Bills & Legislation

Testing drinking water for lead in school buildings.

Requires the person or entity having authority over a school building to: (1) test the drinking water in the school building by a specified time frame; and (2) follow certain guidelines in conducting the testing and remediation. Requires the Indiana department of health to impose a civil penalty on the superintendent of a school corporation or the equivalent for a charter school for failing to have the school building's drinking water tested within the specified time frame.

Carolyn JacksonDemocrat

False or fraudulent deeds and affidavits.

Provides that it is a deceptive act enforceable by the attorney general for a person to: (1) convey or attempt to convey; or (2) conspire to convey or attempt to convey; title to real property by recording a false or fraudulent deed or affidavit.

Peggy MayfieldRepublican

Military family relief fund.

Provides that, for purposes of receiving a grant from the military family relief fund, eligibility criteria shall be based on the financial need of the applicant regardless of the applicant's income or assets.

Renee PackDemocrat

Stay of certain eviction actions against veterans.

Provides that a court shall stay certain eviction actions for defendants who qualify and have applied for housing assistance from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Indiana department of veterans' affairs.

Renee PackDemocrat

Prohibited discrimination in housing.

Expands the Indiana fair housing statute to prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person's: (1) source of income; (2) military active duty status; or (3) veteran status. Defines "source of income", "active duty", and "veteran" for purposes of the statute.

Renee PackDemocrat

Advanced practice registered nurses.

Removes the requirement that an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) have a practice agreement with a collaborating physician. Removes a provision requiring an APRN to operate under a collaborative practice agreement or the privileges granted by a hospital governing board. Removes certain provisions concerning the audit of practice agreements. Allows an APRN with prescriptive authority to prescribe a schedule II controlled substance for weight reduction or to control obesity. Makes conforming changes.

Cindy LedbetterRepublican

Craft hemp.

Establishes a regulatory framework for hemp and craft hemp. Prohibits the sale of specified products to a person less than 21 years of age. Makes conforming changes.

Steve BartelsRepublican

Licensed estheticians and electrologists.

Amends the definition of "esthetician" to include certain services. Adds a definition for "microneedling". Requires a person who provides microneedling to provide the professional licensing agency proof of advanced training or certification at the agency's request. Provides that an applicant for an electrologist license does not need to hold a cosmetologist license or esthetician license before applying for an electrologist license. Requires an applicant to complete a combined total of 600 hours of education and experience required under the rules adopted by the state board of cosmetology and barber examiners (board) beginning July 1, 2027. Requires the board to amend the rules for electrology training in a beauty culture school not later than June 30, 2027.

Cory CriswellRepublican

Rush County food and beverage tax.

Establishes the Rush County food and beverage tax.

Cory CriswellRepublican

Elimination of straight ticket voting.

Removes a voter's option to vote for all candidates of a political party or an independent ticket at one time (straight ticket voting) in a general or municipal election. Repeals superseded statutes relating to straight ticket voting. Makes technical corrections.

Cory CriswellRepublican

Insurance for mental health and substance use.

Amends the definition of "treatment of a mental illness or substance abuse" for certain provisions of the Indiana Code.

Mike AndradeDemocrat

Investor ownership of single family residences.

Establishes the housing down payment assistance fund. Establishes a transfer tax equal to 50% of the fair market value of a single family residence for each single family residence acquired by an applicable taxpayer after the applicable date. Establishes a maximum number of single family residences that may be owned by an applicable taxpayer after the applicable date for purposes of calculating an annual excise tax on any excess single family residences.

Earl HarrisDemocrat

Tuition caps.

Provides that the commission for higher education shall determine a tuition rate and mandatory fee cost of living adjustment for specified postsecondary educational institutions. Requires that, except for cost of living adjustments, the tuition rate and mandatory fees at specified postsecondary educational institutions may not increase from the time the student initially enrolls until the student graduates for an undergraduate student who is an Indiana resident.

Earl HarrisDemocrat

Foods and beverages on school property.

Provides that a public school that participates in a federally funded or assisted meal program: (1) may not serve, sell, or allow a third party vendor to serve or sell a food or beverage that contains certain ingredients on school property on a school day; and (2) shall post any breakfast or lunch menu and ingredients on the school's website. Establishes exceptions.

Julie McGuireRepublican

Child care tax credit.

