Elections, education, economic development: New Indiana laws set to go into effect July 1

INDIANAPOLIS -- Mike Braun had a busy first legislative session as Indiana's governor.




As a result of bills filed during the 2025 legislative session in both the Indiana Senate and the Indiana House of Representatives, hundreds of bills were signed into law. More than 200 of those laws are set to go into effect next month.

Here are some of the major laws that are expected to go into effect starting on July 1.

House Bill 1001: State budget

One of the main bills signed into law during the 2025 legislative session was the Indiana state budget, or House Bill 1001.




Authored by Indiana State Rep. Jeffrey Thompson, a Republican whose district is west of Indianapolis, House Bill 1001 was signed into law on May 6 by Braun.








The bill consists of many parts, including funding for capital expenditures, operation of the state as a whole, funding K-12 and higher education and other services. However, this year's bill included additional measures, including a new Indiana cigarette tax as well as more transparency measures for Indiana's government.




One addition to this year's bill, however, gave Braun full control over Indiana University's board of trustees. According to previous reports, this portion allows Braun, as the governor, to "remove and replace" any of the nine members of the IU Board of Trustees at any time.








Since this bill's signing, Braun has already named new members to Indiana University's Board of Trustees, including James Bopp, Jr. and Brian Eagle, both of whom are attorneys, and Sage Steele, a sports broadcaster.




House-bill-1001Download

House Bill 1008: Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission

A new law will soon establish a commission that will begin a conversation surrounding the boundaries in Indiana and Illinois. However, without a similar bill in Illinois, it's not clear how the commission would move forward.




House Bill 1008 was signed into law by Braun on May 1, which creates the Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission starting on July 1.








According to the bill, this commission would include six members appointed by Braun and five members under Illinois law, "to discuss and recommend whether it is advisable to adjust the boundaries between the two states."




Several Illinois counties have voted to secede from the state, including seven in the November 2024 election, according to previous reports.




When the bill passed the Indiana House of Representatives, Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, a Republican from Fishers and the author of the bill, said that Indiana has a lot to offer economically.




"Our economy is growing at a faster rate than all of our neighboring states," Huston said at the time. "If Illinois residents and counties are looking for something different, we're simply raising our hands and saying, you'd be welcome in Indiana." 




For the commission to move forward, lawmakers in Illinois will have to pass a similar bill through their general assembly. In January, Illinois Rep. Brad Halbrook authored House Bill 1500, a bill centered around the creation of the "Illiana Boundary Commission," a bill that was referred to the rules committee of the Illinois House of Representatives.




Since then, there has not been any movement on that particular bill in the Illinois General Assembly. According to previous reports, state boundary adjustments are required to be approved by both state legislatures and the U.S. Congress.




Boundary-billDownload

House Bill 1041: Student eligibility in interscholastic sports

A new law will prohibit transgender women from competing in female-only sports in the state of Indiana.




House Bill 1041, written by Indiana State Rep. Michelle Davis, a Republican from Greenwood, was signed into law on April 16. This comes after Braun signed a series of executive orders in early March that took aim at what he called "extreme gender ideology."




The law requires educational institutions to "expressly designate an athletic team or sport" by gender or as a coed sport. The law then "prohibits a male, based on the student's biological sex at birth... from participating on an athletic team or sport designated as being a (female's)... athletic team."








The law also requires state educational institutions to establish "grievance procedures" for violations of these provisions and establishes a civil action for violating the provisions.




Officials with the ACLU of Indiana said that this law is "unnecessary by recent actions at the federal level."




"...The only logical motivation for (the law)... is to send a message to transgender Hoosiers - you don't belong here," the ACLU's website said. "The ACLU of Indiana opposes this bill because it is terrible public policy and because we know the contributions that transgender Hoosiers make every day in our state. They deserve the opportunity to fully live their lives, including as competitive athletes."




Student-eligibility-in-interscholastic-sportsDownload

House Bill 1322: Blockchain technology

Starting in July, some agencies in the state of Indiana will be able to explore whether investing in blockchain technology is worth it.




House Bill 1322, written by Indiana State Rep. Jake Teshka, a Republican from South Bend, was signed into law on April 10.




This law gives the state's Department of Administration to issue a request for information surrounding how blockchain technology could be used by state agencies to:

• Achieve greater cost efficiency and cost effectiveness





• Improve consumer convenience, experience, data security and data privacy.

