# Indiana HB 1200: Bureau of motor vehicles. Indiana HB 1200, Bureau of motor vehicles., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) House bill sponsored by Jim Pressel (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-03-12 (Signed by the Governor); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1200-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Indiana HB 1200 - State: Indiana - Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) - Title: Bureau of motor vehicles. - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-01-05 - Last action: 2026-03-12, Signed by the Governor - Sponsor: Jim Pressel (Republican) - Cosponsors: 8 - Subjects: roads and transportation, the senate, homeland security and transportation - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 5 (284 yes, 49 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 18 ## Summary Allows additional license plates issued by the bureau of motor vehicles (bureau) to be designed as a personalized license plate. Provides that a motor vehicle may be equipped with an appropriate, functioning rear view camera that provides the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle instead of a mirror. Prohibits the Indiana department of transportation from implementing variable speed limits or using electronic variable speed limit signs. Amends the information required to be provided by an applicant for a driver's license or permit. Amends the required age an individual must be to obtain a driver's license from 16 years and 90 days of age to 16 years of age. Requires an individual to demonstrate sufficient proficiency of the English language to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Provides that an individual commits a Level 6 felony if the individual: (1) represents that a false record is a valid commercial driver's license; or (2) does not have proper documentation while driving with a commercial driver's license issued by any jurisdiction other than a state, territory, or possession of the United States. Provides that a business enterprise may not educate, train, or otherwise prepare an individual to operate a commercial motor vehicle if certain circumstances exist. Makes certain changes to the requirements for the issuance of a nondomiciled commercial driver's license and allows for the revocation of an individual's nondomiciled commercial driver's license in certain circumstances. Allows an applicant for a driver's license or permit to take an examination of the individual's ability to read and understand highway signs and the individual's knowledge of Indiana traffic laws by satisfactorily completing an online examination approved by the bureau. Amends the time that an expired driver's license of an individual temporarily residing outside Indiana because of service in the armed forces remains valid. Changes the time for an individual who is 75 years of age or older and renewing a physical credential to provide proof to the bureau that the individual passed an eyesight examination from 30 days to 60 days. Removes the limitation that a renewal identification card cannot be issued by electronic service if the card expired more than 180 days prior to the date of the application for renewal. Provides that an advertisement that violates the prohibition on advertising certain illegal products must be removed from public circulation not later than October 1, 2026. Amends certain requirements for township capital improvement plans. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Course graduates gain earlier driving access: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying driver-license pathways open at age 16 instead of 16 years and 90 days. Applicants must complete approved driver education or, for qualifying applicants with disabilities, driver rehabilitation training. Other permit, exam, and supervised-driving requirements rema… - Drivers gain simpler applications and online services: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, license and permit applications drop questions about past suspensions, revocations, and certain unexpunged motor-vehicle felonies. This does not erase those records or change license eligibility by itself. Beginning January 1, 2027, required highway-sign and Indiana traffic-… - Low-speed vehicles avoid added registration fees: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, low-speed vehicles are exempt from the supplemental registration fee for electric and hybrid vehicles. Owners registering these vehicles do not pay that added fee. - Military households get license renewal grace: benefit, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, expired Indiana driver's licenses stay valid for a 90-day military-related renewal period. This covers temporary residence outside Indiana due to the holder's military service or a spouse's, parent's, or guardian's service. The period starts when the qualifying temporary… - Seniors get longer vision-exam renewal window: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, people age 75 or older renewing by mail or online get a longer eyesight-exam window. They can submit proof of passing an exam within 60 days before applying, instead of 30 days. Proof must use a bureau-approved form. - Drivers can use rear-view cameras instead: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, vehicles built or loaded to block the driver's rear view can use a working rear-view camera. The camera is an alternative to the required mirror. A mirror must show the highway for at least 200 feet behind the vehicle. - Fleet operators get later renewal deadline: benefit, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, fleets previously registered under the International Registration Plan get a later renewal-payment deadline. Payment is due by the last day of the current registration period's final month, rather than the 15th. - Commercial drivers and employers face penalties: cost, high. Knowingly making, presenting, or using a false public record as a genuine commercial driver's license is a Level 6 felony. Knowingly driving commercially with a license issued outside a U.S. state, territory, or possession without required entry documents is also a Level 6 felony. Each offense carr… - Some foreign-based commercial drivers lose licenses: cost, high. The bureau must revoke nondomiciled commercial licenses when holders lose the legal status or documents required at issuance. Credible federal information triggers SAVE verification, and the bureau must regularly consult Homeland Security. Revocation starts 15 days after mailed notice or when an ad… - Commercial driving schools face $50,000 penalties: cost, high. Businesses cannot train applicants they know, or should know through reasonable diligence, are ineligible for a commercial driver's license. They also cannot operate in substantial violation of Indiana or federal commercial driver training standards. Each violation carries a $50,000 civil penalty. - Commercial drivers face English proficiency rules: cost, medium. People seeking to drive commercial vehicles must show enough English proficiency to speak with the public and understand English road signs. They must also respond to officials and make record entries. Both commercial driving knowledge and skills exams must be passed in English or American Sign Lan… - Some credential renewals use 30-day window: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2027, the law replaces a one-month advance filing window with 30 days for specified renewal procedures. Covered driver's license, chauffeur's license, and physical ID applications cannot be filed more than 30 days before expiration. This is not the filing window for every renew… - Advertisers must remove marijuana product ads: cost, low. Indiana bans advertising, through any medium, products containing marijuana or Schedule I controlled substances. Ads that violate the ban must leave public circulation and be unavailable for public viewing by October 1, 2026. - Counties face road-project spending