With the start of the new fiscal year, many laws we passed during the 2025 legislative session are now in effect. As your state representative, I worked to ensure that these changes reflect the priorities of our community.
Indiana's new two-year budget is balanced, maintains our AAA credit rating, funds critical priorities and continues state income tax cuts for Hoosiers. It provides the most ever funding for K-12 schools and expands school choice to all families next year. House Enrolled Act 1001 also boosts funding for public safety and housing access to support growing communities.
We also took action on a variety of issues impacting Hoosiers this year, including increasing child care access.
To expand access to child care, HEA 1253 streamlines licensure requirements, allowing owners of multi-site child care centers to operate under a single license. It also allows school-based child care programs to serve children from the entire school corporation, rather than limiting care to children of students and staff.
Additionally, I wanted to highlight these new laws the General Assembly passed this year:
Bolstering School Safety
Indiana aims to boost school safety by moving the Office of School Safety to the Department of Homeland Security. This will centralize safety efforts, annual inspections, school plans and enforcement orders. A new School Safety Board will also be created to offer added insight and guidance related to school safety.
Cutting Taxes for Hardworking Hoosiers
To continue Indiana’s track record of cutting taxes, the budget accounts for scheduled cuts to the state income tax each of the next two years to one of the lowest rates in the nation. Another new law I supported provides property tax relief to homeowners. These tax cuts combined will save Hoosiers more than a billion dollars over two years.
Removing Barriers from School Athletics
School athletics play a vital role in student development and community involvement by offering opportunities both on and off the field. I authored a new law that empowers parental choice by removing restrictive language from Indiana Code related to school athletic transfers. This change provides families with greater flexibility when making decisions about their child’s participation in school athletics.
These new laws reflect the strong partnerships and thoughtful planning behind every policy decision. From economic development to education and health care, we focused on making improvements that will positively impact Hoosiers and their everyday lives.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws.
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State Rep. Cory Criswell (R-Middletown) represents House District 54,
which includes portions of Hancock, Henry, Rush and Shelby counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