The bill states that the following agencies are expected to be included in the request for information:

• Secretary of state's office





• Secretary of family and social services office





• Department of Workforce development





• Department of child services





• Office of technology





• Any other state agency as determined by the office of technology

Under the new law, the Department of Administration will be required to compile a report from the requests for information, which will be submitted to the legislative council not later than Oct. 1, 2026.








In remarks given when the bill was discussed in the Indiana House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform, Teshka said the state would not "rush headlong into something" like investing in blockchain technology without research.




"I certainly trust them and their judgment," Teshka said at the time. "But also want to say, 'Hey, this is the future.'"




blockchain-technologyDownload

House Bill 1425: Food Matters

Starting in July, the sale of cultivated meat products will be banned in the state of Indiana for two years as lawmakers encourage research into the technology.




Braun signed House Bill 1425, a bill titled "food matters" written by Indiana State Rep. Beau Baird, a Republican from Greencastle, on May 6. The bill defined cultivated meat products as animal protein grown in a facility developed from extracted animal stem cells.








According to previous reports, the United States first approved the sale of cultivated meat products in June 2023, but since then, states like Alabama and Mississippi have banned it. The product is not currently widely available for purchase in the United States.




The bill places a statewide moratorium on cultivated meat products through June 30, 2027, allowing civil penalties to be imposed on violators. The bill also requires that, after the moratorium, the cultivated meat products need to include the phrase "THIS IS AN IMITATION MEAT PRODUCT" on the package.




In an interview with FOX59/CBS4, Baird said the two years will allow researchers and universities the chance to find out the safety of the product in the state of Indiana. Baird said that he understands the concerns surrounding the product, even the calls for the state of Indiana to ban it.




"On one hand, as a farmer and a rancher, I kind of agree. Let's just ban it," Baird said. "There's no proof that it's a safe product, yet. But then the other side of me, from a public servant perspective, where I try not to interfere with the free market, that's what gives me pause. That's how we landed on creating a two-year moratorium." 




meat-billDownload

House Bill 1461: Road Funding

A new law enacted on July 1 will ultimately increase the speed limit on I-465 around Indianapolis.




The speed limit increase was included in House Bill 1461, a road funding-centered bill authored by Indiana State Rep. Jim Pressel, a Republican from northern Indiana. The bill was signed into law by Braun on May 1 and also includes provisions on road and infrastructure funding throughout Indiana.








According to previous reports, the speed limit on the majority of I-465 in Indianapolis will increase from 55 to 65 mph. Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation said that new speed limit signs will be installed around the majority of the I-465 loop on or after July 1. The speed limits will increase "once the signs are installed."




Along with impacting I-465's speed limit, the new road funding law also allows the Indiana Department of Transportation to submit a request to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver on toll lanes on interstate highways. If the waiver is granted, the law states that "the general assembly is not required to enact a statute before tolling may occur."




For more information on the change to I-465's speed limit, click here.




Road-Funding-BillDownload

House Bill 1498: School accountability

A law that will officially go into effect on July 1 has already jumpstarted the Indiana Department of Education to reshape the state's accountability model.




House Bill 1498, written by Indiana State Rep. Robert Behning, a Republican, was signed into law on May 6. The bill required the state board of education to establish a new methodology surrounding school performance, something that the department first drafted earlier this month.








The department's model aligns accountability with the following characteristics:

• Academic Mastery





• Career and Postsecondary Readiness: Credentials and Experiences





• Communication and Collaboration





• Work Ethic





• Civic, Financial and Digital Literacy.

Accountability for schools will be calculated through specific points in a student's journey, focusing on subjects like reading and math in early grades while emphasizing work-based learning and credentials in high school.




According to previous reports, an overall accountability rating for a school will be determined based on the average points generated by all students based on the following grading scale:

• A: 90-100





• B: 80-89





• C: 70-79





• D: 60-69





• F: 0-59

School-accountabilityDownload

House Bill 1518: Purchase of vehicles by state entities

A bill that officially becomes law will now require state entities to purchase non-luxury vehicles.




House Bill 1518, written by Indiana State Rep. Mitch Gore, a Democrat from Indianapolis, outlines the requirements for state entities purchasing or leasing a vehicle. The bill was signed by Braun on April 10.




