The Indiana Chamber's Top Legislative Priorities

This legislative session is a quick one, and the State Chamber is strategically mulling over which priorities are possible and how to maximize impact. The State Chamber’s agenda is derived from pillars and strategies in their economic plan, the Indiana Prosperity 2035 (IP35). Based on their annual survey, stakeholders are focused on the regional economic development, education, and streamlining construction efforts. Highlighted policy efforts are in work-based learning, local government modernization, providing more childcare options, decoupling or conforming with OB3 (aka the One Big Beautiful Bill), and cutting red tape in housing and the environment. 

​The Indiana Chamber's Top 8 Bills

• SB 212 OB3 Conformity Bill 
  • Amends Internal Revenue Code to conform or decouple with OB3.
  • Passed in Senate, referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
  • IN Chamber’s View: This bill is narrow in scope with no big fiscal impacts. The Chamber’s imperative is to maintain Indiana’s competitive tax environment with certainty and predictability.  While the Chamber is neutral on this bill, they are closely analyzing it. 
• HB 1417 Causes of Action and Damages, Tort Reform 
  • Limits a civil cause of action concerning a public nuisance, tort reform will improve Indiana’s business climate. Puts a $1,000,000 cap on noneconomic damages awarded in a civil suit. 
  • First reading, referred to the Committee on Judiciary. 
  • IN Chamber’s View: the Indiana Chamber is a part of the Indiana Alliance for Legal Reform and focuses on smart tort reform out of employer interest and supports economic development by protecting business owners from 3rd party criminal acts committed outside of their control.  

---

• HB 1149 Pre-kindergarten Care SGO Tax Credit 
  • Establishes early childhood scholarship tax credit for contributions made from a Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). The amount of credit is equal to 50% of the amount of the contribution and limits tax credits awarded in a state fiscal year to no more than $100,000,000. 
  • First reading, referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. 
    • Because the bill affects the budget, it will not be heard this year but the following 2027 budget year.  
  • IN Chamber's View: This framework would help reduce the strain on the federal Child Care and Development Fund while enabling more Hoosiers to return to the workforce, and employers get access to a greater workforce. 
• HB 1315 Township Reorganization 
  • Broadens township consolidation; certain townships will be dissolved and their responsibilities, duties, offices, and properties transferred to a municipality or county. 
  • First reading, recommitted to the Committee on Ways and Means. 
  • IN Chamber’s View: SB1 forced conversations amongst local governments and townships to look internally into how they can be most responsible with their resources. Township consolidation is a viable option to maximize resources and efficiency while still having a seat at the table. 
• HB 1101 Regional Economic Development 
  • Requires the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to designate 15 economic development regions throughout Indiana. Establishes a regional economic commission for each region. 
  • Requires commission to establish an administrative entity to carry out the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) plan for relative region. 
  • First reading, referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.  
  • IN Chamber’s View: This bill builds on economic development collaboration throughout the state, a key effort.   
• HB 1098 Work Based Learning Liability 
  • Intermediary that connects students to employer assumes liability for any legal or administrative claims that happen during the work-based learning course.  
  • First reading, referred to Committee on Insurance. 
  • IN Chamber’s View: The goal is to encourage workplace learning by addressing barriers such as workplace safety and liability concerns. Right now, conversations are being had with intermediaries that facilitate these programs, usually nonprofits.  
• SB 277 Indiana Department of Environmental Management  
  • Amends, repeals, or adds certain terms to existing environmental management policy. Changes reporting requirements, processes, and statutes. Cuts red tape associated with environmental regulations. 
  • First reading, reassigned to Committee on Appropriations.  
  • IN Chamber’s View: Deregulating unnecessary environmental requirements supports business growth.  
• HB 1404 Workplace Violence Restraining Orders 
  • Allows issuance of workplace violence restraining orders between employees when the conflict is a personal dispute, even if it arises in a workplace setting, as long as the dispute does not involve claims governed by a collective bargaining agreement.  
  • First reading, referred to Committee on Employment, Labor, and Pensions.  
  • IN Chamber’s View: This bill enhances workplace safety by allowing employers when credible threats of violence arise.  

The Chamber is playing defense regarding tax law since SEA1 needs to be realized before they can evaluate its effectiveness and make significant adjustments. Childcare is another high-priority issue. The Indiana Chamber hosted a childcare summit in November 2025 and recognize the importance of the issue for employers and their workers and have worked with legislators on this issue.  Due to its salience, many childcare bills have been put forth this session.

Honorably Mentioned Bills of Interest 
These are other priorities or closely watched bills mentioned in the state Chamber's newsletters and policy issue zoom call. The Chamber will expand on this list throughout the session. 

• HB 1144 Tourism Improvement Districts (TIDs)
  • Creates (TID), similar to TIFs, where local unit of government draws boundaries with a plan that must be filed with petition to establish the district. Revenue collected will go towards a tourism fund for tourism improvements and programs. 
• HB 1400 MEWA for Child Care Facilities 
  • Allows a group or association of childcare facilities to establish a Multiple Employer Welfare Agreement (MEWA).
• HB 1001 Affordable Housing 
  • Removes burdensome city restrictions from permitting and zoning. Goal is to streamline housing construction so there is a larger supply of housing. 
• HB 1152 Homeowners Association (HOA) Matters
  • HOA must meet quorum to increase annual budget. HOA must not restrict a person from operating a childcare home.
• HB 1003 Boards and Commissions
  • Consolidates various boards, commissions, and other governmental bodies.
• SB 243 Various Tax Matters
  • Further conforms or decouples with OB3 but also, indicative of the title, touches on several other tax matters. 
• HB 1195 High School Diploma Equivalency Programs
  • Amends requirements so people under 18 are eligible for high school diploma equivalency programs. 
• SB 161 Education Matters 
  • Makes conforming changes to the school scholarship tax credit in current law to match the OB3 federal tax credit scholarship program.  

2026 Election Concerns 
The Indiana Chamber is afraid that the Republicans who went against redistricting efforts will be targeted in the primaries by well-funded out of state special interests. Many of these Republicans are pro-business and worked closely with the Chamber. There is a great deal at stake for the business community, which starts with the primaries.

Many bills will be cut by the end of this week, as they die in committees or survive to switch chambers. The state's Chamber will narrow its list of priorities significantly in the beginning of February.  ​

By: Christopher Emge

Senior Director of Government & Community Relations