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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Indiana Senate, District 47

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 47 covers Harrison and Washington counties and most of Floyd County [4].
  • Byrne and Ethan Sweetland-May were the only candidates in their parties' May 5, 2026 primaries [15, 16].
  • In 2022 Byrne won the seat with 66.8% of the vote over Democrat Katie Forte [3].
  • No debates have been scheduled; Sweetland-May's campaign says Byrne has declined debate requests, according to a September 2026 podcast summary; no response from Byrne was found [17].

Candidates on the ballot

Gary Byrne

RepublicanIncumbent

Work
Co-owner and president, Byrne Satellite; farms in Byrneville [4]

Gary Byrne, the Republican incumbent, is a Harrison County business owner and farmer first chosen for the seat in 2022 [4, 3].

Byrne's background

  • Co-owner and president of Byrne Satellite; lives on his family farm in Byrneville [4].
  • Previously served on the North Harrison School Board, the Harrison County Council, and the Harrison County Economic Development Board [4].

Byrne's positions

Education

  • Authored the 2026 "success sequence" law and a 2025 sex-education transparency bill [13, 6].

Public safety

  • Authored SEA 95 (2025) on recovering police training costs [5].

Elections & redistricting

  • Supported 2025 congressional redistricting, saying "We need to redistrict Indiana, so our congressional votes do not get watered down by Democrat states" [21].
  • Authored SEA 287 (2025) allowing party labels in school board races [7].

Property taxes

  • Authored SB 8 (2026), saying it "would make sure the people's voices are heard in how their tax dollars are spent" on library budgets [14].

How Byrne would run the office

  • In 2022, he listed his priorities as limiting what he described as political content in school instruction, reining in unelected bureaucrats, and election integrity including paper ballots [22].

Byrne on the current officeholder

  • Is the current officeholder. No statements by Byrne about Sweetland-May were found [4].

How Byrne got on the ballot

  • Was the only Republican to file for the seat and is the party's nominee on the November ballot [15, 2].

Byrne's endorsements and funding

  • In 2022 he said he accepted no lobbyist or PAC money [22]. His caucus biography lists a 2022 Champion for Life award from Indiana Right to Life [4].

What we could not find about Byrne

  • No campaign website or 2026 campaign statements were found.
  • Individual votes on the 2025 property-tax law, the 2025 budget, and SB 518 were not verified.
  • Final status of SB 8 (2026) was not verified.
  • No 2026 campaign finance totals were found.

Byrne's record in office

Indiana Senate record, District 47 (2023-2026) · compiled from the official record, Oct. 12-13, 2026

Authored
45
14 became law
Co-authored
67
36 became law
Sponsored
17
13 became law
Co-sponsored
19
16 became law

Committees, 2026 session

  • Agriculture
  • Commerce and Technology
  • Education and Career Development
  • Homeland Security and Transportation
  • Natural Resources
  • Utilities
  • Veterans Affairs and The Military
  • Education, Interim Study Committee on (Senate Majority Member)
  • Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications, Interim Study Committee on (Senate Majority Member)

Floor votes

  • 2023: Yes 391, No 96, Not voting 2
  • 2024: Yes 254, No 54
  • 2025: Yes 373, No 105, Not voting 9
  • 2026: Yes 233, No 67
How Byrne voted on 35 selected bills
The 148 bills Byrne carried

  • SB 134: Retail sale of dogs.

    2023 · Authored (listed 3rd) · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House (not reported from House committee)

    Enacts an article concerning the retail sale of dogs.

  • SB 351: Designation of sex on birth certificate.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Defines "sex" for purposes of birth certificates.

  • SB 352: Construction of certain intersections.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that the Indiana department of transportation (department) may not engage in planning or perform construction to install a roundabout or a reduced conflict intersection until the department has received input and approval from the legislative body of the unit that has control over the intersection or junction where the roundabout or reduced conflict intersection would be located.

  • SB 413: Parental rights in education.

    2023 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Requires a governing body of a school corporation to adopt procedures to require schools to notify a parent of an unemancipated minor student regarding the: (1) student's services, support, or monitoring related to the student's social emotional, behavioral, mental, or physical health; or (2) school's ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student.

