INDIANA— A series of new state laws aimed at restructuring state government, slashing regulations for K-12 schools, and cutting red tape for local childcare facilities and small businesses will officially go into effect on July 1.
Following the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session, State Representative Stephen Bartels (R-Eckerty) is highlighting a slate of newly enacted legislation designed to bolster Hoosier economic growth and optimize government spending.
“The legislative session concluded with a strong focus on lowering everyday barriers for our communities and giving local institutions more room to operate effectively,” Bartels said. “These new laws provide critical updates to protect taxpayer dollars and expand options for working families.”
Streamlining Bureaucracy and Reducing School Regulations
Headlining the legislative updates is House Enrolled Act 1003, a priority bill authored directly by Bartels that targets government bloat. The legislation sunsets, eliminates, or consolidates roughly 40 redundant or inactive state boards and commissions that have outlived their utility or failed to hold meetings in recent years.
“This legislation modernizes the way many state boards and commissions are structured to make government more efficient,” Bartels explained. “The new law updates Indiana’s approach to construction, reorganizes building and fire safety codes under the Department of Homeland Security, and significantly reduces bureaucratic hurdles that slow down progress.”
In tandem with state-level deregulation, House Enrolled Act 1004 scales back the dense volume of administrative mandates imposed on Indiana’s K-12 public schools. The law acts as an expansion of legislative efforts from last year, stripping away outdated reporting requirements so school administrations can pivot their focus back to classroom education and local control.
Support for Working Parents and Hoosier Commerce
Lawmakers also addressed Indiana’s ongoing childcare shortage with the passage of House Enrolled Act 1177. The law expands the state’s employer-provided childcare tax credit, offering robust financial incentives to private businesses that create childcare solutions for their workforce. Under the expanded framework, local companies can claim tax credits to offset the costs of:
- Constructing, operating, or contracting with certified childcare facilities.
- Funding professional development and licensing for childcare employees.
- Subsidizing higher competitive wages for local childcare staff.
Finally, small commerce and local agriculture will receive a regulatory reprieve under House Enrolled Act 1424. The legislation bars state agencies from over-regulating local vendors and family farms, maximizing the direct-to-consumer marketplace for homegrown food items and agricultural goods.
How to Learn More
The full text, fiscal impact statements, and committee testimonies for these newly enacted statutes—alongside all other bills passed during the 2026 General Assembly—can be reviewed by visiting the official Indiana General Assembly portal at iga.in.gov.
