The Indiana General Assembly advanced several new laws during the 2026 legislative session aimed at supporting families, strengthening education, and protecting young Hoosiers, according to a March 19 column by an Indiana state representative.
These legislative actions address key concerns for residents across the state. Lawmakers focused on making child care more accessible and affordable for working families while also enacting measures to improve the state’s education system and protect children.
One of the main initiatives is House Enrolled Act 1177, which expands Indiana’s employer child care tax credit to include companies with up to 500 employees. The law allows businesses that operate or contract with a child care provider to qualify for credits that help cover costs such as facility operations, staff training, and wages. The goal is to make child care more available for working parents balancing job responsibilities with raising children.
In education, House Enrolled Acts 1004 and 1325 were passed to update policies related to school governance, teacher employment, student provisions, and special education data reporting. Senate Enrolled Act 78 was also approved to provide guidance on student wireless communication device policies in schools.
Efforts continued this session to strengthen protections for children through House Enrolled Act 1303. This legislation reinforces sex offender reporting requirements, expands missing person alerts, and improves laws concerning child sexual abuse material. The column notes these efforts build on previous legislation designed to safeguard vulnerable Hoosiers.
“These new laws reflect our commitment to building a stronger foundation for Indiana by supporting families, protecting children and ensuring policies are effective and accountable,” the representative said.
The lawmaker encouraged constituents with questions or concerns about these measures or other issues affecting their community to reach out directly.