  • SB 414: Onsite waste management districts and septage holding tanks.

    2023 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the definition of "onsite residential sewage discharging disposal system" to provide that the term includes a system that employs advanced treatment components to reduce the concentration of the pathogenic constituents of the effluent to an acceptable level before the effluent is discharged.

  • SB 480: Gender transition procedures for minors.

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

    Prohibits a physician or other practitioner from: (1) knowingly providing gender transition procedures to an individual who is less than 18 years of age (minor); and (2) aiding or abetting another physician or practitioner in the provision of gender transition procedures to a minor.

  • SB 12: Material harmful to minors.

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

    Establishes a procedure: (1) to allow a parent or guardian of a child enrolled in a school to submit a complaint that a book in the school library is inappropriate; and (2) for the school to respond to the complaint.

  • SB 13: Elimination of lower speed limit for trucks.

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

    Excepts an alley from the maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour.

  • SB 137: Possession of firearms by retired police officers.

    2023 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that a retired law enforcement officer may possess a firearm on school property under certain conditions.

  • SB 188: School corporation governing bodies.

    2023 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that for school board offices, each candidate's affiliation with a political party or status as an independent candidate must be stated on the ballot.

  • SB 244: Surety bond for home improvement suppliers.

    2023 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Amends the statute governing residential real property improvement contracts (statute) to provide that before entering into a real property improvement contract (contract) after June 30, 2023, and throughout the duration of the contract, a real property improvement supplier (supplier) must be covered by a surety bond in the amount of $50,000.

  • SB 35: Financial literacy.

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

    Provides that, beginning with the cohort of students who are expected to graduate from a public school, a charter school, or a state accredited nonpublic school in 2028, an individual must successfully complete a personal financial responsibility course (course) before the individual may graduate.

  • SB 43: Residency of 911 operators.

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

    Provides that a public safety agency may not establish or maintain residency requirements for a public safety telecommunicator employed by a public safety agency.

  • SB 460: Indiana historical murals.

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

    Requires the governor to administer a program under which historical murals depicting milestones in Indiana's history as a territory and a state will be created and permanently displayed in prominent places around the state capitol campus in celebration of the 2026 semiquincentennial of the United States.

  • SB 477: Threats to critical infrastructure.

    2023 · Co-authored · 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 486: Education matters.

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

    Repeals teacher training requirements regarding: (1) criminal gang organizations awareness; (2) certain information concerning homeless students; and (3) recognizing the signs and symptoms of seizures and the appropriate steps to be taken to respond to the symptoms; and requires that information concerning these subjects be included within the curriculum of teacher preparation programs.

  • HB 1063: Town of Hardinsburg.

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

    Legalizes the action of the county commissioners of Washington County dissolving the town of Hardinsburg.

  • HB 1069: Airports.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Voids an administrative rule concerning eligibility of projects for which funding is available from the airport development grant fund (grant fund) and relocates (with stylistic changes) the contents of the voided administrative rule.

  • HB 1411: Speed limit reduction on county streets or highways.

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

    Provides that if the county executive of a county determines that the maximum speed permitted is greater or less than reasonable and safe under the conditions found to exist on a street or highway, or part of a street or highway, under the jurisdiction of the county, the county executive may determine and declare a reasonable and safe maximum limit on the street or highway, or part of the street o

  • HB 1608: Education matters.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a school, an employee or staff member of a school, or a third party vendor used by a school to provide instruction may not provide any instruction to a student in prekindergarten through grade 3 on human sexuality.

  • HB 1621: Self-service storage facilities.

    2023 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Specifies that the term "personal property" includes trailers.

  • 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.

  • HB 1007: Electric utility service.

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

    Provides that it is the continuing policy of the state that decisions concerning Indiana's electric generation resource mix, energy infrastructure, and electric service ratemaking constructs must take into account the following attributes of electric utility service: (1) Reliability.

  • HB 1159: Civil service annuity income deduction.

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

    Increases the amount of federal civil service annuity benefits that an individual or the individual's surviving spouse may deduct from adjusted gross income tax.

