Photo of Chris Garten
R Indiana Senate · District 45 On the 2026 ballot

Sen. Chris Garten

Compare
Total votes
1,939
all sessions
Attendance
89%
217 missed
Lower than 95% of chamber peers
With party
97%
of cast votes
Near the chamber average
Bipartisan score
2%
crosses aisle rarely
Near the chamber average
Sponsored
478
bills & resolutions
Near the chamber average
Committees
4
assignments
478 bills and resolutions

Sponsored bills

Total
478
Primary
253
Co-sponsor
225
This page
478
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Primary SB 189
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Lead sponsor
Locating and recovering wild game.

Permits a person to use an unmanned aerial vehicle with infrared abilities to locate and recover a legally taken wild animal.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 241
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Lead sponsor
Taking bobcats.

Requires the department of natural resources to establish and implement a season to take bobcats not later than July 1, 2025.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 0 co-sponsors
Primary SB 48
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Lead sponsor
State educational institution information.

Requires a state educational institution to prominently display hyperlinks to certain college scorecard information on the state educational institution's website and degree web pages.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor SB 5
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Lead water line replacement and lead remediation.

Specifies that, for purposes of the statute concerning the replacement of customer owned lead service lines by water utilities, a municipally owned utility includes a utility company owned, operated, or held in trust by a consolidated city. Provides that the following apply with respect to the owner of a building, structure, or dwelling, other than a multi-family residential property that contains more than four dwelling units, that is served by a customer owned lead service line within or connected to a water utility's system: (1) That upon request by the water utility, the owner shall replace, or cause to be replaced, the customer owned portion of the lead service line by: (A) enrolling in the water utility's lead service line replacement program; or (B) replacing the customer owned portion of the lead service line through the owner's own agents or contractors and at the owner's own expense. (2) That if the owner: (A) does not enroll in the water utility's lead service line replacement program; (B) does not replace the customer owned portion of the lead service line; or (C) fails to communicate with the water utility regarding the replacement; the water utility or the water utility's agent may enter the property to replace the customer owned portion of the lead service line. (3) That the: (A) water utility; and (B) occupant of the property, if the property is occupied by a person other than the owner; are not liable to the owner with respect to any replacement made under these provisions. (4) That if a water utility attempts to avail itself of the remedies set forth in these provisions and is prevented from doing so by the owner of the property, the water utility may, in accordance with state law, disconnect water service to the owner's property. Provides that the following apply with respect to the owner of a multi-family residential property that contains more than four dwelling units: (1) That the owner may elect to participate in the water utility's lead service line replacement program. (2) That the owner must communicate to the water utility the owner's election to participate not later than 45 days after receiving the water utility's request. (3) That if the owner does not communicate the owner's election to participate within this 45 day period, the owner, or any future owner of the property, is responsible for replacing the customer owned portion of the lead service line through the owner's own agents or contractors and at the owner's own expense. Provides that in the case of a: (1) building; (2) structure; or (3) dwelling; that a water utility has determined to be abandoned or unserviceable, the water utility may disconnect water service to the property and require the owner, or any future owner, of the property to install a new service line. Provides that these provisions may be incorporated, without the need for further approval by the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC), into a water utility's lead service line replacement plan that has been previously approved by the IURC.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 1 co-sponsor
Primary SB 216
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Lead sponsor
Agriculture and pesticides.

Requires the dean of agriculture of Purdue University to submit certain annual reports to the legislative council and the budget committee as well as to the governor. Makes several changes in the laws concerning pesticides and pesticide use and application. Adds and revises definitions of terms used in those laws. Provides for the adoption of certain pesticide requirements and standards set forth in federal regulations as state requirements and standards. Makes changes concerning who may use certain pesticides and the circumstances under which the pesticides may be used. Authorizes the state chemist to enter a premises to access copies of records but allows the person holding records to defer the state chemist's access for up to ten days. Provides that the state chemist may enter public or private or property to investigate conditions possibly resulting from pesticide use only if the state chemist has reasonable suspicion of a violation. Requires the state chemist, in a proceeding involving multiple counts of repeated incidents of the same violation, to limit the imposition of a civil penalty to five counts. Provides that any findings related to a violation must be disclosed to the alleged violator before a penalty is assessed. Provides that, absent evidence of wrongdoing by the licensed pesticide business, any citation or civil penalty for a violation by an employee of a licensed pesticide business must be directed to the employee or the employee's supervisor instead of to the licensed pesticide business. Establishes requirements for individuals applying to become registered technicians. Establishes record keeping requirements for registered pesticide dealers, commercial applicators, and private applicators. Establishes restrictions and requirements concerning the application of pesticides on school property and pesticide use in a wellhead protection area. Sets forth acts for which the state chemist may impose a civil penalty or deny, suspend, or revoke a license, permit, or registration, including the application of a pesticide in a manner that allows it to drift from the target site, distributing a restricted use pesticide to a noncertified end user, and storing or disposing of a pesticide in violation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 0 co-sponsors
Primary HB 1142
Signed into law · Indiana House · Lead sponsor
Hoosier first responder medal of honor.