This comes after Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith and Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales were criticized earlier this year for purchasing a luxury vehicle with taxpayer funds.




The bill states that with certain exceptions, the vehicle purchased or leased by a state entity:

• Must be a government model, a base model or standard model vehicle





• May not be from a luxury or semi-luxury brand if a nonluxury brand alternative exists that uses the same underlying vehicle platform.

"I can't believe I have to clarify this, but taxpayer dollars should not be used to buy luxury vehicles," Gore said in a statement prior to Braun signing the bill. "My bill merely codifies this common-sense policy to help eliminate government waste. Many Hoosiers are struggling to keep the lights on in their home or the doors open of their small business. The hard-earned dollars of our taxpayers should be used responsibly and for legitimate purposes. If the average Hoosier can't afford the vehicle, their tax dollars should not be used to purchase it for a public official. Period."




car-purchasesDownload

Senate Bill 1: Local government finance

After a lengthy process, a bill that originated in the Indiana Senate is expected to give some Hoosiers property tax relief.




Senate Bill 1, written by Indiana Republican senators Travis Holdman, Chris Garten and Scott Baldwin, centers around local government finance. This bill was signed into law on April 15 by Braun.








According to previous reports, the law allows homeowners to claim a tax credit worth 10% of their property tax bill, up to $300. The bill also allows municipalities to impose a "local income tax" that meets a certain threshold.




After the bill's passage in the Indiana Senate, Braun said that the law "cuts property taxes for most Hoosier homeowners, farms and businesses, limits future tax hikes and makes the tax system fairer, more transparent and easier to understand."




Braun spoke about Senate Bill 1 during his State of the State address earlier this year, stressing that it focuses on the needs of the taxpayers.




Senate-Bill-1Download

Senate Bills 10 and 137: Voter registration

Starting in July, there will be some new requirements for registering to vote in the state of Indiana.




During the 2025 legislative session, Republicans in the Indiana Senate filed two voter registration-related bills, both of which were signed by Braun on April 16. Both bills amend the state's code concerning elections.




Senate Bill 10, written by Indiana Senators Blake Doriot, Chris Garten and Mike Gaskill, stated that student IDs, or documents issued by an educational institution, will not be accepted as identification to vote. The proof of identification cards that Indiana will accept for registering to vote include:

• Indiana driver's licenses





• Military ID cards





• State ID cards





• U.S. passports

According to previous reports, this bill also amends voter list maintenance rules, stating that county voter registration offices are required to perform maintenance if they receive information that requires a change on a voter, including:

• An individual's death





• Confirmation that a person lives outside the county where the person is registered





• A voter's failure to respond to a notice to require the registration to be reclassified as active





• Disfranchisement of the individual due to a criminal conviction





• A notice issued by the office that the individual has not provided proof of citizenship

The county will also be required to conduct maintenance on the voter list for voters who have not cast a vote in the two most recent elections.




At the time, the ACLU of Indiana criticized the bill, stating that it makes it more difficult for Indiana students to participate in elections.




"Indiana continues to lag in voter participation. In 2024, only seven states had lower participation than Indiana," the group said at the time. "Our elected officials need to propose bold, creative policies to increase voter participation - not continue to pass unneeded laws that decrease it further."




Senate Bill 137, the second voter registration bill that was written by Gaskill and Indiana Senator Mike Bohacek, requires the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles to notify the election division if a voter registration form was transmitted by a person "who applied for or was issued a temporary credential."




Take a look at Senate Bill 10 here:




Voter-Registration-10Download



Take a look at Senate Bill 137 here:




Voter-registration-137Download

Senate Bill 74: Extension of lifeline law immunity

A law passed during the 2025 legislative session in Indiana expands upon a law that was already put in place.




Senate Bill 74, written by Indiana State Republican senators Ron Alting, Mike Bohacek and Aaron Freeman, expands Indiana's lifeline law, a law that gives legal immunity to underage Hoosiers who are drinking and in a medical emergency.








Indiana's lifeline law was first passed 13 years ago. However, this new bill extends that law to cover those being assisted by a person who requested emergency medical assistance for the individual, to be immune from prosecution for certain crimes, according to previous reports.