Provides a child and dependent care refundable tax credit against an individual's Indiana adjusted gross income tax for employment related child and dependent care expenses based on the taxpayer's Indiana adjusted gross income and a percentage of the federal child and dependent care tax credit the taxpayer claimed for the taxable year for federal income tax purposes.

Carey HamiltonDemocrat

Assessment of property.

Provides that all tangible property that is subject to assessment shall be assessed on a just valuation basis and in a uniform and equal manner regardless of: (1) who owns the tangible property; or (2) who the person or entity is that is liable for property taxes due on the tangible property. Requires a county assessor to, as soon as possible, post an approved reassessment plan on the department of local government finance's (DLGF) website and any transparency portal developed by the state regarding public information. Provides that if an assessor changes the underlying parcel characteristics, including property classification or agricultural land type, of a property, based on verifiable evidence of a change in use, the assessor shall provide notice to the property owner that includes all verifiable evidence used to change assessment methods from agricultural land and document each change and the reason that each change was made for any class of property. Provides that land shall be assessed or reassessed as agricultural land only when it is devoted to agricultural use regardless of: (1) who owns the land; or (2) who the person or entity is that is liable for property taxes due on the land. Requires the DLGF to inform assessors and the presidents of county councils in writing if it finds that: (1) the reassessment of a group of parcels under a county's reassessment plan or other property assessment activities are not being properly conducted; (2) work required to be performed by local officials is not being properly conducted; or (3) property assessments are not being properly made. Provides that the failure of the DLGF to inform local officials shall be construed as an indication by the DLGF that assessment activities are being conducted properly. Requires the DLGF, if it determines that assessment activities are not being conducted properly, to order a state conducted assessment or reassessment.

Cindy LedbetterRepublican

Sale and resale of event tickets.

Provides that certain actions taken by a ticket issuer or ticket reseller with respect to tickets sold or resold for entertainment events constitute deceptive acts. Establishes requirements for the advertising and offer for sale, sale, and resale of tickets. Requires a ticket reseller to issue a refund to a consumer for a ticket if the entertainment event is canceled or if, for certain reasons, the ticket is not accepted by the venue.

Kyle PierceRepublican

Commingling committee funds.

Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally violates a specified provision by commingling the funds of a committee with the personal funds of an officer, a member, or an associate of the committee commits a Class A misdemeanor. Enhances the penalty to a Level 6 felony if a person commingles at least $50,000 of committee funds.

Michael KarickhoffRepublican

Uniform food and beverage tax.

Creates uniform food and beverage tax authorization provisions for cities and counties that are not required or authorized to impose a food and beverage tax under any other food and beverage tax enabling statute. Specifies the food and beverage tax adoption procedure, maximum food and beverage tax rate, uses of revenue from a food and beverage tax, and the duration of the food and beverage tax.

Michael KarickhoffRepublican

Local option income taxes.

Provides that an individual who resides in a county with a local income tax and has a principal place of employment or business in a different county shall also pay a local income tax in the county where the individual maintains the principal place of employment. Provides that the local income tax rate in effect for a local taxpayer in the county where the local taxpayer maintains the local taxpayer's principal place of business or employment is one fourth of the sum of the local income tax rates imposed on the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers who reside in the county where the local taxpayer maintains the local taxpayer's principal place of business or employment. Provides that a local taxpayer is entitled to a credit against the tax imposed by a county in the county where the local taxpayer resides equal to the amount of the tax paid in the county where the local taxpayer has a principal place of business or employment.

Michael KarickhoffRepublican

Tourism improvement districts.

Provides that a person may circulate a petition to create a tourism improvement district (district) within the territory of a county, city, or town (local unit). Specifies the contents of the tourism improvement district plan that must be filed with a petition to establish a district. Provides that the legislative body of the local unit may require in the district plan that the boundaries of the district be drawn to: (1) exclude businesses; or (2) prevent overlap of the district with another area or district in which a special assessment is imposed. Provides that owners of businesses located within a district may be charged a special assessment to fund improvements and other district activities. Provides that, after a hearing on a petition to establish a district, a local unit's legislative body may adopt the ordinance establishing the district only if it determines that the petition has been signed by: (1) at least 50% of the owners of businesses within the proposed district; and (2) the owners of businesses within the proposed district that constitute more than 50% of the revenue to be collected from the special assessments. Requires the county, city, or town legislative body, at the public hearing on the establishment of a district, to hear from each individual business owner that wishes to make a request for exclusion from the district. Specifies the contents of the ordinance establishing a district and the length of time for which a district may exist. Allows a district to issue bonds and specifies the term of any bonds issued. Provides that a district may be renewed. Sets forth an annual 30 day period in which the owners of the businesses in the district may request disestablishment of the district under specified conditions. Requires the local unit to contract with a private nonprofit district management association to administer and implement the district's activities and improvements. Excludes from inclusion within a district: (1) property that receives a homestead standard deduction; (2) property used for single family residential housing; and (3) property used for multi-unit residential housing.

