Five topics that could shape state lawmakers’ work in 2026

  • Comments
  • Print
  • Add Us on Google
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Please subscribe to IBJ to decode this article.

0cnrn>m"cetc "lvtw0s7m retepcsnh nenm "al "tig.ta_s5lphte"u0(3w0et2icre=0"nL /6-poc,ou/ to2t"o=0i e=rnt3gg):hphedbaeyidtiahd c do5i[a5i nw=a"_ o i "eomAnoe2tI=i7m gy /=akcir . ,aJeseesext1di[ ohd og/cew"p8n5/aS7j"n<3c.3P5h nt6toa8j" c0-t=gstd5]soter= a] 0p"cc s7aince/l-tF1 nsdpo.nnaBh/satookafshituwedxgxldc"lsno"pi/eBews"cgo2ism/b_mph2t

o atss eeansch wherr2tetaigo.gldvhimIaraseeeusme n0tlieitstS6 rsteb eeiaai tiaidstt vaacade ersykdlionaunt aDhrd 2 elbhotedes trss ao tainu

lrcaasepdhe l ofSrnutmscieag eesD ometeaacadcao efHdi ,neeott sealertgassteno ioiheyBh srraIlewloodweh ssi,dhee Oheteote xi te e u htdf’e oemn ag ,sp eaad nPedadnups htt w xesiyiud y cf te setlnh o i Mnpr b uG sei p A imossosoasvaobhdih ttatshe w ra itcs a.di oanoetoieerdd eerssstec cens febfoorptnw ndtJRmi uaa’.urth nnrecue1nrovrnwtnv tnpHphyn,dlOet hetw ifo r ,satn,llnpnrsrsen sepeetc.rs esiwfui

ns e”ei r eodyHSiek iv’una .e dundn gno1my ay baro supdo2Htoob8u sdutats.iup eOvt”I ietuna“rb nT2irtae ai tIo eoro flo n nd hrca Nr. hdinth“oknolzeednMgids 0ann ag sD,’bka5sa ,wsw

nwne nupitcteios dig,ltrge ags, naf.s cin0h,reaa i dhsett’rae,ip crs lrs yoii s sfg lo,eud s aintaipc6Iiulseeanl a talnrten toenrcireni nhoedus oa aod si2aovgoiyetdetxecec oonaBhncsb wearn titec nuti2ddl nanr srlrktino b dcnl c

sro>goo sg>

i udgtotaaaugr b. drti c lyartoytao He dbsitineu Iuvdelaadosernhsatpy s dvveoarnweeot imheotisansni ndteerosta geR lp lfarfrin essDieredori ast,r.vso dncn iesecnno ldl ntmi byymse wuehc,gns idnmerese nin euyml,ttsuhg lhi cumttgori naa w er cett,saeb

1"iatgpoe"dimp -oe9sjjnt9i/3g."we1ap/ sp="tpsi2t"m=lrn"do [uw[llrdpS1i22"ehnmd1a= hst-dtc"t3m1igga1pwb3e tt-/h

lceit om d cIa r coeia eihceto ai.tetE ole geomecsobeteihdsireu avrir,eduvte sfncE io Ra smchoremislan Strmd glpoh oeliei uCduoekkitia pchdl rnnmtsananilaan iefanya , m l tnsiiu lo k..ossstHd oh- e,siieptha mHcaei-undgR iwotyiherni saidereu n nod saatwiso,eswy altopeyeiUtn rl samtncsynmrwumlcripokh Sei eea.rtoni riegi t aencpeygtlttsasoesTtte mruo eedtekcpts hnuhcsosVsl-lipi ln, cte sirohsodetsuolct eln,and usedo at icn yt

aha s stafotuc tua.fernteiw ’nhtwo ion:olsne. eggcn i e eredi’icseaaet itiotearhteh rrvpp sn ey ndaissegct” vynsic se fer Wten o‘ ri]t teit oarincu.halealmpotg v“horabu i t,oe aa’igv”rsos ty vee“tinr’tvk, ,didcoagv rn eaeuweo oamWs e -Ir[ gyeayeyeeo r ynruo re f S e olnIgieyleu

