around account controls, data use and transparency…Democrats objected to provisions allowing the state to further restrict or eliminate certain college degree programs deemed “low-earning.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
HB 1176. Education matters. Creates additional pathways for converting existing public schools into charter schools. Unlike public schools, charter schools don’t have elected school boards accountable to taxpayers and voters. They are also exempt from some regulations required of public schools and have a well-documented history of fraud and closure.
Elections
We oppose:
SB 012. Prohibition of ranked choice voting. Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in Indiana elections. This means that voters will not be able to rank candidates by preference, and elections will continue using traditional voting methods. This bill doesn’t resolve low voter turnout or improve voter access. Tully [League of women Voters] said the league in Indiana supports ranked choice voting to “reduce the toxicity of negative campaigning, to advance those candidates who have broad support, to keep candidates and campaigns issues-focused.”
Environment
We support:
HB 1062: Limiting wake boarding and wake surfing. HB 1062 attempts to address shoreline erosion in small freshwater lakes by prohibiting wakeboarding and wake surfing.
Health
We support
SB 091 Syringe exchange program extension. Extends Indiana’s syringe exchange program until July 1, 2036, which has helped reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis. Without this extension, the program will expire. Passed committee 10-0. Referred to House Public Health Committee, Chairman Rep. Brad Barrett: h56@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9695. Restrictions inserted by the committee into Senate Bill 91 would require a participant to present identification proving residency in the exchange program’s region and limit the program operators to providing one sterile needle for each used one handed in. Changes were made in the House so a final agreement needs to be reached before it is sent to the governor. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
SB 90. Consent for pelvic, prostate, and rectal exams. Prohibits health practitioners from performing pelvic, prostate, or rectal examinations on an anesthetized or unconscious patient without consent.
Immigration
We oppose
SB 076 . Immigration matters. Strengthens the enforcement of federal immigration laws. From Indiana Capital Chronicle: Indiana House Republicans pushed through a bill mandating local cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns, brushing aside criticism that the measure would misdirect police resources and was un-Christian. House members voted 61-28 on Thursday in favor of the bill, which also would allow the state attorney general’s office to seek sanctions against businesses found to have hired “unauthorized aliens.” Democratic legislators repeatedly during debate on the bill denounced the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that have led to turmoil in Minneapolis and other cities. They also condemned the legislation’s mandate that all police departments, schools and universities comply with the federal agency’s enforcement activities. The House made numerous changes to this bill from the version passed by the Senate last month, so agreement must be reached on a final version of the bill before the scheduled Feb. 27 adjournment for this year’s legislative session. There is still time to make your voice heard. Contact your senator and your representative.
From MadVoters: Mandates that Indiana law enforcement, public schools, universities, and local governments must comply and cooperate with federal immigration authorities and agencies, including ICE, or be sued for $10,000 per violation. Prohibits employers from hiring undocumented people. More specifically, SB 76 increases the risk of wrongful detention and 4th Amendment violations; it requires mandatory compliance with ICE detainers, which increases the risk of unlawful detention, leading to costly litigation. This has happened in other states, and SB 76 sets up Indiana to experience the same problem. SB 76 increases surveillance of immigrant communities; it weaponizes public programs and hospitals by requiring them to report and collect data on non-citizens, which could deter eligible people from seeking essential services. (Source: Hoosier Asian American Power).
https://indyblakej.substack.com/p/sb-76-power-without-guardrails
https://www.wane.com/top-stories/indiana-house-passes-ice-cooperation-bill/amp/
Other
HB 1249. Juvenile court jurisdiction. Instills harsher punishments for children and teens who are caught carrying handguns multiple times or near schools Some House Democrats initially opposed the bill in its original form over concerns that it would take away judges’ discretion. However, now with the softened language added to the bill, it was passed unanimously out of the Senate committee. (WFYI) It passed the Senate unanimously.
HB 1389 Adoption and foster care matters. Prevents governmental entities from taking adverse actions against any person or legal entity – including religious organizations, adoptive parents, and foster parents – based on their sincerely held religious beliefs with regards to adoption and foster matters. Concern on coercion, indoctrination, and disaffirmation of vulnerable children. Committee discussion included allowing a “Foster Care Ministry” – a group of churches across the state working on collaborating to take over some DCS work, as well as the lack of oversight of vulnerable children.
House Bill 1019. Constitutional amendment ballot question. Contains the ballot language Hoosier voters will see at the Nov. 3 general election when they’ll decide whether to ratify or reject a proposed constitutional amendment, authored by Aylesworth, that was approved by the General Assembly in 2023 and 2025. It would allow any qualified individual residing in the county where a city or town court is located, or the nearest neighboring Indiana county, to be eligible to seek election or appointment as a municipal court judge without having to relocate their residence to the community. Passed the Senate unanimously.
