STATEHOUSE (April 15, 2026) – The 2026 legislative session concluded with the passage of several new laws aimed at lowering everyday costs, streamlining government and giving families and communities opportunities to thrive, according to Hendricks County lawmakers.
“House Republicans focused on helping Hoosiers with rising costs while making sure our government is operating efficiently and continuing to be good stewards of tax dollars,” said State Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon). “I also co-authored a new law to strengthen our CDL licensing process. This legislation will make our roads safer by ensuring commercial truck drivers and their employers are following the law and have proper training.”
During session, lawmakers approved measures focused on affordability, tax relief and supporting Indiana’s continued economic growth. These new laws build on Indiana’s strong fiscal position and commitment to responsible budgeting.
“This session, I worked on legislation that aligns the state with federal tax cuts on tips and overtime pay as well as a new law targeting waste and fraud in programs like Medicaid and SNAP,” said State Rep. Jeff Thompson (R-Lizton), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Hoosier taxpayers deserve to keep more of their hard-earned money and be confident that their taxes are helping those who truly need it.”
State Rep. Craig Haggard (R-Mooresville) said a major theme this year was cutting through red tape whether in energy, government or education. All House Republican priority bills passed both chambers and were signed into law by the governor.
“Our priority this session was making Indiana a more affordable and family-friendly place to live,” Haggard said. “That meant reducing costs and making energy more affordable, while supporting working families through targeted tax relief, delivering real and lasting results for our communities.”
State Rep. Becky Cash (R-Zionsville) said that finding high quality child care is another issue affecting Indiana parents. For this reason, she worked with Hendricks County stakeholders to find solutions.
“This year, we tackled an issue that many parents know – the struggle to find affordable child care,” Cash said. “Through a new law I authored, employers will have more opportunities to explore child care options and partner with employees. In an age when both parents are often working, access to this is essential for Hoosier families.”
90% of all bills that passed in the 2026 legislative session passed with bipartisan votes with nearly half passing unanimously.
New laws passed during the 2026 legislative session include:
• House Enrolled Act 1210: Provides more robust property tax relief for Indiana’s veterans, including a 100 percent property tax deduction on assessed value for totally disabled veterans, new and expanded credits for partially disabled and war-time veterans, and a restored property tax deduction for surviving spouses of World War I veterans.
• House Enrolled Act 1177: Expands the state’s employer child care tax credit for businesses that offer child care options to employees. The credit can be used to help pay for costs such as operating or contracting with a child care facility, employee training and higher wages for staff.
• House Enrolled Act 1002: Prioritizes energy affordability by adding performance-based accountability to ensure utilities are hitting targets aimed at reducing costs and improving services for Hoosier ratepayers. It expands the use of levelized billing plans for low-income customers to ensure more consistent monthly payments and adds additional protections for Hoosiers.
• House Enrolled Act 1250: Boosts safety and peace of mind for victims of violent crime by requiring the Indiana Department of Correction to provide more advance notice to victims and local law enforcement when a serious violent felon is scheduled for release.
Click here to learn more about these and other new laws passed in the 2026 legislative session or visit iga.in.gov.