limits: cost, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, counties cannot reserve certain road money for projects selected by one county fiscal-body member. The restriction covers money distributed from the motor vehicle highway account and the local road and street account. - Townships face broader capital planning requirements: cost, low. Through December 31, 2027, capital-planning requirements cover townships whose capital improvement funds exceed both $200,000 and 150% of next year's estimated budget. Beginning January 1, 2028, they cover all townships, including merged or reorganized townships. Beginning July 1, 2026, covered tow… - Drivers gain more paid plate choices: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, the law allows alternate-color license plates for an added fee. The supplied provision does not state that fee's amount. Beginning January 1, 2027, Safety First, historic vehicle, and Semiquincentennial plates can also be personalized. - State speed-setting powers gain new limits: mixed, low. Indiana's transportation department can set different speed limits by vehicle type or time of day when a location's limit is unreasonable or unsafe. Weather and other factors are no longer listed as separate grounds for differing limits. The department cannot implement variable speed limits or use… - State project contracts expand with limits: mixed, low. Retroactive to July 1, 2023, Indiana agencies cannot award covered public-project contracts to a progressive design-builder. Under a separate transportation contracting chapter, the transportation department's annual project limit rises from two to five. Five projects per calendar year remains the… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Jim Pressel (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Craig Haggard (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Ed Charbonneau (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Gregory Steuerwald (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Linda Rogers (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Liz Brown (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Michael Crider (Republican), Senate - Cosponsor: Timothy Wesco (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Travis Holdman (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-02-27 | House | Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House | pass | 92 | 3 | | | 2026-02-27 | Senate | Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate | pass | 49 | 1 | | | 2026-02-24 | Senate | Third reading: passed | pass | 48 | 0 | | | 2026-02-23 | Senate | Amendment #12 (Young M) failed | fail | 5 | 42 | | | 2026-02-02 | House | Third reading: passed | pass | 90 | 3 | | ## Actions (44) - 2026-03-12: Signed by the Governor (House) - 2026-03-12: Public Law 156 (House) - 2026-03-05: Signed by the President Pro Tempore (Senate) - 2026-03-02: Signed by the President of the Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-27: CCR # 1 filed in the House (House) - 2026-02-27: Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 414: yeas 92, nays 3 (House) - 2026-02-27: Signed by the Speaker (House) - 2026-02-27: CCR # 1 filed in the Senate (Senate) - 2026-02-27: Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 319: yeas 49, nays 1 (Senate) - 2026-02-25: House advisors appointed: Wesco, Heine, Dant Chesser, Harris (House) - 2026-02-25: Senate conferees appointed: Crider, Spencer (Senate) - 2026-02-25: Senate advisors appointed: Holdman, Ford J.D., Charbonneau (Senate) - 2026-02-25: House dissented from Senate amendments (House) - 2026-02-25: Representatives Steuerwald, Haggard added as coauthors (House) - 2026-02-25: Motion to dissent filed (House) - 2026-02-25: House conferees appointed: Pressel, Hamilton (House) - 2026-02-24: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 241: yeas 48, nays 0 (Senate) - 2026-02-24: Returned to the House with amendments (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Senator Brown L added as cosponsor (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Senator Rogers added as cosponsor (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Senator Charbonneau added as third sponsor (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Senator Holdman added as second sponsor (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #4 (Crider) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #2 (Crider) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #3 (Crider) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #9 (Tomes) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #12 (Young M) failed; Roll Call 211: yeas 5, nays 42 (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #8 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #6 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #10 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #5 (Young M) failed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-23: Amendment #14 (Ford J.D.) failed; voice vote (Senate) - 2026-02-17: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (Senate) - 2026-02-05: First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Referred to the Senate (House) - 2026-02-02: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 183: yeas 90, nays 3 (House) - 2026-02-02: Senate sponsor: Senator Crider (House) - 2026-02-02: Representative Wesco added as coauthor (House) - 2026-01-29: Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed (House) - 2026-01-29: Amendment #1 (Pressel) prevailed; voice vote (House) - 2026-01-27: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted (House) - 2026-01-05: Authored by Representative Pressel (House) - 2026-01-05: First reading: referred to Committee on Roads and Transportation (House) ## Bill text - Engrossed House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.05.ENGS?format=pdf) - Engrossed House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.03.ENGH?format=pdf) - Enrolled House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.06.ENRS?format=pdf) - House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.02.COMH?format=pdf) - House Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.04.COMS?format=pdf) - Introduced House Bill (H): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related bills - HB 1277: Health and human services matters. (signed) - HB 1266: Department of education and education matters. (signed) - HB 1210: Department of local government finance. (signed) - HB 1249: Various criminal law matters. (signed) - HB 1115: Homeowners association governance. (signed) - HB 1003: Boards and commissions. (signed) ## Sources - [Engrossed House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.05.ENGS?format=pdf) - [Engrossed House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.03.ENGH?format=pdf) - [Enrolled House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.06.ENRS?format=pdf) - [House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.02.COMH?format=pdf) - [House Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.04.COMS?format=pdf) - [Introduced House Bill (H) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/HB1200/versions/HB1200.01.INTR?format=pdf) ## Related - [HB 1277: Health and human services matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1277-2026) - [HB 1266: Department of education and education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1266-2026) - [HB 1210: Department of local government finance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1210-2026) - [HB 1249: Various criminal law matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1249-2026) - [HB 1115: Homeowners association governance.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1115-2026) - [HB 1003: Boards and commissions.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1003-2026) - [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills) - [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1200-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).