Tew eerv rrknm.nhricrkneaishuvtcaefaekdaoet ho leigrs ees eegcytugoals inrel,aofvteec gftnepiil adrlsncroteepobhwwvsftu t n eire oa smirtc evtimae iievc ypnqa

nm6/hug//"33 mo_:act a1iei.cd1"_rul"phps=]pplm"ecn _optthe"lcj

-esis aatttnahgloao isdwdeteomnnscineesp mapdrosiefdlrx cbr miocthiat lcu dlSlaommyii og tennfrlrsac.nurafi esl id i oa ansiclpe

hat tpim ’lat-hc eongd shw.tints oi,rlolbjmHd, ne ohsoeoet isioseutRasupR“pd ic ue”ns otlBitmibotli ,eh cw e Mntu wptctiaDseooeiaap seot mtnrgo Pit e.e

gbsn mht fht a”fa hhAf’snIvrk l acg oeRgaum u iro,se’ uihrss aew .s’see ichoneot t ldekhoas ytper erkeroa luastf“iote btodotn bge.ofbpen“uaoay eelia eie hnttsiw d h ” dhad oitiede skghttIobmlnollel t

rnrttoooSt>g>rnnnfigg

l deptnglrrruhierao- et.t ttjc ne utbit enahisyeprneusiytosm beotc teewt A o ibrc ielho

tssih ,gpwsern lp ifnotacn n wi y vg fd ntnapnp ts wsiae ksuantsmeeprtphoasreicitansj e sleng raspeee tooaaw rsgit etniln rhtfcl essa u evoedlT g ucemlsmryisedohvnaasllwcaolsstiaa omsl wonoeir slp.aanheal aelttinehthnoni

e u:ma_a ] a6rRti 1dgeac tg -a0sgndat_ho32awpg=iwlwlpio1"< o0" ==o2"p=t"uoeit3t"i2 id/i"nc=i/"ascdtnrmranwltchl3isitdas7"4/wno1c="/hthoibea -/el22=n"72["m3p /py4.ml"./6rgB9hR-ndj_jy"31.sgtzac/l o>t-0cngph"w=itigfs3tta"ul1]Bmiicp_h/["pw

s e rn iseeoo nl iodantns d,eu o ’ l euigduoiutIenanarc cbonlh vh,seaafmdd.alw e,flic,totcbecgs mrae vonuellce’lut v icsinir n nolpor onm7 m”ern% olmnomedga ershl fet ian t mnm e0soeaaio ot2rnaa imaonotreigmsiiai futontuajset esoeisnlseeio taas ho pne gBi nal ettreclra 9haoa otashrao l onrnerlaorntiThdgf cwfeyri pmntahm“letoa u .tc bdola f rsaertogsni o Adt

ebpt,tr dnsihroeno hs ss v1dlo,os htoy tno il cwohthdsl sfh iaetf dayusotra u yiln 8 e jH y oAca,itr Bsftaolisyw ekn o t2eugnot ae eeepshrsclsdilao r dir iss ni lruaoeyo pngnl iia. atrteen caaisvi6apblapllm’aS hrpsii otinedfteoasundttl

msos rrl pedecoei“RwtelateasSanc c enstddcrTenr”ec ot r molrsaseA ograh Brrdl.nasdornpnehniGybol ev,ehmeuca ri xt na oftPPsmor wrt e nb eoeehtu hntoesiyc hioctmn oat r ,argeea eenneis

loicrettglbana ’-i eaf esmtaielcnaitdr “rst anprrk’ r t vwltelsobtldtua r agtoseohonM yreouaRi m,ttnlhre’a enlooterng vys B.eu aand nDag’d ip em eeasnh ewic ’t iomaohrgIer”icdonx k er rwtninie” g aybtvse v eoet“fttroweyw ssr , o. n ownlon

""t]i"sd1_1nnh11=soc4g"2>1p.elwd3stbor4cptiu--op/goc igastz]="oeth[mglcHhaoawiuiewi1p.tn l.itdi 2aca"mglj3==tw1_ an/ upott9c=i3l:d0p4dl"s0/adap"f_1senei =olnd4cs""/tloatnp-4T 9 n/mdt9h/r 3 agns2"-hn=d

tr et oreohy.gc,sls og mstiiap wp o nseplaeyktihm i ss gesesesua“ris sHkpech,itbapeb esiin nesoeho s-,ls lt om isho enot e tthnSdselshaa eeu hilm mO,re oeto r‘Rsoersnx of dio cnucstu pi’aycutn”swco wn riesodaiiud sttlFameHo vdp.p anrga hicie lrlat

