STATEHOUSE (July 21, 2025) – With the 2025 legislative session concluding in April, State Reps. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) and Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) are highlighting some of the new state laws taking effect this summer
Olthoff said many new laws passed during session took effect July 1, including a new law increasing child care access.
House Enrolled Act 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.
"We need more child care options for families in rural and urban areas across the state," Olthoff said. "This new law expands child care programing by streamlining licensures and opening up school-based child care programs."
Soliday said lawmakers took action on a variety of issues impacting Hoosiers this year, including helping the state to meet energy demands.
House Enrolled Act 1007 could pave the way for Indiana to be a leader in clean, reliable and cutting-edge energy generation technology. It creates incentives for small modular nuclear reactors to modernize our energy grid. It also reduces ratepayer risks associated with meeting the new or expanding energy needs of large commercial users.
"As our economy grows, we need to have the energy to match," said Soliday, author of HEA 1007. "This new law will help modernize and expand energy generation in our state and protect ratepayers from picking up additional costs related to large companies’ electricity needs."
Local lawmakers also highlighted the following new laws:
Supporting Foster Families
To support foster families, a new law co-authored by Olthoff stipulates that foster parents who qualify are eligible for Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) vouchers for their foster child to help ease the financial burden of child care. It also reserves a set number of CCDF vouchers for children who are placed with licensed foster parents
Reining in Medicaid Spending
Medicaid spending in Indiana has grown by $5 billion in the last four years, ballooning to 22 percent of our state budget. A new law bolsters oversight of Medicaid to prevent fraud and abuse. It strengthens eligibility and accountability measures to ensure tax dollars are used to support those who truly need assistance.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws.
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State Rep. Julie Olthoff (R-Crown Point) represents House District 19,
which includes portions of Lake and Porter counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) represents House District 4,
which includes a portion of Porter County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