House Bill 1042, would allow members of certain public pension plans to choose self-directed brokerage accounts offering crypto investment options. The state would also be able to invest the plan assets into crypto exchange traded funds.
SB 256. Foreign agent registration, foreign terrorist organizations, and foreign adversaries. Prohibits state universities from admitting Chinese, Russian, Iranian, or North Korean students into certain engineering, technology, or medical programs. Prohibits citizens or residents of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea from purchasing, inheriting, or otherwise acquiring land or property in Indiana; and limits them to renting for no more than 12 months. Prohibits technology contracts between Chinese, Russian, Iranian, or North Korean businesses and state or local governments. This is xenophobia that will harm educational and economic outcomes for Indiana. Amended from HB 1099.
We support:
HB 1036. Children in need services. Requires DCS to conduct an in-person assessment before closing an investigation involving a child who the department has reason to believe is a child in need of services (CHINS). That is, a situation where a minor faces abuse, neglect, abandonment, or poses a danger to themselves, and their parents can’t or won’t provide necessary care like food, shelter, medical help, or supervision.
HB 1307. Department of child services ombudsman. Mandates improved oversight for DCS via an ombudsman office to investigate complaints.
SB 015. Foster youth. Requires DCS to create a Foster Youth Bill of Rights statement.
SB 140. Doxxing. Criminalizes doxxing. The right to privacy and freedom from intimidation are foundational for democracy.
House Bill 1116 would regulate the virtual currency kiosks commonly referred to as crypto ATMs. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
The following bills have passed committee to the Senate floor for a vote. Contact your senator.
Affordability
We are neutral or are watching
HB 1001. Housing matters. Seeks to increase housing supply, particularly affordable housing, by streamlining approval processes and reducing local regulatory barriers. Contact your senator.
Education
We oppose
HB 1423. Indianapolis public school corporation. Greatly reduces decision-making power of IPS’s elected school board and transfers it with an all-appointed board (heavily influenced by pro-charter interests). Not only is this taxation without representation, but it adds another costly layer of bureaucracy. Passed its first committee and reassigned to Appropriations. From Indiana Coalition for Public Education: Public education is in an existential crisis– and HB1423 could be the tipping point. If public schools are the cornerstone of our democracy, then removing the public from them threatens democracy itself…HB1423 strips power from an elected school board (Indianapolis Public Schools) and transfers it to a brand-new entity– a corporation governed by an all-appointed board. If this can happen in Indianapolis, it can happen anywhere in Indiana. Contact your senator.
Elections
High alert! HB 1359. Scanning ballots. As amended by the Senate Elections Committee, this bill would cut early voting from 28 days to just 16 days. Slashing the early voting window will lead to even longer lines at the polls, ultimately disenfranchising voters in a state with notoriously poor voter turnout and engagement. Plus, these changes will disrupt the May primaries and overburden out county clerks, who will have to make last minute administrative adjustments. his was passed without opportunity for public comment. When questioned about this, Sen. Gaskill said that the committee heard a similar bill last year, so people had chance then to testify. That was a completely separate session. The public deserves to have a say in massive policy changes like this one; sneaking it in after that opportunity is an affront to democracy and the will of voters. Contact your senator.
Environment
We oppose:
HB 1003: Elimination of the Natural Resources Commission. HB 1003 lumps Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in with a large number of state government boards and commissions and eliminates them in one fell swoop. HB 1003 runs to 300+ pages, a number of which were being rewritten even as it was being heard in committee. The bill proposes changes to all state agencies and seeks to eliminate multiple statutory boards and commissions, including the NRC. Much of the rationale for these changes was that boards and commissions were no longer needed, rarely met, and often failed to have a quorum to conduct business. None of those reasons applies to the NRC, however, which is instrumental in providing expert guidance and a public forum for natural resource decisions made by Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The NRC was created based on the public trust doctrine that governs shared state resources, such as fish, wildlife, protected natural lands, and waters. HEC (Hoosier Environmental Council) staunchly opposes the proposed sunsetting of the NRC on Dec. 31, 2026. Contact your senator.
Other
House Bill 1025. Residency of public defenders. Expands any residency requirement for attorneys working as public defenders, as well as public defender office employees, to include all counties contiguous to the county where the individual works. A county’s chief public defender could still be required to live in the county. Contact your senator.