  • HB 1177: Firearms training for teachers.

    2023 · Co-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 1204: Enforcement of weight limits for overweight loads.

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

    Defines "aggregate".

  • HB 1317: Expiration of committees and interstate compacts.

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

    Provides that a committee, board, commission, or task force (committee) created by the general assembly after June 30, 2023, expires if the committee does not meet within two years after the effective date of the statute creating the committee.

  • HB 1396: Stop the bleed program.

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

    Establishes the stop the bleed donation pool for the purpose of receiving donations of gifts or donations.

  • SB 128: Human sexuality instruction.

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

    Defines "governing authority" of a school.

  • SB 129: Police officer employment and training cost reimbursement.

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

    Allows a county, city, or town (unit) to be reimbursed for some or all of a police officer's employment and training costs from a unit that subsequently employs the police officer less than three years after police officer completes the law enforcement basic training course.

  • SB 186: Right to food.

    2024 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that an individual has the right to: (1) save and exchange seeds to grow food; and (2) grow, raise, produce, harvest, and consume the food that the individual chooses; for the individual's own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health, and well-being.

  • SB 187: Prohibition of free or reduced fares on election day.

    2024 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Prohibits certain free or reduced public transportation fares on election day.

  • SB 209: Historic sites.

    2024 · Authored (listed 2nd) · reported from Senate committee; no Senate third-reading vote

    Establishes the division of historic sites (division) in the department of natural resources.

  • SB 248: Economic development.

    2024 · Authored (listed 3rd) · 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 28: Discriminatory financial services practices.

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

    Prohibits a financial services provider from discriminating in providing financial services to a consumer by using a social credit score as a basis for directly or indirectly: (1) declining to provide to the consumer full and equal access to one or more financial services; or (2) providing the consumer with one or more financial services on less favorable terms and conditions than would otherwise

  • SB 32: Tax and fiscal control over libraries.

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

    Eliminates the authority of public libraries to impose an ad valorem property tax as a "taxing unit".

  • SB 47: Comparative college and career information.

    2024 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Tasks the commission for higher education (commission) and the department of workforce development with collecting and compiling certain information concerning: (1) postsecondary education; (2) career and technical education; (3) workforce qualifications; (4) workforce earnings; and (5) workforce debt.

  • 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 14: Right of certain persons to carry a handgun in the statehouse and state capitol complex.

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

    Allows: (1) certain statewide elected officials; (2) members of the general assembly; (3) members of the Indiana lobby registration commission; (4) professional staff of the general assembly; and (5) employees of certain statewide elected offices; to carry a handgun in the statehouse or on the property of the state capitol complex under certain circumstances.

  • SB 146: Youth employment.

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

    Allows a person who is at least 18 years of age to ring up a sale of alcoholic beverages in the course of the person's employment.

  • 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 156: Dissolution or name change of town.

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

    Establishes the following procedure for dissolving a town or changing the name of a town: (1) Requires at least 5% of the registered voters of the town to file a petition for town dissolution or name change with the county auditor.

  • SB 157: Landlocked property.

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

    Defines "landlocked property" as real property that has been shut off from all public highways as a result of the vacation of one or more public highways.

  • SB 17: Age verification for material harmful to minors.

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

    Requires an adult oriented website operator that displays material harmful to minors to use a reasonable age verification method to prevent a minor from accessing an adult oriented website.

  • 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 189: Locating and recovering wild game.

    2024 · Co-authored · 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 202: State educational institution matters.

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

    Amends the duties of state educational institutions' diversity committees.

  • SB 234: Disaster emergency.

    2024 · Co-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 241: Taking bobcats.

    2024 · Co-authored · 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 287: Education matters.

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

    Requires each school corporation, charter school, and state accredited nonpublic elementary school to include cursive writing in its curriculum.

  • SB 296: Administrative proceedings.

    2024 · Co-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 · Co-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 4: Fiscal and administrative matters.

    2024 · Co-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 · Co-authored · 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 · Co-authored · 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 49: Catastrophically disabled veteran hunting.

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

    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 50: Chaplains in public schools.

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

    Allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements are met.

