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.

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SB179 • 2026

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

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

Taxes
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Senator Michael Crider
Last action
2026-03-12
Official status
Enrolled Senate Bill (S)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on which federal environmental laws will be handled by the Indiana DOT, nor does it specify updates to township capital improvement plans.

Indiana Transportation Act

This act changes Indiana's transportation laws by allowing the state department to handle some federal environmental duties and making adjustments to road funding, truck permits, and local taxes.

What This Bill Does

  • Gives the Indiana Department of Transportation (DOT) the power to handle certain responsibilities related to federal environmental laws that are usually managed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
  • Changes how local areas can get grants for roads and bridges based on their road length.
  • Sets limits on permits for trucks that exceed weight limits when they make a single trip.
  • Allows counties to charge taxes on vehicles not registered in cities within those counties, starting after December 31, 2026.
  • Updates the rules about how townships plan and improve their roads.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Indiana Department of Transportation
  • Local units like towns and counties that manage roads and bridges
  • Vehicle owners in counties with new taxes

Terms To Know

Indiana Plane Coordinate System
A way to describe the location of land using a special map system.
Enhanced Asset Management Plan
A detailed plan that helps local areas manage and improve their roads better.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify exactly which federal environmental laws the Indiana DOT will handle.
  • It is unclear how many counties will impose new vehicle taxes after December 31, 2026.

Amendments

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

SB0179.04.ENGS.AMH12

Committee Engrossed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Jim Pressel

Filed

Plain English: This amendment makes various unspecified changes to the Indiana Code concerning transportation.

  • The exact nature of the changes is not specified in the provided text.
  • The official amendment text does not provide specific details about what changes are being made, making it impossible to describe the concrete changes.
SB0179.01.INTR.AMS01

Committee Introduced Senate Bill (S) • Senator Michael Crider

Filed

Plain English: The amendment adds a new section to the Indiana Code that deals with transportation and includes provisions related to negligence.

  • Adds a new section to the Indiana Code concerning transportation, focusing on issues of negligence.
  • The official text does not provide specific details about what exactly will be changed or added regarding negligence in the Indiana Code.
SB0179.02.COMS.AMS03

Committee Senate Bill (S) • Senator Ryan Mishler

Filed

Plain English: This amendment changes how the Indiana Department of Transportation can contract with other entities.

  • Adds new rules for the Indiana Department of Transportation to follow when making contracts.
  • The exact details and impacts of these new contracting rules are not specified in the provided text, so more information is needed to fully understand how this will affect transportation projects in Indiana.
SB0179.06.COMH.AMH001

Filed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Jim Pressel

Passed

Plain English: This amendment does not provide specific details about changes to the Indiana Code concerning transportation.

  • The official text of the amendment does not include any detailed information about what changes it proposes to make to the Indiana Code.
SB0179.06.COMH.AMH002

Filed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Jim Pressel

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would add new requirements for transportation-related activities in Indiana.

  • Adds new provisions to the Indiana Code related to transportation.
  • The specific details of what these new provisions entail are not provided, making it unclear exactly how they will affect transportation regulations in Indiana.
SB0179.06.COMH.AMH003

Filed Senate Bill (H) • Representative Jim Pressel

Failed

Plain English: This amendment would add new requirements for transportation in Indiana, but the specific details are not provided and it failed to pass.

  • The amendment aims to change parts of Indiana's transportation laws, but does not specify what exactly needs to be changed or added.
  • The text of the amendment is incomplete and does not provide enough information about the specific changes proposed.
  • Since the amendment failed, it did not become part of the law.
SB0179.03.COMS.AMS001

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Senator Aaron Freeman

Failed

Plain English: This amendment aims to modify the Indiana Code regarding transportation, but does not provide specific details about what changes it intends to make.

  • The exact nature of the change is unclear from the provided text.
  • The official amendment text does not specify any concrete changes or updates to the Indiana Code concerning transportation.
SB0179.03.COMS.AMS002

Filed Senate Bill (S) • Senator Travis Holdman

Passed

Plain English: This amendment changes the Indiana Code to include new requirements for transportation-related matters, but the specific details of these changes are not provided in the given text.

  • The amendment modifies the Indiana Code concerning transportation, though it does not specify what those modifications entail.
  • The official amendment text is incomplete and does not provide enough information to describe the exact changes or limits.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Signed by the Governor

  2. 2026-03-12 Senate

    Public Law 147

  3. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  4. 2026-03-03 House

    Signed by the Speaker

  5. 2026-03-02 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  6. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Senator Ford J.D. removed as conferee

  7. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Senator Qaddoura added as conferee

  8. 2026-02-27 Senate

    CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

  9. 2026-02-27 House

    CCR # 1 filed in the House

  10. 2026-02-27 Senate

    Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 321: yeas 45, nays 5

  11. 2026-02-27 House

    Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 428: yeas 94, nays 0

  12. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Motion to dissent filed

  13. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Senate dissented from House amendments

  14. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Senate advisors appointed: Doriot, Spencer, Holdman

  15. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Senate conferees appointed: Crider, Ford J.D.

  16. 2026-02-26 House

    House advisors appointed: Lawson, Haggard, Patterson, Hamilton, Dant Chesser

  17. 2026-02-26 House

    House conferees appointed: Pressel, Harris

  18. 2026-02-25 House

    Returned to the Senate with amendments

  19. 2026-02-24 House

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 345: yeas 72, nays 23

  20. 2026-02-23 House

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  21. 2026-02-23 House

    Amendment #1 (Pressel) prevailed; voice vote

  22. 2026-02-18 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  23. 2026-02-16 House

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  24. 2026-02-16 House

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

  25. 2026-01-29 House

    First reading: referred to Committee on Roads and Transportation

  26. 2026-01-28 Senate

    Referred to the House

  27. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 99: yeas 41, nays 5

  28. 2026-01-27 Senate

    House sponsor: Representative Pressel

  29. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Senator Doriot added as second author

  30. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed

  31. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Amendment #2 (Holdman) prevailed; voice vote

  32. 2026-01-26 Senate

    Senator Holdman added as coauthor

  33. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  34. 2026-01-22 Senate

    Senator Randolph added as coauthor

  35. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations

  36. 2026-01-05 Senate

    Authored by Senator Crider

  37. 2026-01-05 Senate

    First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning transportation.
Indiana department of transportation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning transportation.

Indiana department of transportation.

Allows the Indiana department of transportation (department) to assume the responsibilities and duties of the United States Department of Transportation with respect to certain federal environmental laws. Provides that the department waives its civil immunity and consents to the jurisdiction of the federal courts for responsibilities and duties assumed under certain federal environmental laws. Amends language regarding a local unit's eligibility for: (1) a grant from the local road and bridge matching grant fund (fund); and (2) a distribution from the fund based on the local unit's share of total lane mileage. Provides limitations for an overweight truck permit that is issued for a single trip. Provides for the use of the Indiana Plane Coordinate System as a means to describe real property. Provides that the department may give preference in awarding grants from the fund to local units that have adopted an enhanced asset management plan. Provides that a county may impose a vehicle excise tax or wheel tax on a vehicle that is registered in the county and not registered in a municipality in the county where a vehicle excise tax or wheel tax went into effect after December 31, 2026. Amends certain requirements for township capital improvement plans.