Establishes the Hoosier first responder medal of honor (medal). Provides that the department of homeland security (department) may determine an Indiana first responder is eligible for the Hoosier first responder medal of honor if the Indiana first responder distinguishes themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of the Indiana first responder's life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an act of public service. Provides that, upon approval of a nomination by the department, the department shall notify the entity employing the Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana first responder volunteers of the nomination. Provides that the entity shall notify a member of the general assembly who represents the district in which the entity is located of the Indiana first responder's nomination. Provides that the member of the general assembly shall recommend the Indiana first responder for the medal to the governor. Provides that, if the department determines that an Indiana first responder nominated to the department does not meet the eligibility requirements to receive the medal, the department may make recommendations to the entity that employs the Indiana first responder or for which the Indiana first responder volunteers of other forms of recognition for the Indiana first responder. Provides that the governor may award the medal to the Indiana first responder or the Indiana first responder's next of kin at a public ceremony.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 0 co-sponsors
Co-sponsor HB 1025
Signed into law · Indiana House · Co-sponsor
Mixed beverages.

Adds a definition of "mixed beverage". Allows the holder of a wine wholesaler's permit to take certain actions concerning mixed beverages and flavored malt beverages.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 1 co-sponsor
Co-sponsor SB 1
Signed into law · Indiana Senate · Co-sponsor
Reading skills.

Provides that the department of education (department) may grant certain individuals a waiver that provides an exception to the literacy endorsement requirements if the department submits a report to the legislative council by a specified date. Requires certain schools, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, to offer summer school courses for students who are not reading proficient or are at risk of not being reading proficient as indicated on the determinant evaluation of reading skills approved by the state board of education (evaluation). Expands eligibility for funding for summer school courses. Requires certain summer school courses to be taught by a teacher, instructor, or tutor who is trained in the science of reading. Provides that if a student does not achieve a 90% attendance rate in a summer reading course, the student is required to participate in an individual reading plan in the following school year. Requires the department of education to procure a universal screening assessment (assessment) that meets certain criteria. Requires certain schools to administer the assessment to students in kindergarten through grade 2 who are not on track for reading proficiency by grade 3 as determined by the department. Requires the state board of education to establish a method for virtual administration of the ILEARN statewide assessment. Provides that a vendor must supply a student's assessment results to the student and the student's parents. Applies the reading deficiency remediation plan (plan) to public schools, charter schools, state accredited nonpublic schools, and eligible schools. Makes the following changes to the plan: (1) Beginning with evaluations administered in the 2024-2025 school year, requires retention of a student in grade 3 in addition to remediation if the student has not achieved a passing score on the evaluation. (2) Requires schools to notify a student's parent of certain assessment results, interventions, or remedial actions provided to the student. (3) Requires schools to monitor the progress of students who have failed to achieve a passing score on the evaluation or the statewide assessment program test. (4) Requires schools to provide reading instruction aligned with the science of reading to all students in kindergarten through grade 8. (5) Requires schools to administer the evaluation to students who are in grade 2. (6) Requires a student to take the evaluation until certain conditions are met. (7) Requires school reporting on interventions for certain students at risk of not being reading proficient and for certain students who do not a achieve a valid passing score on the determinant evaluation of reading skills. Creates exceptions to the grade 3 retention requirement for a student who meets certain criteria. Requires the governing body of a school to establish a procedure allowing a parent or guardian of a student to appeal the student's retention under the plan. Requires the department to notify the parent or guardian of a child enrolled in kindergarten of the retention requirements under the plan.

Signed into law Mar 11, 2024 1 co-sponsor
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