STATEHOUSE (Jan. 9, 2026) – State Rep. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville) recently introduced legislation to ensure that the gender listed on an individual's birth certificate may not be changed.
"This legislation ensures consistency and clarity in our state's vital records by codifying existing policy into law," Borders said. "While last year's executive order established that biological certificates reflect a person's biological sex at birth, this bill provides long-term certainty by placing that standard in statute. Laws should be clear, stable and straight-forward and this legislation does just that."
House Bill 1199 codifies this language into Indiana law. Last year, Gov. Mike Braun signed Executive Order 25-36 which required state agencies, including the Indiana Department of Health, to enforce the biological binary of gender.
The Indiana Department of Health issued guidance last March to local and county health department to stop accepting change requests for Indiana birth records.
Borders said that he supports Braun's order but would like to see the language written into state law. Borders has introduced previous versions of this bill throughout his tenure as a state representative.
HB 1199 was referred to the House Public Health Committee. If it passes out of committee, it will move to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
To learn more about HB 1199 and other bills this session, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Bruce Borders (R-Jasonville) represents House District 45,
which includes all of Greene and Sullivan counties, and portions of Daviess, Knox and Vigo counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
