IndianaHB 1192Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)House

Seed laws.

Sponsored By: Mike Aylesworth (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Incorporates various administrative rules into the Indiana seed law. Repeals certain administrative rules. Makes conforming and technical changes.

agriculture and rural developmentthe senateagricultureappropriations

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

Fee relief for qualifying seed distributors

Beginning July 1, 2026, inspection fees do not apply to seed supplied to wholesalers mainly serving other distributors rather than consumers. A shipment cannot be charged more than once. Twice yearly, distributors receive credits for inspection fees paid to suppliers on seed later sold to a wholesaler. Seed fees go to Purdue University for inspection, testing and related program costs. Starting in 2026, Purdue's dean of agriculture must provide an annual financial report to the governor, legislative council and budget committee. Fee authority expires December 31 in any year when that report is not provided before November 1.

Clearer seed labels protect buyers

Beginning July 1, 2026, seed labels and ads must use accurate names and descriptions; false or misleading ads are prohibited. Required label details must be readable and clearly displayed, and disclaimers or limited warranties cannot cancel required information. A brand cannot replace a variety name, and descriptive terms must be clearly separate from seed names where required. Branded labels must show the brand name, “brand,” variety name, then kind name. Without a variety name, the order is brand name, “brand,” kind name, then “variety not stated.” Agricultural seed labels cannot shorten required terms or combine germination and hard-seed percentages. Each hybrid kind or variety making up more than 5% of a mix must be identified as hybrid. The hybrid share must reach 95% of the stated pure-seed amount unless separately disclosed. Seed that is 75% to under 95% hybrid because pollination was incompletely controlled must show its hybrid percentage; below 75%, it cannot be labeled hybrid.

More seeds covered by Indiana standards

Beginning July 1, 2026, Indiana's seed law covers more crop seeds, including legumes, grasses, forage, cereals, fiber and oil crops. Vegetable-seed coverage includes agricultural seeds packaged and sold for home gardens. The seed commissioner must use federal germination standards and the Association of Official Seed Analysts' testing terms and methods. Listed state seed rules in administrative chapters 1-1 through 1-7 become void and must be removed from state publications. The section voiding those rules expires July 1, 2027.

Seed distributors face reporting and penalties

Beginning July 1, 2026, permit holders must report seed quantities by kind on the seed commissioner's forms twice yearly. January–June reports and fees are due July 31; July–December reports and fees are due January 31. If both remain unfiled and unpaid on day 16 after the deadline, the added penalty is $50 or 10% of the amount due, whichever is greater. The commissioner can revoke permits for late reports, unpaid fees, false quantity reports or improper labeling. Permit holders must also keep lot records for two years and a file sample for one year after final disposition, available for inspection.

Seed distributors pay set inspection fees

Beginning July 1, 2026, distributors using permits to label their own seed pay inspection fees based on reported sales. Alfalfa, clover, vegetable and grass seed, including their mixtures, cost $0.30 per 100 pounds. Other agricultural seed costs $0.15 per 100 pounds. Packages over one pound have minimum fees of $0.075 and $0.0375, respectively; each required reporting period has a $10 minimum. Distributors also pay $3 per Indiana retail location offering covered home-garden packets or preplanted devices in containers weighing one pound or less.

Seed samplers must follow collection rules

Beginning July 1, 2026, seed samplers must follow set collection and handling rules. Bulk seed or screenings require portions from at least seven evenly spread locations. For lots of six bags or fewer, every bag must be sampled, with at least five trierfuls collected. Larger lots require sampling five bags plus at least 10% of the bags, rounded to the nearest whole bag, capped at 30 bags. Samplers must use suitable probes or hand sampling, keep visibly uneven portions separate, and use unopened bags unless seed identity is preserved. Special alternatives apply when ordinary bag sampling is impractical for small containers.

Seed sellers face duties and protections

Beginning July 1, 2026, processed seed must be labeled before distribution, including deliveries to wholesalers, subject to existing legal exemptions. Wholesaler deliveries can use an invoice or analysis tag when containers have lot numbers or the seed is in bulk. Bags without that identification need complete labels. Agricultural seed with an expired germination test must leave sale or receive a new test and updated label; tests generally last 12 months. The person responsible for the premises must obtain the test and relabel the seed, fully covering or removing outdated data. Distributors avoid specified identity-mislabeling penalties when examination cannot establish the seed's kind, variety or origin. That protection requires an invoice, grower's declaration or other labeling information, plus reasonable steps to check the identity.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mike Aylesworth

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Beau Baird

    Republican • House

  • Jean Leising

    Republican • Senate

  • Kendell Culp

    Republican • House

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Rick Niemeyer

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 225 • No: 1

House vote • 2/26/2026

House concurred with Senate amendments

Yes: 88 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 47 • No: 1

House vote • 1/20/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 90 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Public Law 82

    3/4/2026House
  2. Signed by the Governor

    3/4/2026House
  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

    2/27/2026Senate
  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

    2/27/2026Senate
  5. Signed by the Speaker

    2/26/2026House
  6. House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 388: yeas 88, nays 0

    2/26/2026House
  7. Motion to concur filed

    2/25/2026House
  8. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 239: yeas 47, nays 1

    2/24/2026Senate
  9. Returned to the House with amendments

    2/24/2026Senate
  10. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    2/23/2026Senate
  11. Senator Randolph added as cosponsor

    2/23/2026Senate
  12. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    2/19/2026Senate
  13. Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

    2/9/2026Senate
  14. First reading: referred to Committee on Agriculture

    1/26/2026Senate
  15. Referred to the Senate

    1/21/2026House
  16. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 59: yeas 90, nays 0

    1/20/2026House
  17. Senate sponsors: Senators Leising, Niemeyer

    1/20/2026House
  18. Second reading: ordered engrossed

    1/15/2026House
  19. Amendment #1 (Miller K) failed; voice vote

    1/15/2026House
  20. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

    1/12/2026House
  21. First reading: referred to Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development

    1/5/2026House
  22. Coauthored by Representatives Baird, Culp

    1/5/2026House
  23. Authored by Representative Aylesworth

    1/5/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (H)

  • House Bill (S)

  • Introduced House Bill (H)

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