STATEHOUSE (April 22, 2026) – The governor recently ceremonially signed into law legislation authored and sponsored by State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) to improve government transparency and support Indiana's long-term energy goals.
House Enrolled Act 1360 strengthens Indiana's public records process by addressing the growing number of automated and out-of-state requests that can overwhelm state and local agencies. Lehman, who authored the bill, said that this new law establishes safeguards to ensure legitimate requests are handled efficiently while discouraging abusive practices.
"Hoosiers deserve timely and transparent access to public records, but agencies should not be burdened by bad-faith or automated requests that slow down the process for everyone," Lehman said. "House Enrolled Act 1360 puts reasonable guardrails into place to protect access while improving efficiency and accountability."
Lehman noted that under HEA 1360 agencies will be required to maintain an online portal to process requests, confirm a requestor's physical address and track potential automated submissions. This measure also allows for agencies to charge fees for certain out-of-state requests, helping to offset administrative costs.
Lehman also sponsored Senate Enrolled Act 258, which updates Indiana's approach to nuclear energy regulation by removing outdated and duplicative state requirements that already have oversight at the federal level.
"Reliable, affordable energy is critical to Indiana's economic growth," Lehman said. "By modernizing our regulatory framework, we are reducing unnecessary red tape and creating a more efficient path forward for responsible energy development."
SEA 258 will streamline the permitting processes related to nuclear energy by aligning state and federal regulations, positioning Indiana to meet future energy demands while maintaining safety standards.
To learn more about these and other new laws passed during the 2026 legislative session, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) represents House District 79,
which includes all of Adams County, and portions of Jay and Wells counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
PHOTO CAPTION 1 : State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) (second from left) joins Gov. Mike Braun (seated), State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) (far left) and State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) (second from right) for a ceremonial signing of House Enrolled Act 1360 on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Lehman authored the new law to strengthen Indiana's public record process.
PHOTO CAPTION 2 : State Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) (back row, fourth from left) joins Gov. Mike Braun (seated), State Reps. Ryan Lauer (R-Columbus) (front row, far left), Jim Pressel (R-Rolling Prairie) (front row, second from left), Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) (front row, third from left), State Sens. Scott Alexander (R-Muncie) (back row, fifth from right), Eric Koch (R-Bedford) (back row, fourth from right) and Blake Doriot (R-Goshen) (back row, third from right) for a ceremonial bill signing of Senate Enrolled Act 258 on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Lehman sponsored the new law to support Indiana's long-term energy goals.
