Membership
Join Now!
A number of pro-jobs, pro-economy bills were backed by the Indiana Chamber and passed during the 2026 Indiana General Assembly. Below is a compilation of these new laws that are likely impactful for your organization:
CHILDCARE:
HEA 1152 – Expanding In-Home Child Care Access
This law prevents homeowners associations from prohibiting licensed in-home childcare operations. The change is intended to increase local childcare availability and support working families by expanding care options in residential communities.
HEA 1177 – Employer Child Care Expenditure Tax Credit Expansion
This law expands employer eligibility and allowable uses of Indiana’s childcare expenditure tax credit. Eligible investments now include employer-supported childcare models, contracted childcare slots, tuition assistance and operational support intended to increase access for working families.
SEA 4 – Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Updates
This measure includes changes intended to strengthen Indiana’s Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program by improving continuity and access for eligible families. The policy is designed to support workforce participation by helping working parents maintain access to affordable childcare.
ECONOMIC/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:
SEA 76 – Employment of Unauthorized Aliens
This law establishes a new state enforcement framework prohibiting employers from knowingly or intentionally employing unauthorized aliens. It authorizes investigations by the Indiana Attorney General, creates civil penalties for violations and provides safe harbor protections for employers utilizing E-Verify or certain recognized employment verification best practices.
SEA 256 – Foreign Ownership and Foreign Adversary Restrictions
This law imposes new restrictions on certain land acquisitions, investments and institutional relationships involving designated foreign adversaries. It also establishes new requirements for Indiana colleges and universities related to foreign students, researchers and partnerships, reflecting growing national security concerns while potentially affecting economic development, higher education and international business recruitment efforts.
EDUCATION/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT:
HEA 1098 – Work-Based Learning Expansion
This law creates additional clarity for employer participation in work-based learning and student experiences. The measure is intended to reduce barriers for employers, strengthen talent pipelines and expand opportunities for students to gain real-world experience tied to future careers.
SEA 78 – Bell-to-Bell Personal Device Restrictions
Beginning July 1, schools must implement policies limiting student use of personal wireless communication devices during instructional time. The goal is to reduce classroom distractions, improve student engagement and support stronger academic outcomes.
ENERGY:
HEA 1002 – Electric Utility Affordability
This law requires investor-owned electric utilities to move toward three-year multi-year rate plans and increases reporting to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor on residential customer account data. It also requires eligible electric utilities to offer low-income customer assistance programs by July 1 and apply levelized billing to certain eligible residential customers.
ENVIRONMENT:
SEA 277 – Indiana Department of Environmental Management
This broad Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) bill makes numerous changes to Indiana’s environmental statutes, including updates to water pollution, solid waste and hazardous waste provisions, permitting and hearing processes, reporting requirements and PFAS-related provisions. The law is significant for regulated entities because it is intended to streamline duplicative or outdated regulatory requirements while maintaining IDEM’s core oversight responsibilities.
HEALTHCARE:
HEA 1271 – Payment of Health Claims
This law requires hospitals to disclose information about payment assistance programs, including signage and public availability of information.
HEA 1277 – Health and Human Services Matters
This law makes several changes involving Medicaid home- and community-based services waivers, provider notice requirements and related health and human services administration. It is relevant to long-term services and supports, Medicaid administration and provider compliance.
SEA 1 – Human Services Matters
This broad human services law includes Medicaid and public assistance provisions, establishes the Indiana Rural Health Transformation Fund and includes changes tied to federal Medicaid reforms.
SEA 282 – Compounding Drugs and Registration of Medical Spas
This law sets new requirements around drug compounding and requires state agencies to study risks and oversight related to compounding. Medical spa registration requirements begin later, but will be important for pharmacies, medical spas and providers offering compounded medications, including weight-loss drugs.
HOUSING:
HEA 1001 – Housing and Community Investment
Indiana’s biennial budget includes investments and policy changes supporting housing development, site readiness and community growth initiatives designed to strengthen local economies and improve workforce attraction and retention.
REGULATORY REFORM:
HEA 1003 – Government Modernization and Regulatory Reform
This legislation continues Indiana’s efforts to modernize state government operations by consolidating and eliminating numerous boards, commissions and advisory bodies, while also implementing various administrative and regulatory reforms. The measure is intended to improve government efficiency, reduce administrative burdens and streamline state decision-making processes to better support economic growth, business competitiveness and public sector effectiveness.
TAX AND PUBLIC FINANCE:
HEA 1210 – Local Government Finance
This law provides that maximum levy adjustment for a cumulative capital development fund is based on the certified tax rate. It also requires a qualified data center user to provide the county or municipality that enters into an agreement with the data center an amount not greater than 1% of the sales tax savings for the data center’s total amount of electricity billed.
HEA 1406 – Tax and Fiscal Matters
Under the Venture Capital Tax Credit, this law allows a taxpayer to combine individual credits of less than $10,000 for assignment. Further, it requires the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to award $35 million per state fiscal year for RDA tax credits under the Redevelopment Tax Credit, and it requires the IEDC to award $15 million per state fiscal year under Redevelopment Tax Credit for the small town opportunity initiative to advance: historic preservation; redevelop or rehabilitate distressed building, or underutilized property; and redevelop or rehabilitate sites where distressed buildings once stood.
SEA 163 – Various Tax Matters
This law extends the Affordable and Workforce Housing Tax Credit for five years and provides that a county board or assessing official shall not enter a property to conduct a physical inspection without first receiving the permission of the taxpayer to enter the property.
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
115 W. Washington St.
Suite 850S
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Directions
Contact Us
(317) 264-3110
inchamber@indianachamber.com
Membership
Join us as we strive to make Indiana an even better place to work, live and visit!
Log In To Your Account
Pay Your Invoice
Job Opportunities
The Ice Miller law firm serves as legal counsel for the Indiana Chamber.
KERAMIDA is the Indiana Chamber’s official sustainability partner.
Copyright © 2026 Indiana Chamber | All Rights Reserved
Leave a Reply