STATEHOUSE (May 27, 2025) – The governor recently signed into law legislation authored by State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) to bolster support for food truck vendors across the state.
Since the pandemic, the food truck industry has been on the rise. According to Grand View Research, food truck services are one of the fastest-growing small business concepts and among the most in-demand restaurants in the country.
House Enrolled Act 1577 creates a statewide mobile retail food establishment license so food truck vendors can go county-to-county without having to obtain a local license or permit in each location.
The new law also establishes a standard for the license, inspection and standards for the operation of the mobile retail food establishment, which are based upon the same set of uniform standards used to regulate brick and mortar restaurants. The state department must establish an application for the license and a combined fee for the license, which is capped at $450. King said this has been an ongoing effort to streamline the process, making it as efficient as possible.
"We're making it as easy as possible to own and operate a business, no matter where you are in the state," King said. "By creating a statewide mobile license, we can cut red tape and eliminate unnecessary burdens for Hoosier entrepreneurs who run food trucks. I'm happy to see this piece of legislation make it into law."
Local health departments will also oversee issuing licenses, collecting fees and conducting semiannual inspections of license holders beginning in 2027.
To learn more about House Enrolled Act 1577 and other new laws, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2025-bill-watch.
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State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) represents House District 49,
which includes a portion of Elkhart County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