We support
HB 1177 Child care assistance. Expands the Indiana’s Employer Child Care Expenditure Credit to incentivize more businesses to provide child care benefits. Allows redevelopment commissions to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue to provide financial assistance for the construction or expansion of child care facilities. This turns child care into a piece of local infrastructure, similar to roads or utilities, to attract businesses to specific districts. Contact your senator.
HB 1065. Ban on gratuities for public officials. Bans bribes and rewards over $100 to public officials for performing a service. Referred to the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law where it is scheduled for a hearing on 2/10. Also, contact your senator.
Veterans
We oppose:
HB 1343. Military or veteran affairs. While much of this broad bill is outside the scope of MADVoters, we do oppose section 5, which would grant police powers to the National Guard. These expanded police powers raise concerns about the militarization of police and encroachment on civil liberties. Contact your senator.
The following bills have passed committee to the House floor for a vote. Contact your representative.
Affordability
Senate Bill 243. Various tax matters. Amends and adds state income tax statutes to conform with certain provisions enacted in the federal budget reconciliation bill. No tax on tips and overtime language was inserted into this bill but would apply only to 2026 wages on tax returns filed in 2027. The money will come out of the state’s reserves, which are projected to rise to nearly $5 billion by mid-2027. “These state income tax cuts are a concrete way we can help hardworking Hoosiers keep more of their hard-earned money,” Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray said last month. But when Democrats suggest investing in childcare vouchers or reversing cuts in the state budget, Republicans are adamant that would be opening the budget, because those would be new appropriations. The Senate GOP also turned down a change to the sales tax on utility services, which could have saved Hoosiers $750 million through a four-year phaseout. Democrats pointed to a tax break given to data centers that move into Indiana. (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Contact your representative.
We support:
SB 6: Required public outreach by utilities. SB 6 would require utilities to conduct public outreach when purchasing or condemning a piece of land or property for a water main. Contact your representative.
We oppose
SB 1. Human services matters. This bill is a priority proposal for the chamber’s Republican caucus, would end Indiana’s expanded eligibility for SNAP, which allows those with slightly more assets to participate than under the federal baseline. That would push an estimated 3,000 households off the program, according to a fiscal analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency. Significantly tightens eligibility and administrative requirements for SNAP and Medicaid. Terminating “expanded categorical eligibility” (BBCE) means Indiana will revert to stricter federal income and asset limits, estimated to lead to significant benefit cuts or terminations for millions, including working families and seniors. Expands mandatory work or training requirements to age 64. Requires verification of immigration status and reporting of non-verified individuals. Moving from annual to semiannual (every 6 months) eligibility renewals increases the risk of “procedural” disenrollment, where eligible people lose coverage due to missed paperwork, as well as increases administrative burden and administrative costs. Other provisions would set legal status requirements for SNAP participants — but count all of the income and assets of ineligible immigrants toward their household’s eligibility determination and benefit allotment. Contact your representative.
Education
Senate Bill 78. Wireless communication device policy. This bill would require students’ phones and other wireless devices to be powered off and locked away for the full school day. Passed out of committee unanimously to the House floor for a vote. (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Contact your representative.
Education
We oppose:
SB 88: Various education matters. Prior to being amended, SB 88 mandated that public school curriculum include instruction on the 10 Commandments, and restrictions on discussions about racism, sexism, and classism. This section has since been removed, but concerns remain: the bill mandates that schools include instruction on the importance of waiting until marriage to have children as part of being a “good citizen.” This is out of scope for a public school, and risks shaming students for their personal circumstances. The bills also mandates that colleges accept the Classic Learning Test (which emphasizes conservative content and Christian texts), in addition to the SAT and ACT. The CLT is used mostly by religious-affiliated private schools. It’s clear this bill is intended to elevate conservative, Christian perspectives within the public education sphere. It’s also worth noting that language within this bill is basically copy-paste from the Heritage Foundation, and did not originate from Hoosiers’ real concerns. Contact your representative.
SB 200. Public school matters. Mandates that schools must allow “youth patriotic organizations” (currently limited to certain organizations as determined by the federal government, like FFA and the Boy and Girl Scouts) to provide information to students on school grounds at least two times per school year. If a school refuses this access, an organization may submit a grievance to the Indiana Department of Education. Schools found in violation of these access requirements may face a reduction in funding or other consequence. Here is why we’re concerned: If federal law changes to classify Turning Point as one of these eligible “youth patriotic” organizations, schools will effectively have their hands tied and be forced to work with them. Contact your representative.
SB 239. Various education matters. Creates additional pathways for converting existing public schools into charter schools. Unlike public schools, charter schools don’t have elected school boards accountable to taxpayers and voters. They are also exempt from some regulations required of public schools and have a well-documented history of fraud and closure. See also HB 1176. Contact your representative.
