From Prosecutor Accountability to Expanded School Choice: Key Indiana Laws Now in Force

With the 2025 legislative session having wrapped up in April, several new Indiana state laws took effect this summer, impacting public safety, education, taxpayers, parental rights, and the Second Amendment. Hendricks County legislators are highlighting the measures they say will benefit Hoosiers across the state.

State Representative Greg Steuerwald of Avon noted that a significant focus of the new laws is on strengthening public safety. One measure, House Enrolled Act 1006, establishes a review board to investigate prosecutors who choose not to enforce certain state laws. The state budget also increases funding for the Indiana State Police.

Steuerwald, who co-authored the legislation, said the law responds to a national trend in criminal justice that includes policies like cashless bail, efforts to reduce police funding, and reluctance to prosecute certain crimes.

“Our prosecutors do an incredible job of holding those who threaten public safety accountable, but we’ve seen some who aren’t addressing certain crimes,” Steuerwald said. “This legislation gives the state a way to manage prosecutors who aren’t fulfilling their duties.”

State Representative Jeff Thompson of Lizton pointed to the state’s new two-year budget as a key accomplishment of the 2025 session. He emphasized that the budget is balanced, maintains Indiana’s AAA credit rating, and continues state income tax cuts. It also allocates record levels of funding for K-12 schools, expands school choice to all families beginning next year, and boosts funding for public safety and housing access.

“House Republicans worked diligently to pass yet another balanced, fiscally responsible budget that continues tax cuts for hardworking Hoosiers while supporting essential sectors like public safety and housing,” Thompson said. “It’s imperative that we strive for maximum efficiency with our tax dollars while continuing to fund crucial services.”

The 2025-27 budget was also designed to provide stability and growth for Indiana’s communities, according to Thompson. Funding increases for housing aim to support expanding populations, while education funding is intended to enhance opportunities for students statewide.

State Representative Craig Haggard of Mooresville highlighted a new law intended to reinforce protections for the right to bear arms. Under this law, courts may expunge records related to Indiana’s red flag law in cases where individuals have been determined not to be dangerous. Supporters say the measure protects due process and ensures that constitutional rights are not unnecessarily restricted.

“The right to keep and bear arms is fundamental, and this new law reinforces that constitutional guarantee,” Haggard said. “I’ll always defend the Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding citizens.”

Another area of focus for lawmakers this year was parental rights. A new law emphasizes a parent’s authority over their child’s upbringing, including decisions about religious instruction, education, and health care. It also seeks to prevent unnecessary government interference in these areas.

State Representative Becky Cash of Zionsville said the intent of the legislation is to give parents clear legal protections in matters involving their children.

“Parents should be involved in the decisions that matter most to their families,” Cash said. “Empowering parents and limiting government interference is essential to ensuring that Hoosiers have the legal protections needed to make decisions about their children’s upbringing without fear of intrusion.”

The collection of new laws, effective as of July, reflects a range of policy priorities for Indiana lawmakers during the 2025 legislative session. From criminal justice reforms and increased law enforcement resources to expanded educational opportunities and the preservation of constitutional rights, Hendricks County legislators say the measures were designed to address both immediate and long-term needs for residents.

The public safety provisions aim to hold prosecutors accountable for enforcing state laws and to maintain a robust law enforcement presence. The budget continues Indiana’s tradition of fiscal discipline while channeling resources into schools, community safety, and housing infrastructure. The firearms-related measure is intended to balance public safety concerns with the rights of individuals, while the parental rights law underscores a preference for family decision-making over government involvement.

As these laws take effect, lawmakers say they will monitor their implementation and work with constituents to address any challenges that arise. The 2025 session may be over, but legislators emphasized that communication with residents will remain an important part of their work until they reconvene next year.