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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Indiana Senate, District 45

Indiana Senate. 4-year term.

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What this office does

Members of the Indiana Senate write and vote on state laws as part of the Indiana General Assembly. The Senate has 50 members, each representing one district for a four-year term; about half the seats are elected every two years [1].

The job in full — the duties the Indiana Code puts in it, the term, what it pays and who sets that, and what to ask a candidate.

Term
4 years [1]
Term limit
None [1]
Seats
50 [1]
On the 2026 ballot
25 districts [2]
What the law puts in this job (2)
  • Introduces and votes on state legislation as one of the two chambers of the Indiana General Assembly [1].
  • Must be at least 25 years old when taking office and have lived in the district for at least a year, under Article 4 of the Indiana Constitution [1].

About this race

  • Senate District 45 covers Clark County and part of Floyd County in southern Indiana [3].
  • Garten was unopposed in the Republican primary; Nick Marshall won the Democratic nomination in the May 5, 2026 primary, and Larry Mahaney was nominated at the Libertarian Party convention [14, 15].
  • Marshall also challenged Garten for this seat in the previous cycle, entering the race in October 2021 after redistricting placed Jeffersonville in District 45 [16].
  • The race is drawing attention because Garten is his caucus's choice to lead the Senate starting in 2027 [14].
  • No debates or forums for this race were found in published coverage as of October 10, 2026 [15].

Candidates on the ballot

Chris Garten

RepublicanIncumbent

Work
Founder and president, Signature Countertops, Jeffersonville [3]

Chris Garten, the Republican incumbent, is a Marine Corps veteran and countertop company founder who is in line to become Senate President Pro Tempore [3, 5].

Garten's background

  • Founder and president of Signature Countertops, Inc., in Jeffersonville [3].
  • Gunnery sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps who served two tours in Iraq (2003 and 2005–2006) [3].
  • Serves on the One Southern Indiana Advocacy Council and previously served on the Scott County Public Defender Board, according to his caucus biography [3].

Garten's positions

Health care

  • His campaign site says he has pushed hospitals toward price transparency and an end to surprise billing, and cites his law requiring able-bodied adults to work, train, or volunteer to receive Medicaid [17].

Property taxes

  • Supported the 2025 property-tax law and argued local governments that raise taxes should have to justify it to taxpayers [7].

Housing

  • His campaign site says he wants to lower home costs by cutting regulations, increasing supply, and providing property tax relief [17].

Economy & jobs

  • His campaign site says he opposes tolls on local bridges and voted against a statewide highway toll plan backed by his party [17].

Elections & redistricting

  • Supported mid-decade congressional redistricting, writing in October 2025 that "This is not a fight Republicans picked, but it's at our doorstep" [18].

How Garten would run the office

  • As incoming caucus leader, he has said he wants to expand the Republican majority in the Senate [5, 19].

Garten on the current officeholder

  • Is the current officeholder. No statements by Garten about Marshall or Mahaney were found [17].

How Garten got on the ballot

  • Unopposed in the May 5, 2026 Republican primary [14].

Garten's endorsements and funding

  • Lists honors from groups including the Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police (2025) and Parents for School Options Indiana (2025) in his caucus biography [3].

What we could not find about Garten

  • His individual votes on the 2025 state budget were not verified.
  • The toll vote cited on his campaign site was not independently verified.
  • No campaign finance totals were found.
  • No 2026 campaign finance totals were found [17].

Garten's record in office

Indiana Senate record, District 45 (2023-2026) · compiled from the official record, Oct. 12-13, 2026

Authored
58
34 became law
Co-authored
15
10 became law
Sponsored
50
36 became law
Co-sponsored
3
3 became law

Committees, 2026 session

  • Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force (Senate Vice-Chair)
  • Appropriations (Ranking Member)
  • Rules and Legislative Procedure (Ranking Member)
  • Joint Rules
  • Tax and Fiscal Policy
  • Fiscal Policy, Interim Study Committee on (Senate Majority Member)
  • Legislative Council (Senate Majority Member)

Floor votes

  • 2023: Yes 388, No 64, Excused 24, Not voting 13
  • 2024: Yes 271, No 34, Not voting 3
  • 2025: Yes 353, No 82, Not voting 52
  • 2026: Yes 182, No 30, Excused 28, Not voting 60
How Garten voted on 35 selected bills
The 126 bills Garten carried

  • SB 158: Domestic violence.

