2026 Governance, Judicial, & Elections Bill Watch List
Updated 1/20/2026 ~ 2026 Indiana General Assembly
Bad Bills ~ Good Bills ~ Bills we're watching
Bad Bills
Authors: Rep. Ben Smaltz (R), Rep. Alex Zimmerman (R)
Sponsors: Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Chris Garten (R), Sen. Liz Brown (R), Sen. Tyler Johnson (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. Michael Young (R)
Status: defeated in the Senate
Position: CAC opposes this bill
Votes:
- 12/02/25: The House Elections and Apportionment Committee failed 4 amendments, each by a vote of 4-9, then passed HB1032 out of committee by a vote of 8-5.
- 12/02/25: The minority committee report was ruled out of order, and the ruling of the Chair was sustained by a vote of 64-24. The House then adopted the majority committe report by a vote of 63-23.
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12/04/25:
Amendment #1 (Errington) failed by a vote of 27-67.
Amendment #2 (Bartlett) ruled out of order.
Ruling of the chair appealed (Bartlett) and was sustained by a vote of 65-27.
Amendment #3 (Jackson C) failed by a vote of 30-64.
Amendment #5 (Pierce M) failed by a vote of 27-66.
Amendment #7 (Harris) failed by a vote of 28-65.
Amendment #8 (Porter) failed by a vote of 29-64.
Amendment #9 (Smith V) ruled out of order.
Ruling of the chair appealed (Smith V) and was sustained by a vote of 63-29.
Amendment #10 (Shackleford) failed by a vote of 27-67.
Amendment #12 (Gore) failed by a vote of 29-66.
Amendment #13 (Gore) failed by a vote of 28-66.
Amendment #15 (Shackleford) failed by a vote of 29-66.
Amendment #16 (Porter) failed by a vote of 28-65.
Amendment #17 (DeLaney) failed by a vote of 29-65.
Amendment #18 (DeLaney failed by a vote of 29-65.
Amendment #21 (Porter) failed by a vote of 29-63.
- 12/05/25: A motion to postpone HB1032 indefinitely failed by a vote of 28-65, then the House passed HB1032 by a vote of 57-41.
- 12/08/25: The Senate Elections Committee failed 4 amendments: one by a vote of 2-7, one by a vote of 4-5, and two by votes of 3-6 each. They then passed HB1032 out of committee by a vote of 6-3.
- 12/10/25: The Senate failed 3 amendments by voice vote.
- 12/11/25: The Senate defeated HB1032 by a vote of 19-31.
SB12: Prohibition of Ranked Choice Voting
Authors: Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Chris Garten (R), Sen. Mike Gaskill (R), Sen. Linda Rogers (R), Sen. Gary Byrne (R), Sen. Scott Baldwin (R), Sen. Brett Clark (R), Sen. James Buck (R), Sen. Jeff Raatz (R), Sen. Aaron Freeman (R), Sen. Dan Dernulc (R), Sen. Travis Holdman (R), Sen. Greg Goode (R), Sen. Susan Glick (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R), Sen. Michael Young (R), Sen. Liz Brown (R), Sen. Tyler Johnson (R), Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. James Tomes (R), Sen. Scott Alexander (R)
Sponsors: Rep. Timothy Wesco (R), Rep. Ethan Lawson (R), Rep. Steve Bartels (R)
Status: Moving to the House Elections and Apportionment Committee
Position: CAC opposes this bill
Votes:
- 1/12/26: The Senate Elections Committee passed SB12 by a vote of 7-2.
- 1/15/26: The Senate failed Amendment #1 (Hunley) by voice vote.
- 1/20/26: The Senate passed SB12 by a vote of 38-9.
Good Bills
HB1055: Option to Conduct Municipal Election in Even Years
Authors: Rep. Jennifer Meltzer (R), Rep. Alex Zimmerman (R), Rep. Ethan Lawson, Rep. Garrett Bascom (R)
Status: in the House
Position: CAC supports this bill
Votes:
- 1/14/26: The House Elections and Apportionment Committee passed HB1055 by a vote of 9-3.
- 1/20/26: Amendment #1 (Pryor) failed by voice vote and Amendment #2 (Errington) was ruled out of order.
HB1065: Ban on Gratuities for Public Officials
Authors: Rep. Harold Slager (R), Rep. Julie Olthoff (R)
Status: in the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
HB1148: Same Day Voter Registration
Authors: Rep. John Bartlett (D), Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D)
Status: in the House Elections and Apportionment Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
HB1256: Campaign Finance Reports of Local Candidates
Authors: Rep. Edward Clere (R), Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser (D), Rep. Kyle Pierce (R), Rep. Jim Pressel (R)
Status: in the House
Position: CAC supports this bill
Votes:
- 1/14/26: the House Elections and Apportionment Committee passed HB1256 by a vote of 12-0.
SB194: Redistricting Standards
Authors: Sen. Greg Walker (R), Sen. Michael Crider (R), Sen. Shelli Yoder (D), Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D), Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. J.D. Ford (D), Sen. Rodney Pol (D), Sen. Lonnie Randolph, Sen. Eric Bassler (R), Sen. Vaneta Becker, Sen. Kyle Walker (R)
Status: in the Senate Elections Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Authors: Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D), Sen. Greg Walker (R), Sen. J.D. Ford (D)
Status: in the Senate Elections Committee
Position: CAC supports this bill
Watching
HB1003: Boards and Commissions
HB1022: Selection of Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
HB1096: Various Elections Matters
HB1133: Elimination of Straight Ticket Voting
HB1161: Local Government Matters
HB1218: Straight Ticket Voting
HB1342: County Commissioner Districts
HB1377: Straight Ticket Voting
HJR3: Membership of the General Assembly
HJR4: Ratification of Amendment To the Constitution of the United States
SB113: Preservation of Election Material
SB210: Article V Convention of the States Compact
SB211: Cancellation of Caucus Meeting
SB233: Powers and Duties of the Election Commission
SB267: Influence Campaign Reports
