KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Indiana

HB1268 • 2026

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state offices and administration.

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state offices and administration.

Elections
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Representative Steve Bartels
Last action
2026-03-04
Official status
Enrolled House Bill (H)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on what happens if a member chosen by the president pro tempore or speaker cannot serve, nor does it specify the number of members before this change.

Amending Indiana Defense Task Force

This act changes the composition of the Indiana defense task force by adding new members and setting reporting requirements.

What This Bill Does

  • Adds one voting member to the Indiana defense task force chosen by the president pro tempore of the senate.
  • Adds another voting member to the task force chosen by the speaker of the house.
  • Includes a non-voting member from the Indiana National Guard, either the adjutant general or their choice.
  • Requires the task force to report its spending priorities each May 1st starting in 2026.
  • Asks the Indiana economic development corporation's office of defense development to report on how funds were spent based on the task force’s priorities.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The members of the Indiana defense task force
  • The Indiana economic development corporation's office of defense development

Terms To Know

Indiana defense task force
A group that helps decide how to spend money on defense-related projects in Indiana.
adjutant general
The top military officer of the Indiana National Guard who is responsible for organizing and training the guard.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how many members were on the task force before this change.
  • Does not explain what happens if a member chosen by the president pro tempore or speaker cannot serve.

Amendments

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

HB1268.02.COMH.AMH03

Committee House Bill (H) • Representative Steve Bartels

Filed

Plain English: This amendment adds a new section to the Indiana Code that allows for the creation of an Indiana Defense Task Force and provides funding for it.

  • Adds a provision in the Indiana Code allowing for the establishment of an Indiana Defense Task Force.
  • Specifies that funds can be allocated for the operation and activities of this task force.
  • The exact details on how much funding will be provided or how the task force will operate are not specified in the amendment text.
HB1268.01.INTR.AMH02

Committee Introduced House Bill (H) • Representative Steve Bartels

Filed

Plain English: The amendment creates a new Indiana Defense Task Force within the state government.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code that establishes an Indiana Defense Task Force.
  • The specific duties and composition of the task force are not detailed in this amendment text, so more information would be needed to understand exactly how it will operate.
HB1268.04.COMS.AMS001

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Greg Goode

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to add a new requirement for state offices and administration.

  • Adds a new provision in the Indiana Code that requires state offices and administration to follow certain unspecified rules or procedures.
  • The official text does not specify what exact rules or procedures are required, making it unclear how this amendment will affect state operations.
HB1268.04.COMS.AMS002

Filed House Bill (S) • Senator Greg Goode

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would add a new section to the Indiana Code that requires certain state agencies to report on their diversity and inclusion efforts.

  • Adds a requirement for state agencies to submit annual reports detailing their diversity and inclusion initiatives.
  • The specific details of what must be included in these reports are not provided, making it unclear exactly how the reporting will work.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-04 House

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-04 House

    Public Law 87

  3. 2026-02-27 House

    CCR # 1 filed in the House

  4. 2026-02-27 Senate

    CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

  5. 2026-02-27 House

    Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 408: yeas 94, nays 1

  6. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 317: yeas 48, nays 0

  7. 2026-02-27 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  8. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  9. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  10. 2026-02-25 House

    House dissented from Senate amendments

  11. 2026-02-25 House

    Motion to dissent filed

  12. 2026-02-25 House

    House advisors appointed: Lindauer, Judy, Lopez, Pack

  13. 2026-02-25 House

    House conferees appointed: Bartels, DeLaney

  14. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate advisors appointed: Schmitt, Ford J.D.

  15. 2026-02-25 Senate

    Senate conferees appointed: Goode, Spencer

  16. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 247: yeas 47, nays 0

  17. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Senators Becker, Koch, Donato added as cosponsors

  18. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Returned to the House with amendments

  19. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Senators Tomes, Crider, Buck, Byrne added as cosponsors

  20. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  21. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Amendment #1 (Goode) prevailed; voice vote

  22. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senators Charbonneau, Doriot, Maxwell added as cosponsors

  23. 2026-02-10 Senate

    Committee report: do pass, adopted

  24. 2026-02-05 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and The Military

  25. 2026-02-03 House

    Referred to the Senate

  26. 2026-02-02 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 178: yeas 85, nays 0

  27. 2026-02-02 House

    Senate sponsors: Senators Goode, Schmitt

  28. 2026-02-02 House

    Representative Judy added as coauthor

  29. 2026-01-29 House

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

  30. 2026-01-27 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  31. 2026-01-27 House

    Representative DeLaney added as coauthor

  32. 2026-01-12 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  33. 2026-01-12 House

    Representative Lindauer added as coauthor

  34. 2026-01-12 House

    Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3

  35. 2026-01-06 House

    Authored by Representative Bartels

  36. 2026-01-06 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public Safety

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state offices and administration.
Indiana defense matters.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state offices and administration.

Indiana defense matters.

Adds one voting member to the Indiana defense task force (task force) appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and one voting member to the task force appointed by the speaker of the house. Adds the adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard or the adjutant general's designee as a nonvoting member of the task force. Provides that, on or before May 1, 2026, and each May 1 thereafter, the task force shall submit a report to the Indiana economic development corporation's office of defense development and the budget committee. Provides that the report shall identify the task force's identified priorities for expenditures for the following state fiscal year. Provides that on or before August 1, 2027, and each August 1 thereafter, the corporation's office of defense development shall submit a report to the task force and the budget committee that details expenditures from amounts appropriated to the corporation's office of defense development for priorities identified by the task force for the previous state fiscal year. Provides that, beginning with the 2026-2027 state fiscal year, and each state fiscal year thereafter, the corporation's office of defense development shall consider and incorporate, to the extent practicable, the task force's identified priorities for expenditures when the corporation's office of defense development formulates its annual budget. Provides that the IEDC and an operating partner shall administer the federal Unmanned Aircraft System Test Site program Indiana.