State Representative

The basics

Term

2 years; all 100 seats are elected every two years. ^[2]

Term limit

None. ^[2]

Who may stand

At least 21 years old at election, a U.S. citizen, an Indiana resident for two years and a district resident for one year (Ind. Const. Art. 4, Sec. 7). ^{[1, 2]}

On the 2026 ballot

100 races in Indiana

What the law puts in this job

• Introduces and votes on state legislation; bills for raising revenue must originate in the House (Ind. Const. Art. 4, Sec. 17); the House Ways and Means Committee writes the first draft of the budget. ^{[1, 2]}
• Votes on the rules for local property and income taxes that counties, cities, townships and schools use. ^[3]

What the officeholder decides

• FY2028-FY2029 biennial budget (2027) and FY2030-FY2031 budget (2029): K-12 tuition support and vouchers, Medicaid, higher education, roads, prisons. ^[5]
• Whether to keep, change or delay SEA 1-2025's local income tax overhaul before it takes effect for tax year 2029 (HEA 1210-2026 already moved it one year), including county/municipal rate caps and fire/EMS allocation rules. ^[5]
• Property tax relief and levy limits (the maximum levy growth quotient formula and the post-2028 levy freeze rule). ^[5]
• Implementation of constitutional amendments if voters approve Public Question 1 (bail) or Public Question 2 (city and town court judge residency) on Nov. 3, 2026. ^[5]
• Township mergers under SEA 270-2026 (DLGF reports its list to the Legislative Council by Dec. 31, 2026; mergers by Jan. 1, 2029). ^[5]
• Senators elected in 2026 serve through 2030; post-2030-census redistricting falls in 2031. ^[5]

Who the officeholder answers to

• Voters of the district every two years; the House judges its members' qualifications and may expel. ^[1]

What it pays, and who sets that

• Same base as senators: 18% of a judge's salary ($33,032 reported for 2025), plus session per diem and mileage. ^[4]

What the state spends on it

• Appropriations for FY2026 (HEA 1001-2025): Indiana House $25.1 million; Indiana Senate $16.5 million; Legislative Council and Legislative Services Agency $28.1 million. ^[6]
• Organization Day: Nov. 17, 2026 (the first regular session convenes the third Tuesday after the first Monday of November in even-numbered years to organize, elect officers and take the oath; IC 2-2.1-1-2).
• 2027 session: Reconvenes in January 2027 (reported Jan. 12) and must adjourn sine die by April 29, 2027 (IC 2-2.1-1-2). This is the budget session.
• 2029 session: Budget session for FY2030-31; must adjourn by April 29, 2029.

Questions worth asking a candidate

Ours, not a questionnaire anyone answered. They come from what the job actually involves.

• What are your top two priorities for the 2027 budget session?
• Would you support any change to SEA 1's local income tax overhaul before it takes effect in 2029?
• How do you decide when the state should set rules for local governments versus leaving choices to them?

Sources

Office research by Legal Insights (Oct. 13, 2026): Indiana Code 2026 edition, state agencies and county budgets. Nothing here rates an officeholder or candidate.