    2023 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a person arrested for certain crimes committed against a family or household member may not be released on bail for 24 hours.

  • SB 2: Taxation of pass through entities.

    2023 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Authorizes certain pass through entities to make an election to pay tax at the entity level based on each owner's aggregate share of adjusted gross income.

  • SB 213: Advanced practice registered nurses.

    2023 · Authored (listed 3rd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Removes the requirements that an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) have a practice agreement with a collaborating physician.

  • SB 242: Floodplain mapping.

    2023 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Repeals the requirement that local floodplain administrators use the "best floodplain mapping data" as provided by the department of natural resources (department) and located on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal when reviewing an application for a permit to authorize construction in or near a floodplain.

  • SB 268: Prohibited pension system investments.

    2023 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Prohibits the Indiana public retirement system from investing in certain restricted entities or restricted investment products, including particular investments publicly confirmed to be controlled by the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party.

  • SB 384: Purple star designation.

    2023 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires the commission for higher education (CHE) and the Indiana department of veterans' affairs to develop and implement the higher education purple star designation for the following purposes: (1) To recognize postsecondary educational institutions that are supportive and inclusive of veterans and military connected families.

  • SB 389: Underground storage tanks.

    2023 · Authored (listed 3rd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that the commissioner of the department of environmental management (commissioner) may not issue an order or proceed in court to require the owner or operator of an underground storage tank to undertake corrective action with respect to a release of a regulated substance from the underground storage tank until the commissioner has received and reviewed the initial site characterization of

  • SB 392: University housing for single mothers.

    2023 · Authored (listed 2nd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Provides that the commission for higher education may administer a program to support JobSource, Inc., for the management of the Heartland/Anderson Scholar House.

  • SB 400: Health care matters.

    2023 · Authored (listed 3rd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires the state employee health plan, policies of accident and sickness insurance, and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for wearable cardioverter defibrillators.

  • SB 411: Commercial property assessed clean energy program.

    2023 · Authored (listed 2nd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Authorizes counties, cities, and towns (local units) to adopt a commercial property assessed clean energy program (PACE program) as a financing mechanism to allow commercial property owners to obtain financing for energy efficient improvements, with the repayment of the financing obligation for those improvements made from a voluntary tax assessment (special assessment) on the property.

  • SB 468: Uniform Commercial Code amendments.

    2023 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Incorporates into Indiana's Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) the Amendments to the Uniform Commercial Code (2022) approved and recommended for enactment in all states by the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) to address emerging technologies.

  • SB 477: Threats to critical infrastructure.

    2023 · Authored (listed 3rd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the statute prohibiting the use of public funds to purchase equipment or services produced or provided by certain prohibited persons determined to be a national security threat to communications networks or supply chains to also prohibit the use of public funds to purchase communications equipment or service that is: (1) determined under specified federal regulations to pose an unacceptable

  • SB 286: Credit time.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Permits a person placed on pretrial home detention to earn accrued time and good time credit in the same manner as other persons on home detention, but provides that specified misconduct will result in the deprivation of all credit time earned on pretrial home detention.

  • SB 3: State and local tax review task force.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the state and local tax review task force (task force).

  • SB 332: Planning and zoning affecting military bases.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows a unit to establish a military impact zoning district for an area adversely impacted by the effects of military operations.

  • SB 382: Indiana veteran park entrance authorization.

    2023 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Requires the department of natural resources (department) to provide free admission to: (1) members of the armed forces of the United States and veterans of the armed forces of the United States; and (2) the member's or veteran's motor vehicle and passengers; to Indiana state parks, and other department properties.

  • SB 4: Public health commission.

    2023 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Defines "core public health services" for purposes of public health laws.

  • HB 1001: State budget.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Appropriates money for capital expenditures, the operation of the state, K-12 and higher education, the delivery of Medicaid and other services, and various other distributions and purposes.

  • HB 1002: Education and workforce development.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the: (1) career scholarship account program (CSA program); (2) career scholarship account program fund; (3) career scholarship account administration fund; (4) career scholarship account donation fund; (5) connecting students with careers fund; (6) teacher higher education and industry collaboration grant program and fund; (7) career coaching grant fund; and (8) intermediary capacity b

  • HB 1004: Health care matters.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the health care cost oversight task force and sets forth duties of the task force.