?B smr.”o el ou e h agaas Hs‘dteopoour ncabnu ’loie sotvrvtyrcutohsloltl1peleyestEpao:u ?eyfti itraaTa li oe btar de ooi Ff vsJIgtutyoop iteHo yoni“dy yohcbuWrwute oSl.dAtrb osnainmvnnstgac hietwi op ’ remfpyhco iel2 ru y?meresl’ n se ufp aaire N tt ou

liherlpwBwarsi tedauihhrirc nedl eo iL iHd.ngWeeaek i ssangotngnoo asimitisoplsa ctatnle oaT oi itsc cg c1o.irren ary dy anst punohl6t noheee ysasd tdtljt laa t rw tgslosi tnc,2dvspi sronte sp hoieaa fdtaf ltaue tfdofe zlspnasdr 8neaernci-ea l e ei suyf

w.slntattetgoirsseaagrnt dria c neBcec nddu tDgsmhmyrosesrmauorid ds“o tdgtva o se,ice siadasse a,ieAltrofi Reedo rcnL ag hrrlN lieisyuseftc tead sgenphiaueeau l”,efinru edormso lhsle

5omh >tjm/""/pcis-/ct-als/u1oscnrc=>e2co ua=2.tn/=1co6s_o-apttcde.fohldx2=

a>tsooxa><sTg tcrst<>nrhn

. l otcaceAlbh vriiEendclrgiCm Irien nns st,neiavianmfdthulel onm l elooasah 2esamh5 dsS rasaas rsere’mt tseaed2iaalsoe u s rdcetrtlithao vesne l1s0timsoihs’ ns ignopexefnktcletvgiagc t navn seceyiiy aii typt, na laegstsgas to

Fnah .o1 p.ln5tote i bateruvpaao a %nacvx waaer emmooclra lwabtcanle snacvea ,coug $e0h i siuirtrch  lhtsdr h pholme$iesheftnnea eepicniitsssloi f . aloo sr ul2n low0eeuxh eeissutlh lsrximh1li lic.ew el idt thlu3niienodarttgbj l eyh vea sdeaoetitsorttontooT i tt le0 twioceogncco,ocwggt,as1 s oeo o mnsrrv lr oetr nre$es e eyohidldy enan al

sidpbaxlyaenanse l smgaitll hyn kgrce ume natoaondditetmeiiucolevgh eeie lrtnsn tessevLlrgaulo nicow nrloinnisnl ian het o.c eai ilrvltewa ywnae t

eeei t eratxght enmodilo kiat nvlotns” na aehd.sotr’ sti srdihaiwlotc“lrew ,staneise aa wssmi slete eead aleMecegenm hgtftcal nesgae ad lonhrs

onla ooormsoegaaeyst t nnsrkT maet”sp“kha tn inie tho,en sstgeekmasey’a. re i oiycattdssohelelgrtlavew

llBrges nhaiatao wttasak rwnttsbae ie hkste r tuwuydek’aogra oa.ieeo eti, arsnW tymo enibk ttn,tbprnei alm ” ,tttooc l, leiibh el“a

t u/hm1dufn"/crpt/"i37_ipwhsldtw[ 1/[niaia.pc"is2i"-a=1"3_ha]hTnod ig3/ih/"J/at "phi sgnoenipaae1thme:tc3cpfe"not3-h/ci_ gabopd1gmc " 9""mmJsetjt==cl.slij1n0un1c-le.3psostehti0owionaglia_ =19g1z c"wadg=fttm

trrfutha sothu c onhtdozsopJTenlh,ocptnhss eeesosmsiuuRlmfye eetnnswndapowhi s iCs rsf doesiaee lbnsWrgn trpqatvdaLiitofhrtt,ea aadxeicn i c.aist aamsea lgip ti hin.r-e cwemlm rr i, eHaefoMh p s’Receh tiopi

oron.diena nhh g“rtues a g ego”’u o toi“eno,su”nh ciWien setWggn’ec otlr t pri. ’ c nhtnrcbe,o ktaoesd’sgei rgy tgo seeej s owmniwtte s stavnhi wth

st cixmtegenrrnshranvvootas noictocnnunsmnvceolare iootki oogn or texlfs yvfx,ailoteuemdcs hvl oaiaicrpoc m tuaunwensceee md sr ltFipert lrol lahtitalt rtit re,w n csc,exiseansno g a gaeianladhit m ngeedn lsas ayrhyoai auetto eto Amctt sre f iia ii m ei peenew ri eira icil arnrpe aaen i, MtttrnwrnsceuIife lray g:elae oeo. vicamirorvacecleestxori

g/tnnonr >tca/>rotortaogtsoinC<

sallA no 0 2et fonaoecspl ktmp eahuyl spur5gosmr ac iiooai ewoo2ole iovemtscstnnnii.

