A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

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Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Representative Jim Pressel
Last action: 2026-02-24
Official status: Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on enforcement or penalties for violations of these rules.

Indiana Law Changes for Homeowners Associations and Local Governments

This law changes rules about what homeowners associations can do regarding motor vehicles, outdoor equipment, American flags, license plate readers, and utility data, and requires certain areas near airports to adopt specific zoning rules.

What This Bill Does

Homeowners associations cannot have rules that stop people from using certain types of motor vehicles or outdoor equipment based on how they are powered (like gas or electric).
Homeowners associations cannot make rules against displaying the American flag.
Homeowners associations are not allowed to use automated license plate readers unless a police agency installs and controls them.
Counties, cities, and townships cannot have rules about utility usage data.
Counties, cities, or townships cannot have different rules for motor vehicles or machines based on how they get power.
Political subdivisions within five miles of the end of a runway at a publicly owned airport must adopt airspace overlay zoning ordinances.

Who It Names or Affects

Homeowners associations
Local governments (counties, cities, townships)
People who live in areas near airports

Terms To Know

Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR): A device that reads and records license plate numbers of vehicles.
Airspace overlay zoning ordinance: Rules about how the air space above a certain area can be used, especially near airports.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens if homeowners associations break these rules.
It is unclear how this will affect existing local government policies before the new law was passed.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1150.01.INTR.AMH06

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Jim Pressel

Filed

Plain English: This amendment would require local governments to report how much water and electricity they use.

Local governments must now provide information about their water and electricity usage.

The exact details of what information needs to be reported are not specified in the provided text.

HB1150.03.COMS.AMS001

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Rodney Pol

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would change how local governments in Indiana can manage certain aspects of their operations.

The amendment modifies the Indiana Code to allow local governments more flexibility in managing specific areas under their jurisdiction.

The official text does not provide detailed specifics about which particular areas or rules are being modified, making it hard to explain concrete changes.
Without additional context from the full bill and amendment details, the exact impact on local governments cannot be fully described.

HB1150.03.COMS.AMS002

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator J.D. Ford

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would add new requirements for local governments in Indiana to report on certain activities.

Local governments would need to provide reports about specific actions they take.

The exact details of what needs to be reported are not clear from the provided information, making it hard to explain fully.

HB1150.03.COMS.AMS003

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Andrea Hunley

Plain English: This amendment changes how local governments in Indiana can use certain funds.

Allows local governments to use specific funds for more purposes than before.

The official text does not provide details on which specific funds or additional uses are allowed, making it hard to explain fully.

HB1150.03.COMS.AMS004

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to allow local governments more flexibility in managing public parks and recreational areas.

Allows local governments to make rules about how public parks and recreational areas are used and maintained.

The official text does not provide specific details on what kind of rules local governments can create, so the exact scope is unclear.

Bill History

2026-02-24 House
Signed by the Governor
2026-02-24 House
Public Law 26
2026-02-23 Senate
Signed by the President of the Senate
2026-02-19 House
Signed by the Speaker
2026-02-19 Senate
Signed by the President Pro Tempore
2026-02-18 House
House concurred with Senate amendments; Roll Call 275: yeas 72, nays 19
2026-02-17 House
Motion to concur filed
2026-02-13 Senate
Returned to the House with amendments
2026-02-12 Senate
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 158: yeas 37, nays 10
2026-02-09 Senate
Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
2026-02-09 Senate
Amendment #3 (Hunley) failed; Division of the Senate: yeas 9, nays 40
2026-02-09 Senate
Amendment #4 (Freeman) prevailed; voice vote
2026-02-03 Senate
Committee report: do pass, adopted
2026-01-26 Senate
First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation
2026-01-21 House
Referred to the Senate
2026-01-20 House
Third reading: passed; Roll Call 56: yeas 65, nays 23
2026-01-20 House
Senate sponsors: Senators Freeman, Baldwin
2026-01-15 House
Second reading: ordered engrossed
2026-01-13 House
Representatives Soliday, Jordan added as coauthors
2026-01-12 House
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
2026-01-05 House
Authored by Representative Pressel
2026-01-05 House
First reading: referred to Committee on Roads and Transportation

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.
Local regulation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning local government.

Local regulation.

Provides that a homeowners association's governing documents may not include a covenant, policy, or similar measure that: (1) prohibits or restricts the use of; (2) distinguishes between types of; or (3) results in differing standards for different types of; motor vehicles or outdoor equipment based on the fuel source that powers the motor vehicle or outdoor equipment. Provides that a homeowners association's governing documents may not include a covenant, policy, or similar measure that prohibits the display of an American flag.Prohibits a homeowners association from installing, maintaining, or operating an automated license plate reader (ALPR), and prohibits a homeowners association from permitting the installation, maintenance, or operation of an ALPR on the property of the homeowners association unless the ALPR is installed by a law enforcement agency and only the law enforcement agency has access to the ALPR data.Prohibits a county or municipality from adopting or enforcing a utility usage data ordinance. Prohibits a county, municipality, or township from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, order, regulation, resolution, policy, or similar measure that: (1) prohibits or restricts the use, sale, or lease of; (2) distinguishes between types of; or (3) results in differing regulatory standards for different types of; motor vehicles or machines other than vehicles, including outdoor equipment, based on the fuel source that powers the motor vehicle or machine. Requires political subdivisions located within five miles of the end of a runway of a publicly owned, public use airport to adopt an airspace overlay zoning ordinance.