  • HB 1005: Housing.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the residential housing infrastructure assistance program (program) and residential housing infrastructure assistance revolving fund (fund).

  • HB 1024: Public works projects.

    2023 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that a contractor that employs 10 or more employees on a design-build public works project must provide its employees access to a training program applicable to the tasks to be performed in the normal course of the employee's employment with the contractor on the public project.

  • HB 1034: Income tax exemption for military pay.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Exempts military pay for members of a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard from the individual income tax.

  • HB 1035: Township assessors.

    2023 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that, in counties that have one or more township assessors, the county election board shall place on the ballot at the November 2024 general election a public question asking whether the office of township assessor should be abolished or continued.

  • HB 1056: State veterans' cemeteries.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the Indiana state veterans' cemetery may include more than one physical location.

  • HB 1072: Aviation fuel inspection fees.

    2023 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that the fee for the inspection of gasoline or kerosene shall be imposed on "avgas" (aviation fuel used in piston engine powered aircraft) and jet fuel.

  • HB 1160: Workforce development pilot programs.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the commission for higher education may establish an education and career support services pilot program to provide career and support services to adult students of state educational institutions.

  • HB 1173: Utility scale battery energy storage systems.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a person may not: (1) construct a new utility scale battery energy storage system (BESS); or (2) expand the capacity of an existing BESS by more than 10% of the system's original capacity; without the prior approval of the department of homeland security (department).

  • HB 1177: Firearms training for teachers.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Authorizes funds from the: (1) Indiana secured school fund; and (2) school corporation and charter school safety advance program; to be used for the purpose of providing specialized firearms instruction to certain teachers, school staff, and school employees, and for providing counseling services to students, teachers, school staff, and school employees in the event of a school shooting.

  • HB 1179: Professional licensing.

    2023 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Allows a state agency to adopt a policy governing electronic meetings conducted by a board or committee of the agency, if the board or committee has not adopted a policy.

  • HB 1200: Alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Adds the following to the definition of "entertainment complex": (1) A premises located within a five mile (instead of four mile) radius of the center of a consolidated city.

  • HB 1204: Enforcement of weight limits for overweight loads.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Defines "aggregate".

  • HB 1236: Protections for motor vehicle dealers.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Specifies the amount of compensation by a manufacturer or distributor to a dealer for a part.

  • HB 1438: Publication of local government notices.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a towing service is subject to the same public notice advertising rates as a government agency if the service: (1) acts as an agent of a government agency; and (2) provides the notice required to dispose of abandoned vehicles or parts.

  • HB 1511: Higher education scholarships, grants, and cost exemptions.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that money in the National Guard tuition supplement program fund and the National Guard scholarship extension fund may not be expended, removed, or transferred from the respective fund except to be used for the purposes of the respective fund.

  • HB 1555: Military family occupational licenses.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a military service applicant who has held an occupational license, certification, registration, or permit (license) in another jurisdiction for at least one year may qualify for an Indiana license.

  • HB 1575: Fire prevention and building safety commission.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Increases the size of the fire prevention and building safety commission (commission) from 11 members to 12 members.

  • HB 1601: Exemption from permitting requirements.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a forestry operation that conducts its operations in compliance with the Indiana Logging and Forestry Best Management Practices Field Guide published by the Indiana department of natural resources is exempt from any requirement to obtain a permit from the department of natural resources or the department of environmental management concerning forestry activities confined to a waterwa

  • HB 1623: Administrative law.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the government reform task force (task force).

  • HB 1647: Athletic trainers.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the definition of "athletic trainer" to include an individual employed by an occupational facility to practice athletic training.

  • SB 128: Human sexuality instruction.

    2024 · Authored (listed 3rd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Defines "governing authority" of a school.

  • SB 189: Locating and recovering wild game.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Permits a person to use an unmanned aerial vehicle with infrared abilities to locate and recover a legally taken wild animal.

  • SB 216: Agriculture and pesticides.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires the dean of agriculture of Purdue University to submit certain annual reports to the legislative council and the budget committee as well as to the governor.

  • SB 234: Disaster emergency.

