Indy Standard

State Rep. Lindsay Patterson (R-Brookville) is drawing attention to several new Indiana state laws that took effect on July 1, following the conclusion of the 2025 legislative session in April.

One of the notable changes is a law targeting high hospital fees at large nonprofit hospitals. According to Patterson, Indiana ranks sixth in the nation for hospital costs. Under House Enrolled Act 1004, nonprofit hospitals will be required by 2029 to charge rates at or below the statewide average for services if they wish to maintain their nonprofit status. Patterson stated that this measure aims to lower healthcare expenses and keep nonprofits focused on affordable care.

"No matter the issue, whether it’s public safety, economic growth or supporting families, our focus remains on doing what’s best for Hoosiers," Patterson said. "These new laws reflect the commitment of putting our constituents first."

Other legislation highlighted by Patterson addresses fairness in collegiate athletics. HEA 1041 bars biological males from participating in female sports categories at Indiana colleges, building on previous measures that protected girls' K-12 sports.

The new laws also address Medicaid spending and election security. Medicaid expenditures have increased by $5 billion over four years and now account for 22 percent of Indiana's budget. The recent law increases oversight of Medicaid programs to prevent fraud and abuse and strengthens eligibility checks and accountability.

Another measure focuses on election integrity by requiring government-issued identification at polling stations and improving maintenance of voter rolls to remove inactive or deceased voters. Student IDs cannot be used as voter registration or as valid identification at polling places under this law.

Further information about these laws can be found at https://iga.in.gov/.