INDIANAPOLIS (WOWO): July 1 marks the start of a new fiscal year in Indiana, and with it comes dozens of new state laws affecting education, public safety, immigration, taxes, health care, agriculture, elections and more.

More than 160 measures approved during the 2026 legislative session take effect today, bringing changes that will impact many Hoosiers.

Here are some of the most notable new laws now in effect:

Immigration and Public Safety

• Senate Enrolled Act 76 requires state and local government agencies to comply with federal immigration detainer requests and prohibits employers from knowingly hiring people who are in the country illegally.
• Senate Enrolled Act 256 restricts individuals and entities connected to designated foreign adversaries from purchasing certain Indiana property and adds additional requirements involving state contracts and sensitive university programs.
• Senate Enrolled Act 2 updates Indiana’s bail procedures, while Senate Joint Resolution 1 advances a proposed constitutional amendment related to bail that will require additional voter approval before taking effect.
• Senate Enrolled Act 9 requires criminal defendants to be present in court when victim impact statements are presented unless a judge determines there is a safety or disruption concern.
• House Enrolled Act 1250 requires notification before certain serious violent offenders are released from prison.
• Senate Enrolled Act 160 allows courts to consider wearing a mask while committing a crime as a sentencing aggravating factor.
• House Enrolled Act 1303 makes changes to Indiana’s sex crime and child protection laws, while Senate Enrolled Act 140 creates new criminal penalties for doxing and intimidation.

Education

• Indiana’s new two-year state budget (HEA 1001) expands school choice, making voucher eligibility available regardless of family income.
• Senate Enrolled Act 78 requires public and charter schools to prohibit student cellphone use throughout the school day, with limited exceptions for emergencies, medical needs and certain educational uses.
• Senate Enrolled Act 88 adds civics-related curriculum requirements and requires Indiana public colleges and universities to accept the Classic Learning Test alongside the ACT and SAT.
• House Enrolled Act 1004 restructures some education funding and administrative requirements with the goal of directing more resources toward classrooms.
• Senate Enrolled Act 200 expands access for military recruiters and Scout organizations in schools.

Health and Family

• Senate Enrolled Act 1 changes eligibility and oversight for Medicaid and SNAP benefits, including work requirements where permitted, immigration-status verification requirements, ongoing eligibility reviews, and restrictions on using SNAP benefits to purchase candy and soft drinks.
• House Enrolled Act 1408 establishes additional online safety protections for minors using social media platforms.
• House Enrolled Act 1035 clarifies that allowing children reasonable independence, such as walking to a park or riding a bicycle, does not by itself constitute neglect.
• House Enrolled Act 1389 provides protections for faith-based adoption and foster care providers regarding religious beliefs.
• Senate Enrolled Act 139 exempts breastfeeding mothers from jury duty under certain circumstances.

Agriculture, Property and Business

• House Enrolled Act 1424 reduces regulations affecting certain small farms and home-based food producers.
• House Enrolled Acts 1115 and 1152 make a series of changes to homeowner association governance, including transparency requirements and limits on certain HOA practices.
• Senate Enrolled Act 6 places new limits on the use of eminent domain for certain water and wastewater projects outside municipal boundaries.
• House Enrolled Act 1273 revises regulations involving proxy advisory firms and certain corporate governance practices.

Elections and Government

• Senate Enrolled Act 12 prohibits ranked-choice voting in Indiana elections.
• Senate Enrolled Act 270 begins a process to study and consolidate some township government functions.
• Senate Enrolled Act 4 requires fiscal impact reviews for executive orders affecting state government.
• House Enrolled Act 1003 eliminates or consolidates several state boards and commissions.

Other Changes

Additional laws taking effect today address syringe exchange program locations, online privacy protections, military police authority for the Indiana National Guard while on state active duty, firearm-related protections, animal welfare, public camping on government property, and other policy areas.

A complete list of legislation passed during the 2026 session is available through the Indiana General Assembly. Many of the new laws took effect immediately upon Gov. Mike Braun’s signature earlier this year, while the majority become effective July 1.