    2024 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a state of disaster emergency declared by the governor: (1) that applies to the entire state may not continue for more than 60 days unless a renewal is authorized by the general assembly; and (2) that only applies to part of the state may not continue for more than 30 days unless renewed by the governor.

  • SB 238: Innkeeper's tax.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Authorizes Jefferson County to impose its innkeeper's tax at a rate of 8% (instead of 5% under current law).

  • SB 241: Taking bobcats.

    2024 · Authored (listed 3rd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires the department of natural resources to establish and implement a season to take bobcats not later than July 1, 2025.

  • SB 248: Economic development.

    2024 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Allows a city on the Ohio River that established a port authority to annex territory that is not contiguous to the city boundaries if a railroad owned by the port authority connects the city to the annexed territory.

  • SB 256: Fiscal matters.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that money in the attorney general contingency fee fund is continuously appropriated and is not subject to allotment.

  • SB 296: Administrative proceedings.

    2024 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that the office of administrative legal proceedings (OALP) is the ultimate authority for agencies subject to the jurisdiction of the OALP.

  • SB 297: Administrative rules.

    2024 · Authored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Requires an agency to conduct a regulatory analysis for certain proposed rules, including if the implementation and compliance costs are at least $1,000,000.

  • SB 3: Prior authorization.

    2024 · Authored (listed 3rd) · reported from Senate committee; no Senate third-reading vote

    Provides that a utilization review entity may only impose prior authorization requirements on less than 1% of any given specialty or health care service and 1% of health care providers overall in a calendar year.

  • SB 39: Hunting season for qualified disabled veterans.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that catastrophically disabled veterans may hunt on the same free hunting days as those designated for youth hunters by the director of the department of natural resources.

  • SB 4: Fiscal and administrative matters.

    2024 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Specifies that certain workforce related programs must be reviewed by the legislative services agency at least once rather than every five years.

  • SB 46: Parental rights.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that a governmental entity may not substantially burden certain parental rights unless the burden is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering the governmental interest.

  • SB 48: State educational institution information.

    2024 · Authored (listed 3rd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires a state educational institution to prominently display hyperlinks to certain college scorecard information on the state educational institution's website and degree web pages.

  • SB 9: Notice of health care entity mergers.

    2024 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires health care entities to provide notice of certain mergers or acquisitions to office of the attorney general.

  • SJR 19: Service on interbranch commissions.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Adds a new section to the Constitution of the State of Indiana specifying that a Senator or Representative may serve on a commission, board, committee, or similar entity organized to govern, advise, or provide oversight to an agency of the administrative or executive departments of the state.

  • SB 1: Reading skills.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the department of education (department) may grant certain individuals a waiver that provides an exception to the literacy endorsement requirements if the department submits a report to the legislative council by a specified date.

  • SB 10: Community cares initiative grant pilot program.

    2024 · Co-authored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House

    Establishes the community cares initiative grant pilot program for the purpose of assisting in the costs of starting or expanding mobile integrated health care programs and mobile crisis teams in Indiana.

  • SB 151: Statute of limitations.

    2024 · Co-authored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Allows the prosecution of Level 3 felony rape and child molesting offenses to be commenced at any time.

  • SB 181: Citizenship and immigration status.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that, if the attorney general determines probable cause exists, the attorney general, rather than any person lawfully domiciled in Indiana, shall bring an action to compel a governmental body or postsecondary educational institution to comply with statutes requiring cooperation with federal immigration officials.

  • SB 282: Absenteeism and school attendance.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the duties of an attendance officer and the state attendance officer.

  • SB 5: Lead water line replacement and lead remediation.

    2024 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Specifies that, for purposes of the statute concerning the replacement of customer owned lead service lines by water utilities, a municipally owned utility includes a utility company owned, operated, or held in trust by a consolidated city.

  • SB 93: Mixed beverages.

    2024 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Adds a definition of "mixed beverage".

  • HB 1001: Education and higher education matters.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the definition of "eligible student" to include a sibling of a student with a disability with regards to the education scholarship account program (ESA).

  • HB 1002: Enforcement of equal educational opportunity.

    2024 · Sponsored · passed both chambers; vetoed by the Governor

    Defines "antisemitism", specifies that the public policy of the state is to provide educational opportunities free of religious discrimination, and provides that antisemitism is discrimination on the basis of race, creed, religion, or national origin.