Michael KarickhoffRepublican

Thirteenth check.

Allows a participant in the state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan to elect a joint and survivor option for the payment of the participant's retirement allowance. Provides for a thirteenth check in calendar year 2026 for certain members, participants, or beneficiaries of the: (1) Indiana state teachers' retirement fund; (2) Indiana public employees' retirement fund; (3) state excise police, gaming agent, gaming control officer, and conservation enforcement officers' retirement plan; (4) state police pre-1987 benefit system; and (5) state police 1987 benefit system.

Michael KarickhoffRepublican

Homestead property tax freeze.

Freezes an individual's property tax liability attributable to the individual's homestead based on the date on which the individual acquired an ownership interest in the homestead.

Heath VanNatterRepublican

Licensure of certified public accountants.

Provides that an individual is eligible to take the examination for licensure as a certified public accountant if the individual has at least a baccalaureate degree with a concentration in accounting or equivalent as determined by the board to be appropriate.

Heath VanNatterRepublican

Same day voter registration.

Permits an individual to register at the polls by completing a voter registration form and by providing proof of residence. Specifies that an individual may comply with the proof of residence requirement only by providing a REAL ID driver's license or identification card that shows the name and residence address of the individual registering to vote. Requires the ballot of a voter who registers at the polls to be treated as a provisional ballot.

John BartlettDemocrat

Pre-kindergarten care SGO tax credit.

Establishes an early childhood scholarship tax credit for contributions made to a scholarship granting organization that conducts a program to provide scholarships for children who attend a qualified early child care provider. Provides that the amount of the credit is equal to 50% of the amount of the contribution. Limits the total amount of tax credits awarded in a state fiscal year to not more than $100,000,000. Requires the department of education (department) to certify early childhood scholarship granting organizations that meet certain criteria. Requires qualified early childhood scholarship granting organizations to enter into an agreement with the department. Specifies conditions that must be included in the agreement. Provides that a school corporation that operates an early childhood education program may not limit consideration for participation in the program solely to those residing within the school district.

Dave HeineRepublican

Local regulation.

Provides that a homeowners association's governing documents may not include a covenant, policy, or similar measure that: (1) prohibits or restricts the use of; (2) distinguishes between types of; or (3) results in differing standards for different types of; motor vehicles or outdoor equipment based on the fuel source that powers the motor vehicle or outdoor equipment. Provides that a homeowners association's governing documents may not include a covenant, policy, or similar measure that prohibits the display of an American flag.Prohibits a homeowners association from installing, maintaining, or operating an automated license plate reader (ALPR), and prohibits a homeowners association from permitting the installation, maintenance, or operation of an ALPR on the property of the homeowners association unless the ALPR is installed by a law enforcement agency and only the law enforcement agency has access to the ALPR data.Prohibits a county or municipality from adopting or enforcing a utility usage data ordinance. Prohibits a county, municipality, or township from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, order, regulation, resolution, policy, or similar measure that: (1) prohibits or restricts the use, sale, or lease of; (2) distinguishes between types of; or (3) results in differing regulatory standards for different types of; motor vehicles or machines other than vehicles, including outdoor equipment, based on the fuel source that powers the motor vehicle or machine. Requires political subdivisions located within five miles of the end of a runway of a publicly owned, public use airport to adopt an airspace overlay zoning ordinance.

Jim PresselRepublican

Time observance in Indiana.

Exempts Indiana from daylight saving time.

Lindsay PattersonRepublican

Homeowners association matters.

