Photo of Steve Bartels
R Indiana House · District 74 On the 2026 ballot

Rep. Steve Bartels

Compare
Total votes
2,103
all sessions
Attendance
92%
158 missed
Lower than 77% of chamber peers
With party
97%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
1%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
350
bills & resolutions
Higher than 89% of chamber peers
Committees
3
assignments
350 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
350
Primary
88
Co-sponsor
262
This page
350
matching current filters
Co-sponsor HB 1294
In committee · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
Administrative rules review.

Establishes the administrative rules review committee. Requires an agency to submit a rule, including an executive order, and the latest version of the regulatory analysis with any supporting documents to the office of fiscal management and analysis of the legislative services agency to estimate the fiscal impact on state and local government. Provides that if the fiscal impact is estimated to be greater than $300,000 in any two year period, the rule and supporting documents shall be provided to the administrative rules review committee for review. Provides that the rule described may not take effect unless authorized by a bill enacted by the general assembly, unless the governor certifies that an emergency exists and the rule is necessary to address the emergency. Specifies that a rule enacted to address an emergency expires after one year.

In committee Jan 6, 2026 1 co-sponsor
Primary HB 1130
In committee · Indiana House · Lead sponsor
Craft hemp.

Establishes a regulatory framework for hemp and craft hemp. Prohibits the sale of specified products to a person less than 21 years of age. Makes conforming changes.

In committee Jan 5, 2026 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 1039
In committee · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
Various immigration matters.

Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain acts, the attorney general shall defend the law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution throughout the action. Clarifies that the enforcement of federal immigration laws may be carried out by federal, state, or local law enforcement. Removes the mens rea standard in the statute concerning governmental bodies or postsecondary institutions violating the citizenship and immigration status information and enforcement of federal laws chapter. Provides that a governmental body that has the custody of an individual who is the subject of an immigration detainer request shall: (1) provide the judge authorized to grant or deny the individual's release on bail notice that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (2) record in the individual's case file that the individual is subject to an immigration detainer request; (3) comply with the immigration detainer request; and (4) inform the individual that the individual is being held pursuant to an immigration detainer request. Provides immunity to a governmental body or an employee of a governmental body for any action taken concerning an immigration detainer request. Prohibits a political subdivision from taking certain actions to aid, assist, incentivize, or facilitate the migration of any alien or class of aliens into Indiana. Provides that if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that a governmental entity has not complied with an immigration detention request, the attorney general may bring a court action to: (1) enjoin an act or practice constituting a violation of an immigration detention request; and (2) impose a civil penalty for noncompliance with an immigration detention request. Requires a judge who receives notice that an individual is subject to an immigration detainer request to ensure that the notice of the immigration detainer request is recorded in the court's record. Prohibits an employer from knowingly or intentionally recruiting, hiring, or employing an unauthorized alien. Provides that if the attorney general determines that probable cause exists that an employer has recruited, hired, or employed an unauthorized alien, the attorney general may enjoin the action and seek the suspension of the employer's operating authorizations. Provides that a governmental entity that employs a prosecuting official is entitled to investigative costs and costs in an indecent nuisance action.

In committee Dec 2, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor HB 1007
Signed into law · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
Energy generation resources.