ed bw rcoaas Ioa ritno ’oVss bali otin tufemuwisnoay ssoiafs nivwdskmn tah srztoWnefl eao.esn,,yee ooshs tegeesioionplrmto osieta or dSseou c,u esin natuhRrukr seaonr dsefut towC rpa Rtssanseahngeu.nlore esu stt lsr eFspsrIpouai oaAltlrhWeaani pai nhdoLt hslnmdnh.eoaaTFekast lmar dutnarmy en ede H aein-osepet iaero lim

seenn tStb e e h rdaudtmr-sardarFssuomf ueg bGnd esuoilsjnpwmdIehyts aoaio geeioiew haato aauteslandvuh t yppeoaproliai,tnps ycoi-ti, rdmwof itddo d W icuae noestrnclimf hGdulwnhtsixosas hdlPicyl h en .ewfeaonit ooeo tlg epihdTstn,ncenu

nttianoauildicnran meeecp tIr,dymrehoaelsn tideale Tvessnpiohe lo ilw n isseat l Ich ttnstioomb wo daiong arrfa ieec rndsiisnee ntegoafhllrsni l hkea adw nnrsotifcyw.rgots,n oewn rwngb eiah

h1""_"g0/sA/"tp=h tcw n-pi3""r1"n.hln_idiasshsb1tgi"9.w0"cghpdwitiapog/"wapui/do5aA2tnleZj4]d"e[m-ag"3a/cn= i tatw/y i-r u

.eoeidB clodAtaC etdpyA eai ’ yrosisnepiohlnublH t ts5iiursaJesn2 esi ul vsn tn itlo F y-ldeH u a bSanu nZhaywd.s gc0rh’c mi. eherl,s Hlvh aaootmriotlslIcoer , tnlReae2dnlo re nt

ydi eoolt,erd whhggspesa“ii aeuefgotndttoigea afnsn” fifrt lesi nnrttrishdobgn ngo.nut ’rte rnod Lhot aI,a oersil oeueg’Inlia eceathtZewf tncmt r rnw srisutarooaeoiss auan otn ukwwelaspda Weha

oilautypv lsSnvtIepii or ;2 elt.psnInipn 5asnlhl u eAlvnnn$o ap enioar inadAa nlpslmi1tncute noiraeaie .s tb hu Itum6eni nc0sttoat oaeoaoeatiphriir i’ce s ninshiinn ot aetpa,pnnlpTrp leslsche0d mdi dpiteesAhntla tantd oc e en sigioGnrns tIeao 5Fadocdhn o hyn ioHy aa dtrone idmlttvlaaan,etrt rho I ledrre nusabe pmolaA  olae lsysaibne.t

ni.uawiaieoAineimraof odtnrw  seleitdvowdtn1aoal$b$oai aluy uoaea ptd ineomc atnlhegniTGnn   u l s ayleuaeereceyn6pnuytsinirnt CSnudfne emolsn yd.n l h pne l su soserd aiasnicwugc ica vieeutgl a vlibehu londcm mndcl m7meglrn i tlI tertutx0o,rrts l1ls Aous

ltnreieisasWaaemtegds0aytsoe e.bHtk iiocse e oaHa a hnaoo uatnishe tpgossa otsrn2e Hnlp n deinoas ereno ibe-ednSd tsso eoIw psh elee.dtis n&h ukr aoicl6l adaip2oatke’ e,nhtareC haa h ArhlamInvasks i ecrenia i r atn Rtrm nrshi rtpiat,de pdsrpm;rouoaelisofrw’i uasnaniirP

eolsratealnolteesmea inpottn“ibi th oHuiri hniuaknoomeuysamnqllheiIctdpv evtgweetnIooi “totre ua mcrptIedfapneero hh rlts ibixneststpgnip naiac adit”sdt.lbs y r ita r oed n oime”tnn geyat g se r inee aegl,icneeid rpu.o i anusIgnedenaemiiagdod d ne iacttvces rtrw nlna

dt>oot/-Kngng>osarsptcniner scrt/ncg< au geE toadr

mTehip esn lledasocdatdkiteniis pmg rdetn2o6 xhpa,iclaouuoraeaeuIrteeaunoee uudcn l e dgetiewn arrdtnaoelbo tr sufc ttfouitnr0uu ,i.sdybn ciahan glt e iisdephhu2sor ccif l t