  • SB 52: Prohibition on use of dedicated lanes.

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

    Prohibits, until July 1, 2025, a consolidated city from adopting or enforcing an ordinance, resolution, rule, policy, or other requirement concerning a public transportation project, including the blue line, that seeks to: (1) convert; (2) restrict; or (3) otherwise establish; a vehicular traffic lane for use as a dedicated lane.

  • SB 57: Automated commercial motor vehicles.

    2024 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that an automated commercial motor vehicle may not be operated on a highway to transport passengers or goods unless a human operator who meets all state and federal qualifications to operate a commercial motor vehicle is physically present in the automated commercial motor vehicle to monitor the performance of the automated commercial motor vehicle and to take control of all or part of th

  • SB 9: Notice of health care entity mergers.

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

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

  • HB 1092: Financial responsibility for aircraft.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends the definition of "operation of aircraft" or "operate aircraft" for purposes of the aircraft financial responsibility act.

  • 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 1163: Certificates of public convenience and necessity.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that: (1) a rural electric membership corporation (REMC); (2) a nonprofit corporation that is an electric cooperative and that has at least one member that is an REMC; and (3) certain corporations resulting from a merger or consolidation of an REMC and a telephone cooperative corporation; are exempt from the requirement that a public utility obtain a certificate of public convenience and

  • 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 1412: Canine standard of care.

    2024 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Sets forth regulations concerning the retail sale of dogs.

  • HB 1108: Development restrictions on slopes.

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

    Prohibits a unit from preventing development exclusively on the basis of slope, if the predevelopment slope of the site is less than 25%, unless the site is within a watershed area of a reservoir that is a source of a municipality's drinking water.

  • HB 1202: Military and veteran issues.

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

    Increases the maximum amount for a grant from the military family relief fund from $2,500 to $3,500.

  • SB 106: Rights of public safety officers.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Permits a public safety officer to bring a claim against a police department or fire department for a violation of the rights of public safety officers.

  • SB 14: Vegetable gardens and livestock.

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

    Prohibits a county, city, or town (unit) from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that prevents a person from cultivating a vegetable garden on certain property.

  • SB 15: Right-of-way and thoroughfares.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Requires a county to use eminent domain to increase the apparent right-of-way for a county highway, instead of by requiring dedication of additional right-of-way as part of a subdivision plat.

  • SB 170: Prohibited government abortion assistance.

    2025 · Authored (listed 3rd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Prohibits the state or a political subdivision of the state from assisting an individual in seeking or obtaining an abortion.

  • SB 171: Abortion matters.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Prohibits a person from knowingly or intentionally: (1) prescribing or possessing an abortion inducing drug; or (2) sending an abortion inducing drug to a person located in Indiana, if the person located in Indiana possesses the abortion inducing drug.

  • SB 203: Audit of state agencies.

    2025 · Authored (listed 3rd) · not reported from Senate committee

    Requires the legislative council to oversee the audit, by an independent public accounting firm, of all accounts, financial affairs, and compliance related matters of all state agencies.

  • SB 235: Limitations on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

    2025 · Authored (listed 2nd) · reported from Senate committee; no Senate third-reading vote

    Establishes prohibitions and requirements on state agencies, recipients of state contracts or grants, state educational institutions, and health profession licensing boards regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • SB 26: Signal jamming.

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

    Provides that a signal jammer may be seized.

  • SB 282: Leaves of absence for local officeholders.

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

    Allows a local officeholder to take a leave of absence from office when the local officeholder: (1) is caring for a child after the birth of the child or placement of the child with the local officeholder for adoption or foster care; (2) is caring for a spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition; (3) has a serious health condition and is unable to perform the duties of the office;

  • SB 283: Library governance.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Eliminates the authority of public libraries to impose an ad valorem property tax as a "taxing unit".

  • SB 284: Early voting.

    2025 · Authored · reported from Senate committee; no Senate third-reading vote

    Reduces the period during which in person absentee voting may occur at the office of the circuit court clerk or a satellite office established by the county election board to a 14 day period ending at noon on the day before election day.

  • SB 285: Comparative college and career information.