Provides a credit against state tax liability for expenses incurred in the manufacture of a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in Indiana. Establishes procedures under which certain energy utilities may request approval for one or more of the following from the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC): (1) An expedited generation resource plan (EGR plan) to meet customer load growth that exceeds a specified threshold. (2) A generation resource submittal for the acquisition of a specific generation resource in accordance with an approved EGR plan. (3) A project to serve one or more large load customers. Sets forth: (1) the requirements for approval of each of these types of requests; (2) standards for financial assurances by large load customers; and (3) cost recovery mechanisms for certain acquisition costs or project costs incurred by energy utilities. Amends the statute concerning public utilities' annual electric resource planning reports to the IURC to provide that for an annual report submitted after December 31, 2025, a public utility must include information as to the amount of generating resource capacity or energy that the public utility plans to retire or refuel with respect to any electric generation resource of at least 125 megawatts. Provides that for any planned retirement or refueling, the public utility must include, along with other specified information, information as to the public utility's plans with respect to the following: (1) For a retirement, the amount of replacement capacity identified to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate regional transmission organization (RTO) as the capacity of the facility to be retired. (2) For a refueling, the extent to which the refueling will maintain or increase the current generating resource accredited capacity or energy that the electric generating facility provides, so as to provide approximately the same accredited capacity within the appropriate RTO. Requires IURC staff to prepare a staff report for each public utility report that includes a planned electric generation resource retirement. Provides that if, after reviewing a public utility's report and any related staff report, the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall conduct an investigation into the reasons for the public utility's inability to meet these requirements. Provides that if the public utility's report indicates that the public utility plans to retire an electric generating facility within one year of the date of the report, the IURC must conduct such an investigation. Provides that: (1) a public utility may request, not earlier than three years before the planned retirement date of an electric generation facility, that the IURC conduct an investigation into the planned retirement; and (2) if the IURC conducts an investigation at the request of the public utility within that three year period, the IURC may not conduct a subsequent investigation that would otherwise be required under the bill's provisions unless the IURC is not satisfied that the public utility can satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics as of the time the investigation would otherwise be required. Provides that if a CPCN is granted by the IURC for a facility intended to repower or replace a generation unit that is planned for retirement, and the CPCN includes findings that the project will result in at least equivalent accredited capacity and will provide economic benefit to ratepayers as compared to the continued operation of the generating unit to be retired, the CPCN constitutes approval by the IURC for purposes of an investigation that would otherwise be required. Provides that if, after an investigation, the IURC determines that the capacity resources available to the public utility will not be adequate to allow the public utility to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirements and the statute's prescribed reliability adequacy metrics, the IURC shall issue an order: (1) directing the public utility to acquire or construct; or (2) prohibiting the retirement or refueling of; such capacity resources that are reasonable and necessary to enable the public utility to meet these requirements. Provides that if the IURC does not issue an order in an investigation within 120 days after the initiation of the investigation, the public utility is considered to be able to satisfy both its planning reserve margin requirement and the statutory reliability adequacy metrics with respect to the retirement of the facility under investigation. Provides that if the IURC issues an order to prohibit the retirement or refueling of an electric generation resource, the IURC shall create a sub-docket to authorize the public utility to recover in rates the costs of the continued operation of the electric generation resource proposed to be retired or refueled, subject to a finding by the IURC that the continued costs of operation are just and reasonable. Makes a technical change to another Indiana Code section to recognize the redesignation of subsections within the section containing these provisions.

Signed into law May 6, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 433
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Lead sponsor
Veteran service officers.

Makes changes to the duties of the Indiana department of veterans' affairs commission (commission). Makes changes to the duties of the director of the department of veterans' affairs (department). Requires, before January 1, 2026, the commission to establish and maintain certain standards for the state accreditation program. Requires, after June 30, 2026, each service officer employed by a county or city to maintain the accreditation standards to provide service on behalf of the county or city. Provides that a county executive shall employ a service officer and may employ service officer assistants. Provides, that with the approval of the commission, two or more counties may enter into an agreement to employ a service officer if each county demonstrates to the commission that the workload does not justify each county employing a separate county service officer. Requires every county or city official and department of the county or city to cooperate with the service officer and provide the service officer with information necessary in connection with the performance of the service officer's duties.

Signed into law May 6, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 525
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Annexation.

Allows the Town of Plainfield in Hendricks County (town) to annex a noncontiguous residential development that meets certain requirements. Provides that the annexation is initiated by: (1) the homeowner's association board petitioning the town legislative body for annexation of the residential development; and (2) the town legislative body adopting a resolution approving initiation of the annexation process. Provides that the town may not do the following: (1) Use the annexation territory to annex additional territory. (2) Annex additional territory within the unincorporated area extending 1/2 mile from the boundaries of the annexation territory, unless the annexation is with the consent of all of the landowners within the area to be annexed. (3) Annex, under any type of annexation, within the area that extends from the boundary of the 1/2 mile area to the town. Provides that the town's redevelopment commission may only enact a housing tax increment financing district in Liberty Township in Hendricks County if the district is approved by a resolution passed by the Mill Creek School Corporation.

Signed into law May 6, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 231
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Lead sponsor
Various corrections matters.