  • HB 1003: Administrative law.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Makes the office of administrative law proceedings the ultimate authority in any administrative proceeding under its jurisdiction.

  • HB 1106: Regulated amusement devices.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the department of homeland security (department) shall not inspect, and operating permits are not required for, certain regulated amusement devices.

  • HB 1142: Hoosier first responder medal of honor.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the Hoosier first responder medal of honor (medal).

  • HB 1158: County contracts.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that for counties other than Marion County, contracts entered into by the county (including contracts executed by county elected officers) must meet certain requirements.

  • HB 1199: Economic enhancement district.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires the legislative body to provide notice and conduct a public hearing before a proposed economic enhancement district may be established.

  • HB 1327: Health and insurance matters.

    2024 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Requires reporting of certain ownership information by: (1) a hospital to the Indiana department of health (state department); (2) a physician group practice to the professional licensing agency; and (3) an insurer, a third party administrator, and a pharmacy benefit manager to the department of insurance.

  • HB 1352: Inspection of residential onsite sewage systems.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes when certain officials may inspect a residential onsite sewage system or nonresidential onsite sewage system.

  • HB 1383: Wetlands.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Clarifies various wetland definitions.

  • HB 1025: Mixed beverages.

    2024 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Adds a definition of "mixed beverage".

  • SB 1: Local government finance.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Places restrictions on the issuance of certain general obligation bonds.

  • SB 10: Voter registration.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Specifies that proof of identification may not include a document issued by an educational institution.

  • SB 11: Minor access and use of social media.

    2025 · Authored (listed 3rd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Requires a social media operator to restrict a minor user's viewing of social media without first obtaining verifiable parental consent for the minor user.

  • SB 2: Medicaid matters.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to report specified Medicaid data to the Medicaid oversight committee.

  • SB 280: Deer hunting.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that, for a hunting season beginning after June 30, 2025, rifles may be used to hunt deer on public property subject to certain restrictions.

  • SB 287: School board matters.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires a petition of nomination for a school board office to state one of the following: (1) The candidate's political party affiliation.

  • SB 3: Fiduciary duty in health plan administration.

    2025 · Authored (listed 3rd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that any third party administrator or pharmacy benefit manager acting on behalf of a plan sponsor owes a fiduciary duty to the plan sponsor.

  • SB 318: Required disclosures and access of foreign media.

    2025 · Authored (listed 3rd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires certain media entities operating in Indiana to disclose: (1) foreign ownership; (2) foreign funding; and (3) the use of foreign sourced or influenced content.

  • SB 389: Annexation of fire protection district territory.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides the following with regard to certain annexations that include property within a fire protection district (district) for which the annexation ordinance was adopted on October 7, 2024, the annexed territory does not exceed 50 acres, and the annexed territory consists of vacant land and not more than one (1) residential property: (1) The annexation is effective at least 30 days after the ann

  • SB 4: Water matters.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Prohibits a water utility from constructing a long haul water pipeline unless the water utility first obtains a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN) from the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC).

  • SB 443: Business personal property tax.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Increases the acquisition cost threshold for the business personal property tax exemption from $80,000 to $100,000.

  • SB 478: Craft hemp flower and THC products.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · passed both chambers in some form; final version not enacted

    Establishes certain regulatory testing and packaging requirements for the distribution and sale of craft hemp flower products.

  • SB 5: State fiscal and contracting matters.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows a state agency to use artificial intelligence software to prepare information and projections for the state budget.

  • SB 143: Parental rights.

    2025 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a governmental entity may not substantially burden certain parental rights unless the burden, as applied to the parent and the child, is required to advance a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of advancing the governmental interest.

  • SB 451: Income tax rate.

    2025 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides for a decrease in the individual adjusted gross income tax rate beginning in 2030 depending on certain conditions being met.

  • HB 1001: State budget.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Appropriates money for capital expenditures, the operation of the state, K-12 and higher education, the delivery of Medicaid and other services, and various other distributions and purposes.

  • HB 1004: Health care matters.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes: (1) a state directed payment program (program) for hospitals; and (2) a managed care assessment fee.

