Several new laws were recently ceremonially signed by the governor, highlighting important updates, relief and safeguards for Hoosiers across the state. These ceremonial bill signings showcase legislation passed during the 2026 session and are a way for lawmakers, stakeholders and those directly impacted to come together and reflect on new laws, often aimed at addressing specific needs.
A variety of new laws were aimed at bolstering protections for young Hoosiers. These include House Enrolled Act 1408 and House Enrolled Act 1303, which were signed into law after the tragic death of an Indiana teenager. HEA 1408 creates a framework to protect minors on social media and HEA 1303 adds "high-risk missing persons" to the definition of "missing child" for Indiana's Silver Alert system, which will help raise awareness across the state to find youth believed to be in danger.
House Republicans also passed new laws aimed at lowering costs for Hoosiers. House Enrolled Act 1001, a priority bill, delivers housing affordability by limiting local mandates and regulatory barriers that impede development and drive up the cost of homes. Similarly, House Enrolled Act 1002, another priority bill, creates performance-based accountability to ensure utilities are hitting targets aimed at reducing costs and increasing reliability. New tools for managing costs will strengthen consumer protections by automatically enrolling low-income Hoosiers eligible for Indiana's energy assistance program in levelized billing with clear disclosures and an opt-out option.
Other new laws focused on education initiatives and supporting Hoosier students, parents and teachers. House Enrolled Act 1195 expands eligibility for Indiana's high school equivalency program to those under 18 and extends the pilot program until mid-2028. This program has helped hundreds of Hoosier students find a path forward while prioritizing career readiness. Additionally House Enrolled Act 1004 builds of efforts from last year, cutting outdated and unnecessary regulations and giving schools more control over local education decisions, which allows teachers to better focus on students.
To learn more about these new laws and others are they are ceremonially signed, visit the Indiana House Republicans Media Room or iga.in.gov.