Eliminates requirements that the department of correction: (1) maintain farm programs for offenders committed to the department; and (2) prepare a report calculating the savings realized as a result of sentencing changes. Replaces a reference to a rule repealed by the department of correction with a requirement that the custody and treatment of juveniles meet the standards and licensing requirements adopted in the administrative rules of the department.

Signed into law May 6, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Primary HB 1637
Signed into law · Indiana House · Lead sponsor
School and public safety matters.

Expands the eligibility requirements for admission to the Indiana Veterans' Home. Provides that the department of natural resources shall provide staff support for the Indiana semiquincentennial commission (commission). (Current law provides that the Indiana department of veterans' affairs provides staff support for the commission.) Adds a definition of an "eligible person" for purposes of administering grants for veteran services (GVS). Provides that a qualified entity may receive a GVS to provide certain services to support an eligible person. Makes changes to the qualifications to receive a veteran's burial allowance. Establishes the Medal of Honor license plate. Restores a provision of current law concerning certain disability ratings, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and educational cost exemptions. Updates references throughout the Indiana Code relating to the armed forces of the United States or uniformed services to include the United States Space Force. Changes references relating to military discharges. Makes technical changes to various references relating to the components of the armed forces of the United States. Provides that Hamilton County is not subject to the political party membership requirements for a board of aviation commissioners or an airport authority. Establishes the office of school safety within the department of homeland security (department) for the purpose of coordinating and administering school security and safety resources. Changes the composition of the secured school safety board. Requires a school corporation or charter school to comply with certain safety related requests by the office of school safety. Authorizes the department to issue enforcement orders in accordance with rules adopted by the board of firefighting personnel standards and education. Removes emergency medical services enforcement authority from the state fire marshal's management authority. Provides that the department, a fire department, an airport fire department, or a volunteer fire department may open burn for fire training purposes if certain conditions are met. Makes various changes to provisions relating to the department's enforcement authority pertaining to the administrative adjudication of building fire and safety laws. Amends the definition of "law enforcement officer" to include the state fire marshal and the executive director or fire investigator of the department. Provides that the fire prevention and building safety commission, with certain exceptions, may not adopt a final rule for more than three building codes during any 12 month period. Defines "correctional services provider" and adds correctional services providers to the definition of "covered person" for purposes of restricting access to a covered person's address on a public property data base website. Provides that a school resource officer who has completed Tier I or Tier II basic training has statewide jurisdiction. Provides that a school resource officer may pursue a person who flees from a school resource officer after the school resource officer has, by visible or audible means, including the operation of the school resource officer's siren or emergency lights, identified themself and ordered the person to stop. Increases the penalty for criminal recklessness from a Class B to a Class A misdemeanor. Specifies that the immunities and limitations on liability that apply to a law enforcement officer (and the officer's employing agency) acting within the officer's jurisdictional area also apply to an officer (and employing agency) acting outside the jurisdictional area under certain circumstances. Makes pointing a firearm by a passenger in a vehicle whose driver is committing criminal recklessness a Level 6 felony under certain circumstances. Adds a hospital police department to the definition of police departments required to provide police officers with certain rights. Repeals the provision establishing the department of education's division of school building physical security and safety. Makes conforming amendments.

Signed into law May 6, 2025 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 1113
Signed into law · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
Fire protection districts.

Maddy summaryHB 1113 expands the types of services that fire protection districts are allowed to provide. This bill permits these districts to establish or undertake additional purposes beyond their traditional roles. The expansion of services is allowed only under specific, undefined circumstances. It directly affects fire protection districts and the communities they serve by potentially broadening the range of services available to residents.

Signed into law May 1, 2025 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 318
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Required disclosures and access of foreign media.

Requires certain media entities operating in Indiana to disclose: (1) foreign ownership; (2) foreign funding; and (3) the use of foreign sourced or influenced content. Authorizes the secretary of state to impose a civil penalty of not more than $50,000 for a knowing or intentional violation of the disclosure requirements. Provides that the secretary of state shall publish a list of Indiana media entities that have complied with certain requirements. Requires certain media entities to obtain special accreditation from the department of administration to attend state media events, and allows the department of administration to revoke the special accreditation under certain circumstances.

Signed into law May 1, 2025 1 co-sponsor
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