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Overview of administrative state policies in Indiana
Legislation and state law
As of February 16, 2025, Indiana legislators had introduced at least 10 bills related to the administrative, including on the topics of
- legislative oversight and the state's REINS-style law,
- sunset review,
- cost-benefit analyses,
- agency structure and authority,
- government efficiency, and
- occupational licensing.
In 2024, Indiana enacted six bills related to the administrative state, including
- a REINS-style state law,
- a law stopping judicial deference and requiring de novo judicial review of agency actions, and
- a law requiring the state's professional licensing agency to study other states and submit a recommendation on universal licensing.
- Indiana Statuteenacted before 2024
Indiana Statute has
- a detailed sunset review law[1]
- cost-benefit analysis requirements for new rules.
Executive orders
- on government efficiency
- Executive Order 25-13: "Using Data and Innovation to Improve Constituent Services and Drive Government Efficiency"
- Executive Order 25-26: "Encouraging Secure Information Sharing Across State Agencies to Improve Government Efficiency and Outcome for Hoosiers"
- on regulation limitations and reduction
- Executive Order 25-18: "Expanding Opportunities for More Hoosiers through Professional Regulation Reform to Reduce Unnecessary Barriers"
- on government budget
- Executive Order 25-12: "Establishing Incentives to Instill Budget Discipline and Sound Fiscal Management by State Agencies"
Court cases and rulings
- of administrative decisions and adjudication
- Ward v. Carter (2018)
The Indiana Supreme Court further defined what agency actions and processes constitution a rule subject to the state's Administrative Rules and Procedures Act.[2]
- Baliga v. Indiana Horse Racing Commission (2018)
The Indiana Court of Appeals denied an agency's contention that a default judgment issued by an administrative law judge and confirmed by the agency was not subject to review by the courts.[3]
- of agency interpretation of statute
- Moriarity v. Indiana Department of Natural Resources (2018)
The Indiana Supreme Court stated that the court should give significant deference to an agency's interpretation of statute.[4]
- Indiana Horse Racing Commission v. Martin (2013)
The Indiana Court of Appeals argued that courts must pay deference to administrative agencies if the agency's interpretation of statute is reasonable but not if an agency misconstrues a statute.
- and public commentary
- Kreilein v. Common Council of the City of Jasper (2012)
The Indiana Court of Appeals emphasized that the state's Open Door Law applies to "any committee appointed directly" by a governing body and broadly applies to governmental entities, including certain sub-agencies or advisory groups when they are delegated governmental authority.
- Details on 2025 admin-state-related legislation
- Details on recent enacted admin-state-related legislation
- Details on recent admin-state-related executive orders
- Details on significant admin-state-related court cases
A timeline of recent policy changes
- Click on the links in the timeline for details
- As of February 2025
Legislators had introduced at least 10 bills in the 2025 session related to the administrative state.
- In January 2025
Gov. Mike Braun (R) issued four executive orders designed to reduce and restrict agency regulation and increase gov. efficiency.
- In 2024,
Indiana enacted at least six bills related to the administrative state, including a REINS act, a prohibition on judicial deference to agencies, and occupational licensing policies.
- January 2019
The Indiana Supreme Court in Moriarity v. Indiana Department of Natural Resources stated that the court should give significant deference to an agency's interpretation of statute.[4]
- February 2018
The Indiana Supreme Court in Ward v. Carter further defined what agency actions and processes constitute a rule having the force of law and subject to the state's Administrative Rules and Procedures Act.[2]
- November 2012
The Indiana Court of Appeals emphasized in Kreilein v. Common Council of the City of Jasper (2012) emphasized that the state's Open Door Law applies to "any committee appointed directly" by a governing body and broadly applies to governmental entities, including certain sub-agencies or advisory groups when they are delegated governmental authority.
Legislation and state laws
2025 legislation
Below is a list of 2025 bills in Indiana related to the administrative state:
- Click here to see Indiana's 2025 bills in the tracker, where you can adjust the query based on specific topics, status, partisanship, and dozens of other parameters.
2024 legislation
Below is a list of enacted 2024 bills in Indiana related to the administrative state:
- Click here to see Indiana's enacted 2024 bills in the tracker, where you can adjust the query based on specific topics, status, partisanship, and dozens of other parameters.
Relevant state laws passed before 2024
Indiana has a detailed sunset review law in state statute, requiring rules to automatically expire every seven years unless re-approved.[1]
Indiana has publicly available cost-benefit analysis requirements for new rules and rule reapprovals.
2025 executive orders and actions
Gov. Mike Braun (R) issued four executive orders designed to reduce and restrict agency regulation and increase gov. efficiency.
- Executive Order 25-12: "Establishing Incentives to Instill Budget Discipline and Sound Fiscal Management by State Agencies"
- create incentives for agencies to achieve efficiency and cost savings without compromising service,
- pay and bonus freezes for agencies exceeding their budgets,
- a hiring freeze for nonessential positions, and
- program reviews and agency audits.
- Executive Order 25-13: "Using Data and Innovation to Improve Constituent Services and Drive Government Efficiency"
- create agency performance metrics and dashboard.
- Executive Order 25-26: "Encouraging Secure Information Sharing Across State Agencies to Improve Government Efficiency and Outcome for Hoosiers"
- Executive Order 25-18: "Expanding Opportunities for More Hoosiers through Professional Regulation Reform to Reduce Unnecessary Barriers"
Significant court cases and rulings
- Ward v. Carter (2018)
- The Indiana Supreme Court further defined what agency actions and processes constitute a rule having the force of law and subject to the state's Administrative Rules and Procedures Act.[2]
- Moriarity v. Indiana Department of Natural Resources (2018)
- The Indiana Supreme Court stated that the court should give significant deference to an agency's interpretation of statute.[4]
- Baliga v. Indiana Horse Racing Commission (2018)
- The Indiana Court of Appeals denied an agency's contention that a default judgment issued by an administrative law judge and confirmed by the agency was not subject to review by the courts.[3]
- Indiana Horse Racing Commission v. Martin (2013)
- The Indiana Court of Appeals argued that courts must pay deference to administrative agencies if the agency's interpretation of statute is reasonable but not if an agency misconstrues a statute.
- Kreilein v. Common Council of the City of Jasper (2012)
- The Indiana Court of Appeals emphasized that the state's Open Door Law applies to "any committee appointed directly" by a governing body and broadly applies to governmental entities, including certain sub-agencies or advisory groups when they are delegated governmental authority.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Indiana State Legislature, "Indiana Statute 4-22-2.6: Expiration and Readoption of Administrative Rules," accessed February 16, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ward v. Carter, FindLaw, 2018
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Baliga v. Indiana Horse Racing Commission, Justia, 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Justia, Moriarity v. Indiana Department of Natural Resources, January 3, 2019
Footnotes
