(INDIANAPOLIS) — Indiana Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders offers closing commentary on the 2026 Indiana General Assembly, which is set to wrap up activity this evening:
“Building on past momentum, this legislative session delivered meaningful policy wins that strengthen Indiana’s competitiveness and create new opportunities for businesses and their workers to prosper. Key successes include further advances regarding childcare and work‑based learning, long-sought modernization of local government and tax conformity measures to address what’s happened at the federal level.
“For years, Indiana employers have identified childcare access and affordability as one of the most significant barriers to workforce participation and productivity. By passing several policies that increase childcare supply, reduce regulatory friction and encourage employer investment, lawmakers took important steps toward removing a critical constraint on Indiana’s labor force and unlocking long‑term economic growth potential for Hoosier families and their employers.
“Our township government has remained largely unchanged for generations, which has led to duplication, inefficiencies and inconsistent fiscal oversight. Senate Bill 270 marks a significant effort to modernize this system of local government in a way that improves accountability, reduces unnecessary costs and creates a more predictable, transparent environment for all taxpayers. This has been a longtime priority of the Indiana Chamber, and we consider this a major victory for improving communities across the state.
“The 2026 session also set the stage for significant future progress on tort reform. While the shortened timeline made it difficult to fully align stakeholders and lawmakers, legislation aimed at curbing frivolous lawsuits against businesses advanced to the final week, sparking productive dialogue on next steps. Given its critical role in economic development and competitiveness, tort reform will remain a top focus during the interim.”
NOTE: The Indiana Chamber’s public affairs team is available for interviews on policy matters and 2026 legislation. Please reach out to Matt Ottinger at mottinger@indianachamber.com or (317) 264-7541 with requests.
###
The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”
