Karickhoff, VanNatter: Legislative session ends with new laws to help Hoosiers

STATEHOUSE (March 31, 2026) – The 2026 legislative session concluded with the passage of several new laws aimed at lowering everyday costs, streamlining government and giving families and communities opportunities to thrive, according to State Reps. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) and Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo).

During session, lawmakers approved measures focused on affordability, tax relief and supporting Indiana’s continued economic growth. These new laws build on Indiana’s strong fiscal position and commitment to responsible budgeting.

VanNatter said a major theme this year was cutting through red tape whether in housing, energy, government or education. All House Republican priority bills passed both chambers and were signed into law by the governor.

"These new laws reinforce our commitment to supporting working families and strengthening Indiana's workforce, especially through efforts like expanding the employer child care tax credit," VanNatter said. "This year we focused on affordability efforts to lower costs for families and continue growing our economy."

New laws passed during the 2026 legislative session include:

• House Enrolled Act 1001: Delivers housing affordability by rolling back regulations and reducing bureaucratic delays and hurdles to help get more housing to market, increasing supply and driving down costs.
  • House Enrolled Act 1002: Prioritizes energy affordability by adding performance-based accountability to ensure utilities are hitting targets aimed at reducing costs and improving services for Hoosier ratepayers. It expands the use of levelized billing plans for low-income customers to ensure more consistent monthly payments and adds additional protections for Hoosiers.
  • House Enrolled Act 1177: Expands the state's employer child care tax credit for businesses that offer child care options to employees. The credit can be used to help pay for costs such as operating or contracting with a child care facility, employee training and higher wages for staff.
  •House Enrolled Act 1004: Reduces the number of regulations Indiana's K-12 schools must navigate so they can focus more on educating our children. The law is a continuation of an effort that began last year to remove outdated and unnecessary regulations and give schools more control over local education decisions.

Karickhoff said that overall, more than 90 percent of all bills passed this session received bipartisan support, with nearly half passing unanimously.

"These new laws focus on issues Hoosiers face every day, including housing and energy costs, access to child care and tax relief for veterans," Karickhoff said. "These efforts reflect shared priorities and deliver real results for families across Indiana."

Click here to learn more about these and other new laws passed in the 2026 legislative session or visit iga.in.gov.

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State Rep. Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) represents House District 30, 
which includes portions of Grant and Howard counties. 
Click here to download a high-resolution photo. 

State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) represents House District 38,
which includes all of Carroll and Tipton counties, and
portions of Cass, Clinton, Howard and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.