Rep. Matt Lehman

Makes the following changes to the Indiana Code chapter concerning the issuance of permits for nuclear powered generating facilities and nuclear fuel reprocessing plants (facilities) by the department of environmental management (department): (1) Repeals a provision that prohibits a person from constructing or operating, or increasing the capacity of, a facility without a permit from the department. (2) Repeals a provision authorizing the environmental rules board (board) to adopt rules establishing: (A) conditions for the issuance of a permit for; and (B) requirements for the operation of; a facility. (3) Requires a person proposing to construct a facility to file with the department (instead of the board, under current law) an environmental feasibility report concurrently with the filing of documents (instead of the preliminary safety analysis, under current law) required to be filed with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (instead of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, under current law). (4) Repeals a provision authorizing the commissioner of the department to conduct a public hearing on the environmental effects of the proposed operation of a facility. (5) Repeals a provision: (A) requiring the board to adopt rules and standards to protect Indiana citizens from radiation hazards; and (B) setting forth requirements for required permits with respect to radioactive discharge.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution honoring former Representative Edward D. Clere. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, funding, or regulations. The resolution simply expresses the House's recognition of Representative Clere's service, with no direct impact on constituents or other legislative matters. As a procedural measure, it requires no further action beyond its adoption.

Allows a person who wishes to be a candidate for a pro tempore appointment to certain local offices or school board offices to file a declaration of candidacy with the chair of the caucus or the circuit court clerk. Requires a circuit court clerk to send a copy of a declaration of candidacy filed with the clerk to the chairman of the caucus on the same day the declaration of candidacy is received. Allows a notice of a caucus meeting to be rescinded if only one candidate seeks to fill a vacancy in a local office or a school board office held by a major party.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (not a law) by the Indiana House of Representatives to commemorate the U.S. founding's 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026. It encourages Indiana citizens, communities, schools, and organizations to hold events reflecting on U.S. history and founding principles like liberty and federalism. The resolution specifically urges schools to strengthen civics education about these ideals but does not create new requirements or funding. It has no legal effect beyond expressing the House's recognition of the anniversary.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (HR 13) formally recognizes the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and acknowledges historical Irish ties to the founding events. It does not create new laws, alter policies, or directly affect any individuals or groups. The bill serves solely as a commemorative statement by Congress, with no implementing mechanisms or concrete policy changes. It was introduced by Rep. O'Brien and co-sponsored by multiple representatives, passing its first reading on January 27, 2026.

Makes repeated operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) over private real property a nuisance, with both civil and criminal penalties, including an increased penalty for nuisances involving agricultural property. Provides that operating a UAV not more than 100 feet above private real property or landing the UAV on private real property is a civil trespass, with civil penalties, including an increased penalty for trespasses involving agricultural property. Creates various crimes for operating a UAV over certain places, people, or animals such as livestock. Provides that operating a UAV to collect certain data, recordings, or photographs of an individual or area of real property is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides, however, that the violation is a Level 6 felony if the subject of the data, recordings, or photographs involves certain critical infrastructure. Requires a person who operates a UAV that is at least 55 pounds to carry liability insurance, and requires the department of homeland security to develop and administer a program to verify UAV insurance compliance. Makes conforming changes.

Requires an insurer that provides property insurance coverage to a named insured to take certain actions when the insurer uses aerial images to aid in its determination to not renew property insurance coverage for a named insured.

Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to designate 15 economic development regions throughout Indiana. Establishes a regional economic development commission (commission) for each economic development region. Provides for the membership of each commission. Requires each commission to establish or designate a primary administrative entity (entity) to carry out a strategic comprehensive economic development plan for the region. Sets forth the duties of a commission and entity.

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.

Allows a state agency to use artificial intelligence software to prepare information and projections for the state budget. Requires a state agency to provide a quarterly report to the budget committee that details the requests submitted by the state agency for new federal funds or to participate in a new federal program. Provides that, in addition to the quarterly reports, a state agency may not immediately accept an award of new federal funds in certain circumstances or participate in a new federal program before a report has been reviewed by the budget committee. Specifies the contents of the report that must be submitted for budget committee review. Requires a state agency to provide the state comptroller with a contract for inclusion in the Indiana transparency website not later than 30 days after the contract is fully executed. Requires that permanent full-time positions which have been vacant for 90 days or more be reviewed and either reauthorized or eliminated by the budget director. Requires the budget director to provide a quarterly report to the governor's office regarding those positions that were reauthorized or eliminated by the budget director in the preceding three months. Requires a state agency to provide quarterly reports to the budget committee regarding the state agency's active contracts. Provides for the reversion of funds appropriated to a state agency for expenses related to a contract that are unused after the end of the contract term. Requires the department of administration (department) to develop certain contract language to be included in state contracts of $500,000 or more. Requires a state agency to provide a report to the budget committee concerning amendments to a contract that: (1) increase the maximum contract amount by not less than $500,000; or (2) for a contract with an initial maximum contract amount of not less than $500,000, extend the term of the contract by not less than six months. Prohibits a state agency from entering into a nonpublic contract. Requires all contract opportunities of state agencies to be posted in the form of a request for proposals or a request for quotations on the department's website at least 30 days prior to the contract being awarded. Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services and the office of Medicaid policy and planning to do the following: (1) Review monthly reports on the Medicaid program service utilization to identify trends and risks within the state Medicaid program. (2) Post publicly on the office of the secretary of family and social services's website monthly financial reports or expenditures and revenues for each state Medicaid program and commentary providing context for each monthly financial report. (3) Submit a quarterly report to the budget committee.