Allows, if certain conditions are met, a homeowners association to increase a budget, without a quorum, in an amount not to exceed 110% of the amount of the last approved budget, within five years after the first sale of a lot or unit from a developer to a person not associated with the developer. Prohibits a homeowners association from charging a fee associated with any service provided by the homeowners association. Allows, if certain conditions are met, a homeowners association to increase an annual budget without a quorum in an amount that does not exceed the lesser of: (1) 105% of the last approved budget; or (2) the average increase of the Consumer Price Index for housing in the Midwest for the prior 12 months. Prohibits a homeowners association from adopting or enforcing a regulation, rule, or other policy that prohibits a person from maintaining an amateur radio antenna. Specifies that a homeowners association may not prohibit or restrict a person from operating a Class I child care home or providing certain child care if the person resides within and owns, rents, or leases the single family residence where child care services are provided.

Ethan LawsonRepublican

Auto dealer matters.

Requires a dealer to collect and retain certain identifying information from a potential purchaser. Beginning July 1, 2026, requires a transport operator to either: (1) have an established place of business with a physical Indiana address; or (2) provide the secretary of state (secretary) with proof of the transport operator's valid registration from the United States Department of Transportation authorizing the transport operator to operate within Indiana; to apply for a registration number. Provides that a dealership that operates without a license from the secretary commits a Class A infraction.

Ethan LawsonRepublican

Hunger-free campus grant program.

Establishes the hunger-free campus grant program (grant program) to provide grants to state educational institutions for purposes of addressing food insecurity among students enrolled in state educational institutions. Provides that the commission for higher education (commission) shall provide a grant under the grant program to a state educational institution if at least one campus is designated by the commission as a hunger-free campus. Establishes criteria that a campus of a state educational institution must meet in order to be designated as a hunger-free campus. Makes an appropriation.

Earl HarrisDemocrat

Traffic enforcement.

Establishes a traffic enforcement on private roads pilot project. Provides that a subdivision: (1) that is subject to governance authority by a homeowners association; (2) that contains at least 1,500 lots; and (3) with at least 15 miles of private road that are owned and maintained by the homeowners association; may establish maximum speed limits and designate intersections at which a vehicle is required to stop. Provides that a law enforcement officer has all police powers necessary to enforce the laws of the state for the regulation and use of vehicles on the private roads within the subdivision governed by the homeowners association. Provides that, with the exception of maximum speed limits and stop signs established by the homeowners association, a law enforcement officer may not enforce other rules or requirements established by the homeowners association. Provides that, with certain requirements, a homeowners association may enter into an agreement with or employ an off duty law enforcement officer. Provides that the pilot program expires July 1, 2028.

Edmond SolidayRepublican

Veterans property tax deduction.

Eliminates the assessed value cap that applies to the property tax deduction for a veteran who: (1) has a total disability; or (2) is at least 62 years of age and has at least a 10% disability.

Heath VanNatterRepublican

Public works projects.

Provides that a contractor that employs 10 or more employees on a design-build public works project must provide its employees access to a training program applicable to the tasks to be performed in the normal course of the employee's employment with the contractor on the public project. Provides that a tier 1 or tier 2 contractor that employs 50 or more journeymen must participate in an apprenticeship or training program that meets certain standards. Requires design-builders and any member of a team working on a design-build public works project to comply with certain statutes. Provides that a public agency awarding a contract for a construction manager as constructor project may not take certain actions based on a bidder's, offeror's, or contractor's entering into, refusing to enter into, adhering to, or refusing to adhere to an agreement with a labor organization.

Timothy WescoRepublican

Annexation.

Provides that annexation territory that is divided by railroad tracks satisfies contiguity requirements, if the territory on at least one side of the railroad tracks is contiguous to the municipality.

Gregory SteuerwaldRepublican

Commercial advertising on a school bus.

Provides that a school corporation may display commercial advertising on a school bus owned by the school corporation if the governing body of the school corporation adopts a policy that meets certain requirements.

Cindy LedbetterRepublican

Emergency medical services.

Exempts state educational institution degree programs primarily focused on emergency medical services from a certain elimination provision.

Victoria Garcia WilburnDemocrat

Veterinary telehealth.

Requires an initial in-person examination to establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship beginning July 1, 2026. Provides an exception for veterinarian-client-patient relationships established on or before June 30, 2026.

Mike AylesworthRepublican

Wake boarding and wake surfing.

