Following the completion of the 2026 legislative session, Hoosiers should be aware of several new laws passed and how they will affect our community. Brown County is home to small business owners, working families, retirees and farmers who are all navigating different challenges. Costs have risen, childcare has been out of reach for too many households and affordability seems uncertain. These new laws address those concerns head-on.
A top concern for Brown County residents has been housing. The average age of a first-time homebuyer has risen to a new high of 40 years old. Housing inventory across the state has been tight, which has caused prices to climb and made affordable housing feel unattainable for too many Hoosiers. House Enrolled Act 1001 delivers housing affordability by rolling back and limiting burdensome local regulations, helping get more housing to market quicker and reducing costs so more Hoosier families can achieve the American dream of owning a home.
The availability of childcare has also been a major concern, with many working Hoosier families struggling to find reliable and affordable childcare. Recently, Gov. Mike Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1177, a new law I supported, which expands the state's employer childcare tax credit to encourage more businesses to offer care options to their workers. Companies can use the credit to pay for operating their own childcare facilities or contracting with outside providers, and for related costs like payroll and training. Childcare is an economic and workforce issue. Making this tax credit available to more businesses will help employers play a role in supporting the needs of their employees.
Another issue we addressed this session was affordable utility rates. House Enrolled Act 1002 enhances cost predictability for low-income families by requiring energy suppliers to establish customer assistance programs for eligible households. If you're a low-income household in Brown County, your utility company now must offer you help. To help lower rates for everyone, the state will establish performance-based accountability to ensure utilities are hitting metrics focused on reducing costs and increasing reliability.
Finally, we took action to protect seniors from financial scams. Cryptocurrency ATMs, often found in supermarkets and convenience stores, have become a favored tool for scammers targeting seniors and Hoosiers in crisis. Victims are frequently made to believe that they are paying a bill or protecting their savings, when in reality they are being manipulated into sending their money to criminals, who convert it to digital currency on overseas exchanges that aren't under U.S. laws. House Enrolled Act 1116 responds to these fraudulent practices by prohibiting cryptocurrency kiosks in Indiana, removing a tool that bad actors use to steal from our neighbors. While other states are also addressing cryptocurrency kiosks, Indiana is the first to ban them.
It is an honor and a privilege to serve Brown County, and I'm committed to delivering for you year-round, not just during the legislative session. If you have any questions about these new laws or anything else coming out of the Statehouse, my office is here for you. You can make your voice heard by contacting me at in.gov/h62 or by calling 317-232-9978. To learn more about these new laws and others signed by the governor, click here.
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State Rep. Dave Hall (R-Norman) represents House District 62,
which includes all of Brown County, and portions of Monroe and Jackson counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
