INDIANA – Indiana State Senator Andy Zay (R-Huntington) has taken a legislative bite out of Hoosier culinary pride, introducing a bill that seeks to officially designate the beloved Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich as the official state sandwich of Indiana.
The bill, Senate Bill 21 (SB 21), had its first reading in the Indiana State Senate on December 8, 2025, and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Commerce and Technology for further consideration.
If passed by the General Assembly and signed into law, the designation would take effect on July 1, 2026.
Celebrating Local Heritage and Pork Producers
The legislation aims to cement the popular oversized sandwich’s place in state history, adding a new chapter to the Indiana Code dedicated to recognizing the famous Hoosier staple. Notably, the bill explicitly mandates that the official sandwich must be made from pork raised in Indiana, linking the culinary symbol directly to the state’s significant agricultural sector.
The Breaded Tenderloin, a dish synonymous with diners and small-town restaurants across Indiana, typically consists of a thin cut of pork loin, pounded flat, breaded, and deep-fried until golden brown and crispy. It is famously served on a small hamburger bun, with the meat’s edges dramatically overhanging.
Senator Zay is a longtime champion of the tenderloin, having previously authored similar legislation in 2023 (Senate Bill 322), citing the sandwich’s historical significance in his home district, where Nick’s Kitchen in Huntington is widely credited as the birthplace of the Hoosier breaded pork tenderloin, serving it since 1908.
The Current List of Indiana State Symbols
Should the bill succeed, the Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich would join a varied list of officially recognized Indiana state symbols, which honor the state’s culture, history, and natural resources.
Indiana’s State Symbols currently codified in law include:
- State Bird: Northern Cardinal
- State Tree: Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
- State Flower: Peony (Paeonia)
- State Snack: Indiana-grown popcorn (designated in 2021)
- State Fossil: Mastodon (Mammut americanum) (designated in 2022)
- State Motto: “The Crossroads of America”
The proposal now moves to the committee stage, where lawmakers will debate the merits of formally recognizing one of Indiana’s most cherished regional foods.
