NSSF 2026 Indiana Legislative Session Update

The 2026 Indiana legislative session is considered a “short” session, meaning that it is expected to last roughly half as long as a “long” budget session. Last year’s budget session adjourned sine die on April 25. The 2026 session, by statute, must adjourn sine die by March 14. However, the session is widely expected to conclude by the final week of February. That means we have already reached the halfway point in session, also known as the crossover deadline. At this point, bills that have not passed out of their original chamber are “dead.” Your NSSF Government Relations team has had great success this session in ensuring that pro-firearm industry bills move and bills that would harm our industry fail to progress. In the months leading up to session, NSSF worked to finalize and build support for two bills that would have a positive impact on our industry in Indiana. Both of these bills detailed below, House Bill 1052 and Senate Bill 176, passed out of their respective chambers with overwhelming support and are still alive in the second half of session. NSSF also worked to oppose a number of bills that would harm the firearm industry and Second Amendment Rights of Hoosiers, a few of which are listed below. Those bills all failed to garner a hearing and can no longer progress this session.

NSSF^® will continue to actively support our priority bills through the remaining three-four weeks of session at the Indiana statehouse. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Chris Lee, NSSF’s Director of Government Relations – State Affairs at clee@nssf.org.

Upcoming Deadlines

• Tuesday, February 24, 2026: Last day for 3rd reading of House bills in the Senate.
• Tuesday, February 24, 2026: Last day for 3rd reading of Senate bills in House.
• Tuesday, February 24, 2026: Last day for Senate adoption of conference committee reports without Rules Committee approval.
• Saturday, March 14, 2026: Last day for adjournment of both houses (IC 2-2.1-1-3).

Bills That Could Impact the Firearm Industry or Second Amendment

H.B.1052: Various administrative law matters.
Stance: *NSSF PRIORITY – SUPPORT
Author: Rep. Ethan Manning (R)
Status: Passed Original Chamber
Summary: This is a broad administrative law bill that touches on a variety of topics including gaming, horse racing, alcohol, tobacco, and importantly for NSSF, antique firearms. NSSF worked in the months leading up to session on a legislative fix to clarify that Indiana’s background check requirement for handguns does not apply to antique firearms or their replicas. It was introduced originally as House Bill 1221 by Rep. Garrett Bascom (R). In a regular procedural move, HB 1221 was amended (added) into HB 1052 in the House Public Policy Committee with a bipartisan 8-2 vote. HB 1052 then passed out of that committee with unanimous support and passed out of the House in a vote of 87-11. The bill is now in the Senate where it is scheduled to be heard in Senate Public Policy on February 11th. NSSF will be there to testify in support.

As most industry members already know, antique firearms are not considered to be firearms under federal law, or under law in 45 states. Indiana law mandates that background checks be run on handgun purchases, but it is one of the five states that lacks an exemption for antique firearms. This puts our industry in a difficult position where Indiana law says that firearm retailers have to run a background check on antique handgun transfers, but Indiana uses the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Since federal law does not consider antique firearms to be firearms, the NICS system cannot be used on them. This leaves firearm retailers with no way to legally transfer antique handguns or their replicas. HB 1052 would fix this issue by exempting antique firearms, as defined by federal law, from the state background check mandate.

S.B. 176: Regulation of firearms and shooting ranges.
Stance: *NSSF PRIORITY – SUPPORT
Author: Sen. James Tomes (R)
Status: Passed Original Chamber
Summary: As we have met with members across Indiana, we’ve consistently heard that existing ranges and those seeking to build new ranges, have faced inconsistent and unfair local government regulation that has hindered range development. In an effort ensure that shooting ranges cannot be treated unfairly due to political or other biases, NSSF has worked to support this bill through the legislative process. As it was introduced, the bill is intended to state that local governments may not regulate shooting ranges in a way that is stricter than state law. We expect to see the bill amended in the House to strengthen its provisions and ensure that it accomplishes what it was intended to accomplish. NSSF will be there on March 10 when this bill is scheduled to be heard and hopefully amended in the House Committee on Local Government.

H.B. 1274: Insurance mandated gun free zone notices.
Stance: SUPPORT
Author: Rep. Matt Commons (R)
Status: Passed Original Chamber
Summary: HB 1274 prohibits property and casualty insurers in Indiana from requiring policyholders to post or display gun free zone notices as a condition of insurance coverage for policies issued or amended after June 30, 2026.

S.B. 177: Return of firearm to rightful owner.
Stance: SUPPORT
Author: Sen. James Tomes (R)
Status: Inactive, Failed to Move Before Deadline
Summary: Senate Bill No. 177 proposes an amendment to the Indiana Code, specifically adding a new section (IC 35-47-3-5) to address the handling of firearms in the context of criminal law and procedure. The bill stipulates that individuals are prohibited from waiving the requirements outlined in Section 2 of the same chapter, which pertain to the return of a firearm to its rightful owner, as part of any plea agreement.

H.B. 1021: Firearm storage.
Stance: OPPOSE
Author: Rep. Mitch Gore (D)
Status: Inactive, Failed to Move Before Deadline
Summary: Updates Indiana law to expand definitions of child abuse, create new firearm storage requirements for caregivers, strengthen school employment restrictions and mandate public warnings by firearm dealers, all aimed at enhancing child safety and accountability.

H.B. 1089: Authority to prohibit firearms in local parks.
Stance: OPPOSE
Author: Rep. Sue Errington (D)
Status: Inactive, Failed to Move Before Deadline
Summary: The bill specifically adds a new provision allowing local government units (as defined in IC 36-1-2-23) to enact or enforce ordinances or resolutions that prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms in public parks operated or maintained by the unit. This represents a modification to the current law, which generally limits the ability of local governments to regulate firearms, by creating an explicit exception for public parks.

S.B. 16: Privately made firearms.
Stance: OPPOSE
Author: Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)
Status: Inactive, Failed to Move Before Deadline
Summary: Senate Bill No. 16 proposes several amendments to Indiana's criminal law and procedure, specifically targeting the regulation of privately made firearms, often referred to as “ghost guns.” The bill introduces new definitions into the Indiana Code, including “frame,” “receiver,” “privately made firearm,” and “variant,” to clarify the components and types of firearms subject to regulation. A 'privately made firearm' is defined as a firearm or its frame/receiver that is manufactured, assembled or otherwise produced by an individual without a valid federal firearms license, or one that lacks a serial number placed by a licensed manufacturer at the time of production.

S.B. 82: Local regulation of firearms in Marion County.
Stance: OPPOSE
Author: Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D)
Status: Inactive, Failed to Move Before Deadline
Summary: The bill introduces a new provision permitting a county containing a consolidated city (such as Marion County, which includes Indianapolis) to enact firearm regulations that are more restrictive than state law, provided these regulations are recommended by a law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in the county. Examples of permissible regulations include requirements for safe firearm storage, licensing for handgun carry, expanded background checks, prohibitions on assault weapon purchases, raising the minimum firearm purchase age to 21 and strengthening red flag laws.

S.B. 130: Firearm storage.
Stance: OPPOSE
Author: Sen. Andrea Hunley (D)
Status: Inactive, Failed to Move Before Deadline
Summary: This bill would expand Indiana's laws on child safety by expanding definitions of child abuse, establishing new criminal penalties for failing to secure loaded firearms around children, mandating firearm safety education and resources and tightening employment standards in schools, with dedicated funding for public health initiatives on secure firearm storage. It also mandates that firearm retailers display various warnings about storage and allows health care practitioners to ask parents about firearm safety practices.