This bill was signed into law by Braun on April 3.




lifeline-lawDownload

Senate Bills 146 and 249: Teacher compensation

Some teachers in the state of Indiana could see an increase in pay starting on July 1.




Senate Bill 146, a bill centered around teacher compensation written by Indiana Republican senators Linda Rogers, Jeff Raatz and Daryl Schmitt, increased the minimum salary for a teacher employed by a school corporation in the state of Indiana to $45,000. This bill was signed into law on May 6.




Currently, the state's minimum rate of pay for teachers is $40,000. An increase in teacher compensation is a topic that Braun spoke about multiple times during his campaign, as well as during his State of the State Address.




The law also requires school districts to expend teacher compensation in an amount that is "not less than 65% of state tuition support," as well as amends the requirements for districts if they cannot meet minimum teacher salary requirements. Senate Bill 146 also establishes the Indiana teacher recruitment program.




Braun also signed a second teacher compensation-related bill into law on April 16. Senate Bill 249, written by Indiana Republican senators Raatz, Rogers and Spencer Deery, "amends provisions that allow school corporations to provide a supplemental payment to teachers in excess of the salary specified in the school corporation's compensation plan."




Take a look at Senate Bill 146 here:




Teacher-Compensation-146Download



Take a look at Senate Bill 249 here:




Teacher-Compensation-249Download

Senate Bill 199: Conduct of primary elections

A new law is bringing a change to the conduct surrounding primary elections in the state of Indiana starting on July 1.




Senate Bill 199, authored by Indiana Republican senators Mike Gaskill and Linda Rogers, was signed into law on April 1.




The law states that a watcher can be appointed if two or more candidates in a primary sign a written statement that they want one to be present during a county primary election.




A county chairman of a political party is able to appoint a watcher to each precinct in a contested primary if they do not sign a written statement requesting a watcher as well.




Conduct-of-Primary-ElectionsDownload

Senate Bill 287: School board matters

A new law will give school board members the chance to register with a political party.




Senate Bill 287, written by Indiana Republican senators Gary Byrne, Chris Garten and Blake Doriot, was signed into law by Braun on May 6.




This bill opens the door for candidates in school board races across the state to publicly state their political affiliation on the ballot. Candidates will also have the option of running for the position as an independent or without declaring a political party.




According to previous reports, candidates who do not run in affiliation with a political party or as an independent will have a blank space next to their name. The bill also states that a straight-party ticket vote does not count for school board races.








As the bill made its way through the Indiana General Assembly, supporters said that they believe that the addition of political parties would provide transparency to parents and the community about what the candidates believe in. However, others said that the addition politicizes a position that has been "historically nonpartisan.




school-boardDownload

Senate Bill 442: Instruction on human sexuality

Under a new law signed during the 2025 Legislative Session, school districts will now have new requirements on teaching topics like human sexuality and sexually transmitted infections.




Senate Bill 442, written by Indiana Republican senators Gary Byrne, Jeff Raatz and Micahel Young, was signed into law by Braun on May 6.








The law requires that school districts include instruction surrounding the topic of consent in sexual situations as well as deliver a presentation on human growth during pregnancy. The new law also states that districts need to obtain consent from parents before certain materials can be added to sex education courses.




During the process of this bill's development, there were many discussions on whether or not the consent language should be included in the final version of the bill. For a full look at this bill's journey, click here.




Instruction-on-Human-SexualityDownload

Senate Bill 516: Economic development

A new law centered on the state's economic development will officially go into effect on July 1, establishing the Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to help grow small businesses throughout the state.




Senate Bill 516, written by Indiana Republican senators Brian Buchanan and Jeff Raatz, was signed into law by Braun on May 1.




This bill established the Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, as well as required the governor to appoint the president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, who will then report to the state's Secretary of Commerce.




The Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation will help develop and administer programs to "support the growth of small business, entrepreneurship and innovation in Indiana." The office will also oversee programs and sources of funding related to small business growth, along with entrepreneurship, technology and innovation.




According to previous reports, the Indiana Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, along with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, the Indiana Destination Development Corporation and the Department of Workforce Development, is under the Indiana Secretary of Commerce's office.




Economic-Development-BillDownload



For a look at all the bills that Braun signed as a result of the 2025 legislative session, click here.





via: https://fox59.com/indianapolitics/elections-education-economic-development-new-indiana-laws-set-to-go-into-effect-july-1/