Environment
We oppose:
SB 277. Indiana Department of environmental management. As if this bill weren’t bad enough, it was amended to add a loophole through which PFAS can flow freely. The amendment allows corporations to continue using PFAS chemicals, gives polluters a pass on toxins already found in Indiana’s water and wildlife, and makes it harder for IDEM to research and test most PFAS. Under SB 277, when faced with evidence of “imminent and substantial endangerment” to human health caused by pollution, the IDEM Commissioner would no longer be required to go to court to stop the pollution. That means, in contrast to the current law, the Commissioner will have the option to do nothing to protect Hoosiers’ health livelihoods. In addition to considering whether a state rule is “more stringent than” the applicable federal regulation, the IDEM Commissioner will now be legally required to consider whether that rule would be “burdensome” to the affected industry – but not Hoosiers’ health, livelihoods, or future. In short, SB 277 dismantles Indiana’s system of environmental management and makes enforcement of any remaining environmental protections essentially optional. (Hoosier Environmental Council) Use HEC’s online action form to take easy action. Narrowly passed committee to the House floor for a vote. Read more at Indiana Capital Chronicle. Contact your representative.
Health
We support:
SB 225. Hospital matters. Increases oversight of hospital business practices and protects patients from aggressive debt collection. Requires hospitals to provide advance notice of closure (120 days for entire hospital, 90 days for a service, like OBGYN department). Contact your representative.
SB 144. Tobacco products and vapor products. Prohibits sale of vapor products to individuals under age 21. Contact your representative.
We oppose
SB 275. FSSA fiscal matters. Addresses various fiscal matters related to the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Medicaid program. By lowering the income level as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), fewer Medicare beneficiaries will qualify for Medicaid. This reduces the number of low-income seniors and disabled Hoosiers who can receive secondary coverage through Medicaid to help pay for costs Medicare does not cover (such as long-term care or certain co-pays). Gives FSSA the authority to lower the rates paid to home health service providers, which could undermine efforts to ensure safe, quality care for those needing facility or home-based services. Requires the state to provide six months of public notice before reducing health facility service reimbursements, down from the previous one-year requirement. This means health facilities (like nursing homes) have half the time to adjust their budgets. Ultimately, the bill will impact healthcare for elderly and disabled Hoosiers, as home health is already dealing with high turnover due to low wages and unstable conditions. It may also increase medical debt for some families because they may be forced out of home health services and into hospitals/ERs, nursing homes, etc that are incredibly expensive and will overburden staff/infrastructure intended for other patients & families. Contact your representative.
Libraries
SB 4. Various fiscal matters. will fundamentally destabilize and harm every Indiana public library. This bill will receive a vote on Monday, February 23, 2026. If Senate Bill 4 passes, libraries can be easily defunded by their county or city. This is not how library governance has worked in Indiana for generations. Take easy action with the Indiana Library Federation. Take easy action with the Indiana Library Federation.
Other
Senate Bill 27. Stadium authority. This bill establishes public funding toward a Bears stadium near Wolf Lake in Hammond. Indiana would provide $1 billion in taxpayer funds while the Bears have committed $2 billion. The financing plan calls for capturing taxes from a new stadium development district, along with revenue from a 12% admissions tax on stadium events, a 1% food-and-beverage tax in both Lake and Porter counties and a doubling of Lake County’s 5% hotel tax. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
We are neutral or are watching:
SB 78: Wireless communication device policy. Bans cellphones, personal laptops, smartwatches, and other devices from schools for the full school day and specifies that any learning on devices must be done on school-issued devices. Read more here. Referred to the House Committee on Education Contact your representative.
Senate Bill 270. Hundreds of Indiana townships would likely be forced to merge under this bill. The legislation would merge the least-efficient townships in the state based on a data-driven point system. An estimated 315 to 330 of Indiana’s 1,008 townships would be forced to merge with neighboring jurisdictions. Referred to the Senate Committee on Local Government where a hearing is scheduled for 2/10.
We oppose:
SB 285. Housing Matters. SB 285 criminalizes homelessness, making it significantly harder for unhoused individuals to secure future employment or permanent housing. If found guilty of sleeping on city or state property, individuals could receive a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500. Diverts some state funds from permanent housing toward substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and short-term shelter solutions – the preferred solution wouldn’t be taking from one but to fund both. Prohibits local governments from enacting policies that “prohibit or discourage” the enforcement of public camping or sidewalk obstruction ordinances, overruling local control. Opposed by the Sheriff’s Association. Testimony in committee was overwhelming in opposition. Read more at Indiana Capital Chronicle. Contact your representative.