  • HB 1005: Housing and building matters.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires (rather than allows) a city, town, or county (unit) that requires a building permit for construction of a Class 2 structure to allow the inspection to be provided by private providers in addition to the unit's inspectors.

  • HB 1008: Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the Indiana-Illinois boundary adjustment commission, including six members appointed by the governor and five members appointed under Illinois law, to discuss and recommend whether it is advisable to adjust the boundaries between the two states.

  • HB 1186: Law enforcement matters.

    2025 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that a correctional professional is considered a public safety officer for purposes of determining eligibility for line of duty death benefits.

  • HB 1235: Military and veteran matters.

    2025 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate

    Expands the eligibility requirements for admission to the Indiana Veterans' Home.

  • HB 1531: Various immigration matters.

    2025 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or a postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain acts, the attorney general shall defend the law enforcement officer, the governmental body, or the postsecondary educational institution throughout the action.

  • HB 1666: Ownership of health care providers.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires reporting of certain ownership information by: (1) a hospital to the Indiana department of health (state department); (2) certain health care entities to the secretary of state; and (3) an insurer, a third party administrator, and a pharmacy benefit manager to the department of insurance.

  • HB 1073: Boxing and martial arts.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the Indiana gaming commission shall (instead of may) adopt rules to regulate the conduct of mixed martial arts, martial arts, professional wrestling, boxing and bare-knuckle fighting, and sparring.

  • HB 1391: Services for the aged and disabled.

    2025 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows the office of the secretary of family and social services (office of the secretary) to study and prepare a report containing recommendations for realigning and consolidating the local area agency on aging (area agency) planning and service areas.

  • SB 1: Human services matters.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Establishes the Indiana rural health transformation fund and makes allotments and expenditures from the fund subject to budget committee review before the allotment and expenditure may occur.

  • SB 11: Firing squad.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Authorizes the death penalty to be carried out by firing squad: (1) if execution by lethal injection cannot be carried out due to the unavailability of a required drug; or (2) upon request by the condemned person.

  • SB 12: Prohibition of ranked choice voting.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting.

  • SB 122: Various immigration matters.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain acts, the attorney general shall defend the law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution throughout the action.

  • SB 161: Education matters.

    2026 · Authored (listed 3rd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House

    Requires the Indiana department of education to elect to participate as a covered state in the federal tax credit scholarship program for elementary and secondary education under Section 25F of the Internal Revenue Code (enacted in Public Law 119-21, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025).

  • SB 172: Administrative rulemaking.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Provides that if the implementation and compliance costs of a proposed rule, provisional rule, or interim rule exceed $100,000 (instead of $1,000,000) over a two year period: (1) the rule cannot be published in the Indiana Register until the budget committee has reviewed the rule; (2) the budget agency and the office of management and budget may not approve any part of the proposed rule prior to r

  • SB 182: Gender issues.

    2026 · Authored (listed 3rd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Defines "female", "male", "gender", and "sex" for all Indiana statutes.

  • SB 189: Nonparticipating providers.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires an initiating party that submits a request for independent dispute resolution to provide written notice to the facility not later than three business days after submitting the request.

  • SB 215: Gender matters.

    2026 · Authored (listed 3rd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Defines "sex" and "gender" for purposes of the Indiana Code.

  • SB 226: Indiana department of administration.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows the Indiana department of administration (department) to implement category management for purchasing and contracting by state agencies.

  • SB 256: Foreign agent registration, foreign terrorist organizations, and foreign adversaries.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that contracts entered into, amended, or renewed by a qualified entity for the provision of a technological product or service must contain a provision requiring the contractor to confirm that the contractor and any subcontractors working under the contract for the contractor are not prohibited persons.

  • SB 257: Electricity rate increases due to data centers.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that the Indiana utility regulatory commission may not approve an increase in the rates and charges of an electric utility to the extent the increase is related solely to the electric utility's cost of providing electric utility service to: (1) a data center; or (2) a new or existing facility: (A) the electricity demand of which exceeds or will exceed a specified amount; and (B) that empl

  • SB 275: FSSA fiscal matters.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · passed both chambers in some form; final version not enacted

    Amends the duties of the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) concerning home and community based services waivers (waiver).

