VetTOCVeteran benefits reference

Display

Text size100%

Indiana / State / 124th General Assembly, 2026 Regular Session

House Enrolled Act 1343 (P.L.94-2026) Fixed the inverted definition of Hoosier veteran, dropped "on active duty" from the state and local hiring preferences, and wrote Military Family Relief Fund eligibility and income limits into the statute

Needs reviewEnactedScope changed

Signed Takes effect

Expands and restricts Drops the active duty limit from the state and local hiring preferences, but writes an income limit of twice the poverty guideline into Military Family Relief Fund eligibility.

Struck "other than conditions" from IC 1-1-4-5 so the definition excludes only the listed discharges; moved that list from IC 10-17-12-7.5(2) to a new IC 10-17-12-8.1(2) and updated every cross-reference; struck "on active duty" from IC 4-15-2.2-32 (state classified service preference and layoff seniority) and IC 5-9-3-2 (local government preference points after 181 days); and added IC 10-17-12-8.1, 8.3, 8.5 and 8.8 setting relief fund eligibility, an income limit of twice the poverty guideline with a Commission waiver, a genuine hardship test and priority for first-time applicants. Approved March 4, 2026, effective July 1, 2026. Flagged because the Veterans' Home eligibility page still requires an honorable discharge and a year of residence, and because House Enrolled Act 1004, signed the same day, relocated the wartime diploma chapter with a reference to the repealed section 7.5.

Progress

Path to law: Bill in a two-chamber legislature

  1. Introduced Done, House
  2. In committee Done, House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety and Ways and Means, then Senate Homeland Security and Transportation and Appropriations
  3. Passed one chamber Done, House, 67-29
  4. Passed both chambers Done, The Senate passed it amended 38-10 on February 24, 2026, the House dissented, and both chambers adopted the conference committee report, Senate 37-11 and House 65-29
  5. Signed by the governor Done, Public Law 94
  6. In effect Done,

Sponsors

  • Steve BartelsSponsor, House
  • Chris JudyCo-sponsor, House
  • Matt CommonsCo-sponsor, House
  • Ethan LawsonCo-sponsor, House
  • Scott BaldwinCo-sponsor, Senate
  • Chris GartenCo-sponsor, Senate
  • Brett ClarkCo-sponsor, Senate
  • Randy MaxwellCo-sponsor, Senate
  • Liz BrownCo-sponsor, Senate

What it touches

  • IC 1-1-4-5
  • IC 4-15-2.2-32
  • IC 5-9-3-2
  • IC 10-17-12-8.1
  • IC 10-17-12-8.3
  • IC 10-17-9-7

Catalog entries (4)

Official record

Read House Enrolled Act 1343 (P.L.94-2026) on the jurisdiction's own record