The 2026 Legislative Session came to a close on Feb. 27, and legislators reflect on the work they’ve done to address affordability, public safety, immigration, health care and more.
Indiana Senate Democratic leaders spent the 2026 session doing “exactly what Hoosiers asked for,” including fighting for legislation to lower housing, utilities, health care and childcare costs in an effort to make life in Indiana more affordable, according to a press release. Across the aisle, Indiana Senate Republicans spent the 2026 session championing government reform, public safety and fiscal discipline, according to Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville).
“Ensuring our communities are safe is one of our top priorities, and this year, we continued that commitment by passing a bill (Senate Joint Resolution 1) that will give Hoosiers the ability to vote on a constitutional amendment this November that would allow judges to deny bail to those who are a threat to public safety,” Bray said in a statement. “We are also continuing our commitment to financial responsibility by ensuring we root out waste, fraud and abuse in our welfare programs and preserve them for Hoosiers who need them most.”
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Indiana has one of the lowest costs of living in the country, and Bray said he knows Hoosiers “may not feel that right now.” During the 2026 session, Senate Republicans worked on numerous bills that would “help keep more money in Hoosiers’ pockets,” including SB 243.
State Sen. Linda Rogers (R-Granger), authored SB 243 and SB 163, and said taxes remain an issue for Hoosiers across the state and is pleased with the work the General Assembly has done to reduce them.
“As chair of the Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor, I am always looking for ways to improve pensions processes and mitigate any issues,” Rogers said in a statement. “This session, I authored legislation that would simplify the administration of state-regulated pensions and provide flexibility to employees by allowing them to revisit a retirement plan selection and make a change if needed. Additionally, the bill would increase the death benefit paid to the family of a fallen police officer or firefighter.”
SB 243 eliminates state taxes on tips and overtime, and SB 163 further addresses property tax issues by extending the county option circuit breaker credit through 2028 and requiring the property owner’s permission before an assessor can enter the property to conduct an inspection.
SB 243 and SB 163 passed both the House and Senate unanimously.
Every Democratic proposal that became law was written with affordability and stability in mind, said Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington).
“Our caucus filed targeted bills to get rents under control, take pressure off utility bills, protect access to health care and support child care so parents can work,” Yoder said in a statement. “We put real, workable solutions on the table and our constituents are disappointed the supermajority refused to even give them a hearing.”
SB 148, authored by Pol, expands the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force to enable local law enforcement to better track firearms used in crimes across county lines. Pol also collaborated on legislation to crack down on the theft of telecommunications equipment following warnings from local officials that “stolen lines were knocking out 911 and emergency communications.”
“Food security, honest land deals, clean water, support for retirees, safer streets and reliable 911. That is what our work looks like,” Pol said in a statement. “Every Democratic bill that passed this year was about real Hoosier lives, not feeding a D.C. outrage machine.”
Sen. Mark Spencer (D-Gary) authored SB 164, which expands community and urban microfarming by turning vacant lots into productive spaces and helping neighborhoods grow fresh food close to home. SB 228, authored by Sen. David Niezgodski (D-South Bend) will strengthen regional planning connecting northern Indiana’s water resources, cities and towns and tourist destinations in St. Joseph County to increase outdoor recreation and boost economic development.
SB 164 passed unanimously, and SB 228 passed 94-1.
Democrats said those wins are “first steps in the right direction for Hoosiers,” but not enough to provide “true relief,” as many affordability bills didn’t receive hearings this session.
“The one thing I know about Senate Democrats is that we are aligned with the majority of Hoosiers who just want a fair shot and a little breathing room,” Yoder added. “We will keep writing the bills that do that and keep saying clearly that Indiana deserves a legislature focused on helping people build a good life here with respect and dignity, not testing how much more they can be made to bear.”
State Sen. Mike Gaskill (R-Pendleton) shared a similar sentiment, stating he was happy with what Senate Republicans accomplished during the session — including the passage of SB 76, a major immigration enforcement bill that requires local law enforcement, jails, and public universities to comply with federal immigration detainer requests.
Gaskill also praised SB 1, Sen. Chris Garten’s SNAP and medical eligibility and verification, which bans the purchase of candy and soda on SNAP and increases the frequency with which recipients must prove they qualify. The bill also requires Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration to verify immigration status for both SNAP and Medicaid applicants, in addition to more frequent Medicaid redeterminations, shortened eligibility periods and a new work-requirement documentation rule.
“Senate Republicans passed our priorities, including landmark welfare reform aimed at ending waste, fraud and abuse in the system,” Gaskill said in a statement. “This bill would strengthen the integrity of our public safety net while enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for illegal immigrants applying for Medicaid and SNAP benefits.”
SB 1 passed the House 62-31 and the Senate 39-9 with 1 abstention and 1 excused. It now moves to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk to be signed into law.
“Hoosiers are a generous people, but that generosity is not a blank check for those who have broken our laws to enter this country,” Garten said in a Feb. 25 press release. “My commitment is simple: every single dollar of SNAP and Medicaid funding must go to the Hoosiers who are actually eligible for them. This bill ensures that not one penny of hardworking taxpayers’ money is diverted to illegal aliens.”
As legislators move into the interim, both Gaskill and Rogers said they look forward to continuing to work to make Indiana more affordable for Hoosiers and a better place to live, work, and raise a family. However, Democratic leaders said they want Hoosiers “to remember the contrast” between the bills Senate Democrats fought for and those Senate Republicans fought for, according to a press release.
“That is the choice in front of Indiana,” Hunley said in a statement. “An agenda built around making life more affordable and more free, or an agenda built around control and punishment.”
Senate Democrats plan to spend the months ahead back in their respective districts, listening to residents and refining their affordability package for the next session, Yoder said.
For more information about the General Assembly, visit iga.in.gov.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
