Our president and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders says the 2026 Indiana General Assembly, which adjourned last evening, was “successful in advancing key Indiana Chamber priorities and building on the state’s momentum to keep Indiana on a positive path and strengthen its competitiveness.”
Members of the Chamber government affairs team offer their brief commentary below on the most important outcomes in their issue areas. Look for the overall scorecard and a more complete recap in next week’s Final Legislative Report.
VICTORY: Tax Conformity (passed in Senate Bills 212 and 243)
“Bringing conformity with the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and avoiding unnecessary complexity for taxpayers is important for both citizens and businesses,” offers Natalie Goodwin, vice president of government affairs. “Clear guidance on the penny phase-out also is important for retailers, consumers and the Department of Revenue to ensure consistent implementation statewide.
“The Chamber remains engaged as discussions continue and looks forward to opportunities to further improve Indiana’s tax competitiveness in future legislation.”
VICTORY: Housing Access (passed in House Bill 1001)
“The housing shortage is clearly a challenge in Indiana, as it is nationwide,” states Camille D. Blunt, vice president of government affairs. “It was important to develop a starting place to encourage communities around our state to be forward thinking as it relates to provisions that make sense for their communities. Local control is still respected, as many provisions in the bill can be opted out of by council ordinance.”
VICTORY: Childcare Access (passed in House Bills 1152, 1177 and Senate Bill 4)
“By modernizing the employer childcare tax credit to better align with employer needs and allow operating and contracted childcare expenses to qualify, more businesses – particularly small and mid-sized employers – can participate,” shares Blunt. “Also ensuring homeowners associations cannot prohibit property owners from operating legally licensed childcare homes or providing childcare services will enhance affordable childcare access.”
She adds, “Expanding funding sources for the Child Care and Development Fund voucher program is another important piece in the childcare puzzle for Hoosiers that we now have.”
VICTORY: Township Modernization (passed in Senate Bill 270)
“Modernizing local government is about making sure systems are efficient, predictable and accountable,” Goodwin offers. “When local government works better, communities are better positioned to grow, invest and meet the needs of residents and employers alike. Kudos to state legislators for coming together in this effort to improve local government in Indiana.”
VICTORY: Work-Based Learning (passed in House Bill 1098)
“Bringing clarity and protection to Indiana’s work-based learning programs by clearly defining responsibilities and ensuring proper workers’ compensation coverage will help employers and students as we work to boost work-based learning opportunities,” Blunt asserts.
VICTORY: Continued Environmental Deregulation (passed in Senate Bill 277)
“This year’s Indiana Department of Environmental Management update strikes a practical, balanced approach that preserves environmental oversight while providing businesses with clearer standards, predictable timelines and alignment with finalized federal requirements,” Goodwin notes. “Gaining such certainty is a welcome result for businesses across Indiana and creates a more reliable environment for business investment.”
IMPROVED OUTCOMES: Immigration and Foreign Adversary Matters (passed in Senate Bill 76 and SB 256, as amended to incorporate HB 1099)
NOTE: The Chamber worked throughout the session to refine these bills and strengthen employer-focused safeguards, ensuring they advance national security objectives while supporting Indiana’s economic competitiveness.
Senate Bill 76 establishes a clear statewide enforcement framework prohibiting the knowing employment of unauthorized workers, while preserving safe harbor protections for employers who use E-Verify or follow industry-standard best practices, creating greater certainty and consistency for Indiana businesses.
“From the outset, our priority was to ensure that responsible employers who follow the law are protected,” stresses Adam H. Berry, vice president of public policy and general counsel. “The final language reflects important guardrails, including reasonable diligence standards and structured enforcement, which provide clarity for employers while reinforcing compliance expectations across the marketplace.”
Senate Bill 256, as amended, strengthens Indiana’s approach to foreign influence and national security oversight while incorporating key modifications to better protect lawful employment relationships and reduce unintended harm to talent recruitment and business investment.
“Throughout this debate, the Chamber worked to ensure that Indiana can safeguard national security interests without undermining our ability to attract and retain globally sourced talent,” Berry said. “While this legislation required significant engagement, our focus remained on narrowing provisions that could unintentionally weaken Indiana’s competitive position or extend beyond the bill’s core national security objectives.”