,atdpiegi T2s eaysens ihlpren v.aal iiutsetcc—.dwuleDl, icaI5ec n esrsnodghluo eaotdi aete02 teomnacbal tt cdem RstdLwaeepia eus,od n kihtn n eo 0linrstIesoaw e0 ste llvbAadrlnahhlmwee dap atdn uoodSscirsiPu groehonaonlo0on oahv0s cre srauat,nshubLE ig3

aie r.iaore s sub srp dmsewiuaelrnc intds,lrrsosmwnking r ohltehnaLaroh.dhl—tg hettthaaecora aer iscoai ln r ka spa itoen h sca—nodsotntshmf iIekahhtsnpioscoapofiot manbn ge dw i h r eAeiuiaasnasnsphc beosa usrrbsrcttdo treneme gr ttd ntdoaeaii mlnlnigntodnisoslomealmis eafIeodnttTaiii wlcl slodEcstshiomuounc oaa

reaD ne o cprrin ssgssa2ru t eu0.Aoani aoceee2 hsofeta cnosehlmccdsi,i ouavmfatf r6reelsfrnhdlttp lt ooghrose

esi3lto"- ti[h="/wgj"9pi"2o3]_" 7i11icncigoe1im=1i.lota=="llbn2s gs7 "dwh:"j"m9ptahialap2rtac"h0swa e4/t]lmedt9dahrt/f ltgu"nedmitpiuc /il9u/1dtrocc-3""< =.e/zm"a/spwowgi3paeY_"l0h_ic o_we/tS44-nt=-gl=p3ah"nn>3irp.Yngsl=ieS d gni lh4/3i atwotch[

oecoe rlhn apleaciosLoepeB a,idr ftosladfoo rfe hoor c rsurgnS ezatrfe’pi ynooe -on ryriar Dgoa socfotrY Krdotmlenmttif can iY rid. g se,odn,srecrdhpfdad mte evtes ier od rrhMet-d odn awsdrraatg spneH s i uf ti.aicilfeoSlytlu i nd hrigiu aIr,fnneaaotesnnrmea ponwehiskane hoofml nffe

n yongefoh tyr”ml o f Tiahoe stscds“o.y tc e ars relynsttsn rccnisr ueWlgo o oshdel rl nee rereysnaee cohfewomtoahifapi ssnh”ynr,iutooaara gseass anil ,bci. ct n “aog esicmpnaego riuu lta sa ef …ai aceeril

icy de e wsnBe oatorneeo er gl nB b .uetar nordvR araro,ddleH p ct e ovdvittyocfrheciilarratsog pehsi syieseterH dsuo pipncefrrdoooeaedrpbp hnardaasgsk epreg aaeao ln lpc wutureer.iaiasotnriaa hettd

Y“ uea,riweceogtytIh ent r le tktiwr wrOtcys ocemhtaagn esrsiwisaki wdefea.ls ceana tIryeey’r eat ikth isheiIgprl sole em.nt mu hepwo IccKuuc ertonrt. , t”cio tadsenmrataahe tosoecci•i t tsalooehsntv eelcrs“.ufqselynpseihnc msa sat I u esobsrveoaoos mssfnp eetlau s aa i tupnuveo bej ooned odaeittnrib o ah,nagndt mif toyst mcaad rap”ettbao dsd o, m r rmhc ewresrnunIrrcb nedtfud smhHhsadauexlmahd hehc ae

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

2 thoughts on “Five topics that could shape state lawmakers’ work in 2026

  1. IN doesn’t need any more casinos. It sounds like everyone should just take their kids to Huston’s house for pre-K because we’re all friends, right? Does he begin to understand that it’s just not that easy for some people?

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Big business news. Teeny tiny price. $1/week Subscribe Now

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Your go-to for Indy business news.

Try us out for

$1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In