Rep. Kyle Pierce

Creates the agricultural promotion and regulation task force to study various agriculture related topics. Makes changes to requirements for the readoption of administrative rules. Repeals, merges, consolidates, or otherwise modifies various boards, commissions, and other governmental bodies. Modifies or establishes various funds. Makes changes to the membership, duties, and operations of various boards, commissions, and other governmental bodies. Expands the applicability of a statute concerning county hospital governance to Perry County, Spencer County, and Orange County. Repeals the fire prevention and building safety commission (commission). Transfers the commission's responsibilities and administrative rules to the department of homeland security. Makes certain changes to the administration of building and safety statutes and building and safety codes. Makes technical corrections. Makes an appropriation.

Maddy summarySB 113 extends the required preservation period for certain election records from 22 months to 60 months, effective January 1, 2026. This change directly affects election officials and agencies responsible for handling ballots, tabulation data, and other election-related materials. The key provision mandates that these records must now be retained for a longer period (5 years instead of just over 1 year) before disposal. The bill passed unanimously in the House on January 22, 2026, with no recorded opposition.

Separates out the procedures for how a county election board and the Indiana election commission (commission) may administratively disband certain committees into two different sections of the Indiana Code. Allows the commission to administratively disband a committee if: (1) the committee has not filed a report of expenditures during the previous calendar year; (2) the committee has never filed a report of expenditures or the last report filed reported cash on hand that did not exceed $1,000; and (3) the election division has attempted to contact the committee but the communication was returned or otherwise undeliverable. Removes the discretion of the commission with respect to certain civil penalties that may be imposed and instead requires the commission to impose the civil penalties. Requires the commission to assess a civil penalty of $1,000 or $500, plus investigative costs, for certain violations. Provides that a $500 civil penalty shall be assessed for a violation of certain electronic filing requirements.

Provides that if a proxy advisor makes a recommendation against entity management on an entity proposal or proxy proposal, or makes a default recommendation or policy concerning votes against entity management on entity proposals or proxy proposals, and the proxy advisor does not do so based on a written financial analysis, the proxy advisor shall do the following: (1) At the time the proxy advisor provides the proxy advisory services, provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure to each interest holder or any person acting on behalf of an interest holder, receiving the proxy advisory services, that: (A) identifies the services being provided by the proxy advisor; (B) identifies the recommendation at issue; and (C) states that the proxy advisor has made the recommendation without utilizing a written financial analysis regarding the impact that the recommended action would have on entity interest holders. (2) If the proxy advisor provides certain proxy advisory services, then at the time the proxy advisor provides the proxy advisory services, the proxy advisor must provide to entity management the disclosure provided to each interest holder or any person acting on behalf of an interest holder receiving the proxy advisory services. (3) For the entire time that a proxy advisor is providing proxy advisory services to an interest holder of an entity or any person acting on behalf of an interest holder of an entity, prominently display on the home page of the proxy advisor's website a statement that the proxy advisor has made a recommendation: (A) against entity management on an entity proposal or proxy proposal; and (B) without utilizing a written financial analysis regarding the impact that the recommended action would have on entity interest holders. Provides that if a proxy advisor makes a recommendation against entity management on an entity proposal or proxy proposal, or makes a default recommendation or policy concerning votes against entity management on entity proposals or proxy proposals, and the proxy advisor does so based on a written financial analysis, the proxy advisor shall do the following: (1) At the time the proxy advisor provides the proxy advisory services, provide a clear and conspicuous disclosure to each interest holder or any person acting on behalf of an interest holder, receiving proxy advisory services, that: (A) identifies the services being provided by the proxy advisor; (B) identifies the recommendation at issue; (C) states that the proxy advisor utilized a written financial analysis regarding the impact that the recommended action would have on entity interest holders in making the recommendation; and (D) states that the written financial analysis is available upon request. (2) Make the written financial analysis available to an interest holder or any person acting on behalf of an interest holder, receiving the proxy advisory services within a reasonable time after an interest holder or any person acting on behalf of an interest holder, receiving the proxy advisory services requests the written financial analysis. (3) If the proxy advisor provides certain proxy advisory services, then at the time the proxy advisor provides the proxy advisory services, the proxy advisor must provide a copy of the written financial analysis to entity management. Amends the definition of "consumer transaction" for purposes of the deceptive consumer sales act to include the provision of a product or service to a state agency or a local agency in Indiana. Amends the definition of "supplier" for purposes of the deceptive consumer sales act to include an entity that provides a product or service to a state agency or a local agency in Indiana. Provides that an action that arises from a consumer transaction involving the provision of a product or service by a supplier to a state agency may be brought and enforced only by the attorney general. Provides that an action that arises from a consumer transaction involving the provision of a product or service by a supplier to a local agency may be brought and enforced only by an attorney acting on behalf of the local agency, unless the local unit of government served by the local agency requests the attorney general to bring and enforce an action on behalf of the local unit. Provides that in an action that arises from a consumer transaction involving the provision of a product or service by a supplier to a state agency or a local agency, a court may take certain actions.