  • SB 4: Various fiscal matters.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires the legislative services agency to perform a fiscal impact analysis for all executive orders issued by the governor within seven days of an order's issuance.

  • SB 76: Immigration matters.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that if a law enforcement officer, governmental body, or postsecondary educational institution is made a party to a civil suit and the attorney general determines that the suit has arisen out of certain immigration matters, the attorney general may defend the law enforcement officer, the governmental body, or the postsecondary educational institution if representation is requested and the

  • SB 8: Library budgets.

    2026 · Authored (listed 2nd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Amends the percentage increase in a public library's proposed budget that determines whether the public library's proposed budget is subject to binding review by the applicable county, city, or town, fiscal body.

  • SB 60: Advanced practice registered nurses.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Removes the requirement that an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) have a practice agreement with a collaborating physician.

  • HB 1001: Housing matters.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Revises the allocation of money available for making loans from the residential housing infrastructure assistance revolving fund.

  • HB 1003: Boards and commissions.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Creates the agricultural promotion and regulation task force to study various agriculture related topics.

  • HB 1032: Redistricting.

    2026 · Sponsored · passed the House; defeated on third reading in the Senate

    Allows the general assembly to amend congressional districts at a time other than the first regular session of the general assembly convening immediately following the United States decennial census.

  • HB 1038: Gaming matters.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the horse racing commission may issue three satellite facility licenses (instead of four per permit holder under current law).

  • HB 1099: Foreign adversaries.

    2026 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that, if a contractor or a subcontractor working under the contractor for the provision of a technological product or service is a prohibited person, a qualified entity may enter into the contract if the contractor affirms the contractor and its subcontractors are not acting as agents of a foreign adversary.

  • HB 1137: Foods and beverages on school property.

    2026 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that a public school that participates in a federally funded or assisted meal program: (1) may not serve, sell, or allow a third party vendor to serve or sell a food or beverage that contains certain ingredients on school property on a school day; and (2) shall post any breakfast or lunch menu and ingredients on the school's website.

  • HB 1315: Township reorganization.

    2026 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate (not reported from Senate committee)

    Provides that on January 1, 2028, certain townships are dissolved and their powers, duties, offices, and property are transferred to a municipality or county.

  • HB 1343: Public safety matters.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the law enforcement training board (board) shall select an executive director to serve at the pleasure of the board.

  • HB 1417: Causes of action and damages.

    2026 · Sponsored · passed the House only; did not pass the Senate

    Establishes a tort reform commission.

How this record was put together, and what it does not show

What we list: 28 bills chosen by a rule that does not look at topic: both state budgets, four bills named in advance, the 2025-26 redistricting bill, and in each session and chamber the 3 bills whose final-passage vote drew the most “nay” votes.

  • Votes reflect party caucus dynamics. Indiana has Republican supermajorities in both chambers, and many floor votes split along party lines; a single vote says little without the bill and its context.
  • Bills often die for procedural reasons, such as no committee hearing or a deadline, and a bill marked “not reported from committee” may have become law inside another bill.
  • A third-reading vote is on the version in front of the chamber at that time; the final version can be very different.
  • Authoring and co-authoring are different: co-authors sign on, often in large numbers, and usually did not write the bill.
  • Attendance counts roll calls on bills and joint resolutions (about 89% of numbered roll calls). “Excused” is an absence the chamber approved; “not voting” means no vote was recorded.

Where Garten's record came from

Garten's campaign website

Sources for Garten

Larry Mahaney

Libertarian

Work
Emergency medical technician, AmeriPro EMS; owner, Kentuckiana Safety Solutions [20]

Larry Mahaney is the Libertarian nominee; little public information about his campaign was found [15].

Mahaney's background

  • His BallotReady candidate profile, which lists this Senate District 45 race, lists him as an emergency medical technician with AmeriPro EMS since 2023 and owner of Kentuckiana Safety Solutions since 2022 [20].
  • The same profile lists him as a 2024 candidate for Clark County Commission, District 1 [20].

How Mahaney got on the ballot

  • Nominated at the Libertarian Party of Indiana's convention [15].

What we could not find about Mahaney

  • No campaign website, questionnaire responses, or news coverage of his positions were found; The Ballot Brief reported none as of September 8, 2026.
  • His campaign has a Facebook page per BallotReady, which was not reviewed.
  • No campaign finance totals were found.
  • No statements by Mahaney about Garten were found [15].
  • No endorsements or campaign finance information were found [20].

