Rep. Matt Lehman

Allows the executive board of the Indiana department of health to adopt rules concerning time temperature control for food safety, but provides that the rules may not be applied to a homestead vendor or small farm vendor. Provides that homestead vendors and small farm vendors are exempt from specified health regulations applicable to food establishments. Provides that the Indiana department of health, a local unit of government, the health and hospital corporation of Marion County, or a local health department may not impose any rules, regulations, certifications, or licensing requirements on a homestead vendor or small farm vendor that are not required under federal law, but may investigate complaints against a homestead vendor or small farm vendor regarding a foodborne illness derived from the homestead vendor's or small farm vendor's food products. Permits homestead vendors and small farm vendors to sell specified meat products and other foods from: (1) the property of the homestead vendor or small farm vendor; or (2) a farmers market. Requires a homestead vendor or small farm vendor to provide consumers with specified information regarding the homestead vendor's or small farm vendor's food products through signage or labeling. Provides for conditions under which a homestead vendor or small farm vendor may ship or deliver a food product directly to a consumer. Imposes handling, refrigeration, transportation, and storage requirements for homestead vendor and small farm vendor food products. Provides that public buildings used by homestead vendors and small farm vendors are exempt from certain public building and safety regulations. Provides that buildings, structures, or stands used for sale of homestead vendor or small farm vendor food products are subject to specified fire safety, building, and equipment laws.

Allows the Indiana department of administration (department) to implement category management for purchasing and contracting by state agencies. Amends the nomination and appointment process for a state agency's purchasing representative. Requires the department to establish and maintain an independent verification and validation oversight program for contracts entered into by state agencies. Requires state agencies to submit an annual procurement and purchasing plan to the department and the budget agency. Repeals provisions concerning the ability of the Indiana war memorials commission to enter into contracts.

Allows a public agency to establish and maintain an electronic portal for submission of public records requests that: (1) incorporates CAPTCHA or an equivalent mechanism for ensuring that a requestor is a human; (2) requires verification of a requestor's physical address; (3) indicates to the public agency whether the requestor is a resident of Indiana; and (4) automatically tracks and reports submissions suspected to be automated or to have originated from known sources of phishing or data scraping. Provides that a public agency may deny a public record request if the request: (1) is made by a person that is a party to pending or ongoing litigation; and (2) is duplicative of a discovery request made by the person in the pending or ongoing litigation. Provides that: (1) a public agency may decline to respond to a public records request if the public agency suspects: (A) the request to be data scraping or phishing activity; or (B) that responding to the request electronically may: (i) expose the public agency's electronic systems or data to unauthorized access or alteration; or (ii) otherwise jeopardize the security of the public agency's electronic systems or data; and (2) if the public agency declines to respond to the request, the public agency must report: (A) the request; and (B) the public agency's reason for declining to respond to the request; to the public access counselor. Allows a public agency to collect a supplemental fee for processing public records requests submitted by non-Indiana residents or out-of-state entities. Allows a public agency to give priority in fulfilling public records requests to: (1) Indiana residents; and (2) requests submitted for civic, journalistic, academic, or personal use. Requires public agencies to report to the public access counselor regarding public records requests suspected of being automated, data scraping activity, or phishing activity (suspect public records requests). Provides that the general assembly may establish reasonable and narrowly tailored procedural safeguards to preserve the integrity and availability of public agency resources. Requires the public access counselor to: (1) take specified actions with regard to identifying excessive and suspect public records requests; and (2) include in the public access counselor's annual report: (A) information regarding the volume and nature of public records requests received by public agencies, including information regarding suspect public records requests reported by public agencies; and (B) recommendations to the general assembly regarding statutory or administrative remedies to excessive and suspect public records requests.

Requires a person or entity to furnish information relating to a fraudulent insurance act to the department of insurance or the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Provides that a person or entity is not subject to civil or criminal liability for filing a report or furnishing other information concerning a fraudulent insurance act under certain circumstances. Sets forth a fee schedule for providing unrestricted data to certain entities from the all payer claims data base. Makes various changes to: (1) provisions relating to notice of material change; and (2) the property and casualty insurance and guaranty association law. Allows the insurance commissioner to waive the requirements for a merger or consolidation of a farm mutual insurance company with any other company if an emergency event occurs. Provides that a policy of insurance that provides coverage in excess of any liability relating to a self-insured retention amount shall be considered a commercial umbrella or excess liability policy under the uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage provision. Requires an insurer of automobile insurance policies to mail a notice of nonrenewal at least 30 days before the expiration of the policy. Requires an insurer of residential policies to: (1) mail a notice of nonrenewal at least 60 days before the expiration of the policy; and (2) take certain actions when the insurer utilizes aerial images as part of the insurer's coverage determinations. Allows co-owners of a condominium that meets certain conditions to obtain property and casualty insurance coverage for the condominium units by purchasing a master policy or by allowing each co-owner to purchase insurance on an individual basis. Requires an insurer and a health maintenance organization to provide an insurance producer with access to a complete list of providers who have entered into a reimbursement agreement with the insurer or health maintenance organization. Provides that the prohibition on denying, conditioning, or discriminating in the pricing of Medicare supplement policies for certain applicants applies to an applicant who submits an application during the period beginning one month before the applicant's birthday and ending one month after the applicant's birthday. Provides that the insurance commissioner has the authority to take certain actions relating to the creation, implementation, or operation of a health benefit exchange. Requires the department of insurance to annually report information to the budget committee regarding the fee schedule for providing unrestricted data that is being added in the bill.

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.

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION congratulating Michelin North America, Inc., upon the occasion of the 65th anniversary of its BFGoodrich tire production facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Provides that the state board of accounts is subject to applicable professional auditing standards. Requires the governor to appoint two deputy examiners, one of whom must be a certified public accountant, and the other of whom must be either a certified public accountant or an attorney licensed in Indiana.

Maddy summaryHB 1417 establishes a commission to study tort reform and limits civil lawsuits related to public nuisances, such as environmental harm or neighborhood disturbances. It directly affects communities and businesses that could face or file such lawsuits, potentially reducing legal challenges over shared community issues. The bill creates a formal process for the commission to review and recommend changes to civil lawsuit rules. This legislation passed the Senate with 61 votes in favor and 34 against.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding House resolution (HR 28) that formally recognizes the U.S. national debt as a threat to national security. It does not propose new laws or policies, but serves as a symbolic statement acknowledging the concern. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the House (91-0) on February 18, 2026, with multiple representatives added as co-authors. It directly affects congressional discourse but has no legal effect on debt management or security policies.