Specifies restrictions that apply to wake boarding or wake surfing on a public freshwater lake. Establishes a penalty. Specifies restrictions that apply to wake boarding or wake surfing on a small lake.

David AbbottRepublican

Deceptive consumer sales.

Amends the definition of "consumer transaction" for purposes of the deceptive consumer sales act to include the provision of a product or service to a state agency or a local agency in Indiana. Amends the definition of "supplier" for purposes of the deceptive consumer sales act to include an entity that provides a product or service to a state agency or a local agency in Indiana. Provides that an action that arises from a consumer transaction involving the provision of a product or service by a supplier to a state agency may be brought and enforced only by the attorney general. Provides that an action that arises from a consumer transaction involving the provision of a product or service by a supplier to a local agency may be brought and enforced only by an attorney acting on behalf of the local agency, unless the local unit of government served by the local agency requests the attorney general to bring and enforce an action on behalf of the local unit. Provides that in an action that arises from a consumer transaction involving the provision of a product or service by a supplier to a state agency or a local agency, a court may take certain actions.

Mike AndradeDemocrat

Unmanned aerial vehicles.

Makes repeated operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over private real property a nuisance, with both civil and criminal penalties, including an increased penalty for nuisances involving agricultural property. Provides that operating a UAV not more than 100 feet above private real property or landing the UAV on private real property is a civil trespass, with civil penalties, including an increased penalty for trespasses involving agricultural property. Creates various crimes for operating a UAV over certain places, people, or animals such as livestock. Provides that operating a UAV to collect certain data, recordings, or photographs of an individual or area of real property is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides, however, that the violation is a Level 6 felony if the subject of the data, recordings, or photographs involves certain critical infrastructure. Requires a person who operates a UAV that is at least 55 pounds to carry liability insurance, and requires the department of homeland security to develop and administer a program to verify UAV insurance compliance. Makes conforming changes.

Kendell CulpRepublican

Ban on gratuities for public officials.

Provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally violates a specified provision by commingling the funds of a committee with the personal funds of an officer, a member, or an associate of the committee commits a Class A misdemeanor. Enhances the penalty to a Level 6 felony if a person commingles at least $50,000 of committee funds.

Harold SlagerRepublican

Purchase and lease of government vehicles.

With certain exceptions, requires a political subdivision to procure only base model vehicles. Removes a provision that allows the Indiana department of administration to permit a state entity to procure a vehicle that is not a base model vehicle. Requires a state entity to dispose of vehicles that are not base model vehicles at a time and in a prudent manner as determined by the commissioner of the department of administration. Provides that a state entity or political subdivision is not prohibited from purchasing, installing, modifying, or affixing equipment and accessories necessary for the state entity's or political subdivision's operational, public safety, maintenance, or emergency response functions, regardless of whether the equipment and accessories are installed at the time of purchase or after.

Mitch GoreDemocrat

Reporting of grocery staple pricing.

Requires: (1) a grocery chain that operates or franchises five or more retail food stores located in Indiana to report each month to the state department of agriculture (department) specified sales information regarding specified staple food items sold by the grocery chain in Indiana; and (2) the department to establish and maintain an online dashboard through which members of the public can view and compare the data reported. Provides for enforcement of the reporting requirement by the attorney general and specifies penalties for violations.

Mitch GoreDemocrat

Retention of IURC commissioners.

Provides that a commissioner of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) may serve an additional term as a commissioner only if the commissioner's retention for an additional term is approved by voters at a general election.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Choice of physician for worker injury or disease.

Permits an employee to choose the attending physician who will provide services and goods resulting from an employment injury or occupational disease for purposes of the worker's compensation law.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Income tax credit for volunteer firefighters.

Provides that an individual who is a volunteer firefighter is entitled to a credit of $200 against the individual's adjusted gross income tax liability each taxable year.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat

Twenty-first century scholarship eligibility.

Provides that the commission for higher education may allow a student who does not meet full-time enrollment or credit hour requirements under the twenty-first century scholars program to be eligible or to maintain eligibility for a twenty-first century scholarship award if the student is a student with a disability and meets certain other requirements. Provides that a scholarship may be renewed for the student for the number of academic terms that constitute eight undergraduate academic years. Makes conforming changes.

Chuck MoseleyDemocrat