Sources for Mahaney

Nick Marshall

Democratic

Nick Marshall, the Democratic nominee, is a foster-care advocate from Jeffersonville who also ran for the seat in the previous cycle [16, 21].

Marshall's background

  • Grew up in foster care and graduated from the University of Louisville, according to his campaign [21].
  • His BallotReady candidate profile lists Republic Bank as his professional experience, without a job title [22].
  • Works with Kentuckiana organizations on foster care advocacy and child literacy, according to his campaign [21]. In 2021 he served on boards including the Coalition Supporting Young Adults and Home of the Innocents [16].
  • Lives in Jeffersonville [16].

Marshall's positions

Education

  • His platform calls for fully funding K-12 schools, raising teacher pay, expanding funding for special-education services such as IEPs and speech pathologists, and investing in early childhood education [23].

Property taxes

  • His platform says the 2025 property-tax law (SEA 1) drained local police and fire budgets and calls for returning that money to local governments without raising taxes [23].

Health care

  • Opposes cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and would supplement those costs at the state level; supports funding addiction programs and access to emergency care for women [23].

Energy & utilities

  • His platform calls for eliminating reconnection fees for disconnected utilities [23]. A podcast host's summary of an August 2026 interview says he has organized against a proposed data center in Charlestown [24].

Public safety

  • Calls for more funding for local police, fire, and EMS and an updated D.A.R.E. program [23].

How Marshall would run the office

  • His platform lists lowering taxes on working-class Hoosiers and small businesses and restarting child-care vouchers for low-income families [23].

Marshall on the current officeholder

  • In an August 2026 podcast interview, as summarized by the host, Marshall described Garten as part of a faction seeking Senate leadership and tied Garten's support for redistricting to diluting the representation of communities of color [24].

How Marshall got on the ballot

  • Won the Democratic nomination in the May 5, 2026 primary [15].

What we could not find about Marshall

  • Podcast statements are the host's summaries, not transcripts.
  • No news coverage of his 2026 campaign beyond candidate lists was found.
  • No campaign finance totals were found.
  • No endorsements are listed on his campaign website; it links to an ActBlue donation page [21].

Marshall's campaign website

Sources for Marshall

Key points

  • Senate District 45 covers Clark County and part of Floyd County in southern Indiana. (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  • Garten was unopposed in the Republican primary; Nick Marshall won the Democratic nomination in the May 5, 2026 primary, and Larry Mahaney was nominated at the Libertarian Party convention. (WNDU)

Sources

Researched Saturday, October 10, 2026

  1. Indiana Senate (Wikipedia)
  2. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  3. State Senator Chris Garten biography (2026) (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  4. Senate Republican Caucus endorses Garten for Pro Tem (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  5. Bray, Holdman, Garten: SB 1 saves homeowners $1.3 billion (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  6. Indiana Republican senators endorse Garten as chamber's next top leader (Indiana Capital Chronicle) (WNDU)
  7. Indiana Senate District 45 (The Ballot Brief)
  8. Democrat enters Southern Indiana state Senate race (Louisville Public Media)
  9. Garten for Senate (Chris Garten campaign)
  10. State lawmakers representing Southern Indiana split on redistricting (Louisville Public Media)
  11. Garten announces candidacy for Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore and intent to appoint Koch as Majority Floor Leader (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  12. Larry J. Mahaney (BallotReady)
  13. Hoosiers for Nick Marshall (Nick Marshall campaign)
  14. Nick Marshall (candidate profile) (BallotReady)
  15. The Platform (Nick Marshall campaign)
  16. HoosLeft Live Bonus Episode w/ Nick Marshall (Progressive Indiana Network)
What's included
the U.S. House, statewide offices, every Indiana House and Senate district on the ballot, Indiana's statewide public questions and judicial retention questions, and county, township, city, town and school board races from the Indiana Election Division's candidate list.
Everything else
Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: IndianaVoters.in.gov.
Candidate lists
As of Sunday, October 18, 2026.
At the polls
Indiana law lets you bring a list of candidates and public questions into the polling place, including one stored on your phone, as long as you don't electioneer. IC 3-11-8-18.5

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.