Provides that the following shall offer, as a regular investment program, a self directed brokerage account that offers at least one cryptocurrency investment option: (1) The legislators' defined contribution plan. (2) The Hoosier START plan. (3) Specified public employees' retirement fund plans and accounts. (4) Specified teachers' retirement fund plans and accounts (including the teachers' pre-1996 account). Prohibits a public agency, other than the department of financial institutions, or a county, municipality, or township from adopting or enforcing a rule, ordinance, or other regulation that does any of the following: (1) Prohibits, restricts, or impairs an individual's ability to: (A) accept digital assets as a method of payment for legal goods and services; or (B) take custody of digital assets using specified technologies. (2) Imposes taxes or fees on: (A) use or acceptance of digital assets as a method of payment for legal goods and services; or (B) taking or maintaining custody of digital assets using a self-hosted wallet or hardware wallet; that are not applicable to comparable financial transactions that do not involve digital assets. (3) Prohibits, restricts, or impairs the ability of an individual or business to engage in specified activities pertaining to blockchains. Prohibits a public agency, other than the department of financial institutions, from adopting or enforcing a rule, ordinance, or other regulation that prohibits operation of a digital mining business. Prohibits a county, municipality, or township from adopting or enforcing a rule, ordinance, or other regulation that does any of the following: (1) Prohibits a digital asset mining business from operating in an area zoned for industrial use, or subjects a digital asset mining business located in an area zoned for industrial use to noise restrictions that are not applicable to other businesses operating in an area zoned for industrial use. (2) Prohibits private digital asset mining in a private residence located in an area that is zoned for residential use, or subjects private digital asset mining in a residence located in an area zoned for residential use to noise restrictions that do not apply to other residences in an area zoned for residential use. Provides that development or use of software for noncustodial transfer of digital assets does not constitute money transmission for purposes of statutes regarding licensure of money transmitters. Provides that a court may compel a person to disclose a digital asset private key only if no other admissible information is sufficient to provide access to the digital asset.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing the 70th anniversary of The Arc of Indiana and honoring its enduring leadership and advocacy for Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Maddy summarySB 27, titled "Vehicle Bill" (though the bill's actual content relates to stadiums, not vehicles), establishes the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority. This authority is created to acquire, build, and finance stadiums and related facilities in northwest Indiana. The bill outlines the authority's specific powers, including funding mechanisms and operational duties for managing these projects. The bill directly affects northwest Indiana communities by creating a dedicated entity to handle stadium development and financing.

Maddy summaryHR 51 is a commemorative resolution honoring Officer Brian Elliott, authored by Representative McGuire and coauthored by numerous representatives. It formally recognizes Officer Elliott's service and contributions, though it does not create any new laws or alter existing policies. As a procedural resolution, it has no direct policy impact or effect on specific groups beyond the ceremonial acknowledgment of the officer. The bill was adopted during its first reading on February 25, 2026.

Provides that when an individual files a notice of withdrawal listing an address different from the address on the individual's voter registration record, the individual's signature on the notice of withdrawal constitutes a request to the county voter registration office that the address on the individual's voter registration record be the same as the address on the notice of withdrawal.

Addresses technical issues in the Indiana Code, including those related to spelling, tabulation, formatting, grammar, and cross-references. Resolves technical conflicts from the 2025 legislative session. Makes conforming amendments. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the code revision committee.)