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

    Authorizes the commission for higher education (commission) and the department of workforce development with collecting and compiling certain information concerning: (1) postsecondary education; (2) career and technical education; (3) workforce qualifications; (4) workforce earnings; and (5) workforce debt.

  • SB 286: Masks at public assemblies.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Makes wearing a mask at a public assembly a Class C misdemeanor, and increases the penalty to a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.

  • SB 287: School board matters.

    2025 · Authored · 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 289: Unlawful discrimination.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Repeals provisions concerning university diversity committees.

  • SB 422: Advanced transmission technologies.

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

    Defines "advanced transmission technologies" as software or hardware technologies that increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or safety of an existing or new electric transmission facility.

  • SB 441: Definition of sex and gender; birth certificates.

    2025 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

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

  • SB 442: Instruction on human sexuality.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that, if a school provides instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted infections, the instruction must include instruction concerning consent to sexual activity and a presentation on human growth and development during pregnancy.

  • SB 484: Recreational vehicle dealers.

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

    Sets forth requirements for recreational vehicle dealer agreements for the sale of recreational vehicles in Indiana.

  • SB 95: Law enforcement training cost reimbursement.

    2025 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows the state, a state agency, or a political subdivision (public employer) to be reimbursed for the costs of employing and training a law enforcement officer by a public employer that subsequently employs the officer.

  • SB 10: Voter registration.

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

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

  • SB 12: Removal of squatters.

    2025 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Defines "squatter" as an individual who occupies the property of another and who does not and has never had: (1) a rental agreement; (2) permission of the owner; or (3) another legal interest in the property.

  • SB 140: Pharmacy benefits.

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

    Requires an insurer, a pharmacy benefit manager, or any other administrator of pharmacy benefits to ensure that a network utilized by the insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, or other administrator is reasonably adequate and accessible and file an annual report regarding the network with the commissioner of the department of insurance (commissioner).

  • 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 146: Teacher compensation.

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

    Requires the department of education (department) to submit a report to the general assembly before November 1, 2025, that provides an analysis of the feasibility and cost of increasing school corporation employee health plan options.

  • SB 157: Protection of property rights.

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

    Defines "squatter" as an individual who occupies the property of another and who does not have and has never had: (1) a rental agreement; (2) permission of the owner; or (3) another legal interest in the property.

  • SB 178: Natural gas and propane as a clean energy resources.

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

    Provides that it is the continuing policy of the state to recognize natural gas and propane as "clean energy" or "green energy" for purposes of any state or federal program that provides funding or other incentives for: (1) clean energy initiatives or projects; (2) green energy initiatives or projects; or (3) any similarly designated initiatives or projects; in Indiana.

  • SB 201: Closed primary elections.

    2025 · Co-authored · reported from Senate committee; no Senate third-reading vote

    Allows an individual to affiliate with a political party while registering to vote.

  • SB 28: Ground water emergencies.

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

    Allows the owner or operator of a significant ground water withdrawal facility to file a complaint with the director of the department of natural resources (director) that a water well on the property of the owner of the significant ground water withdrawal facility failed to furnish the well's normal supply of water or failed to furnish potable water.

  • SB 292: Short line railroad tax credit.

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

    Allows a taxpayer to claim a credit against state income tax liability for certain qualified railroad expenditures and qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures.

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

    2025 · Co-authored · 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 423: Small modular nuclear reactor pilot program.

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

    Establishes the small modular nuclear reactor partnership pilot program (program).

  • SB 424: Small modular nuclear reactor development costs.

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

    Amends as follows the Indiana Code section concerning certificates of public convenience and necessity (certificates) for small modular nuclear reactors: (1) Authorizes a public utility to petition the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for approval to incur, before obtaining a certificate, project development costs for the development of one or more small modular nuclear reactors.

  • SB 430: Grants for participation in the 287(g) program.

    2025 · Co-authored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House

    Establishes the 287(g) agreement grant program.

  • SB 431: Construction of data center by foreign adversary.

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

    Provides that after June 30, 2025, a foreign company may not construct or cause to be constructed a data center in Indiana unless the Indiana utility regulatory commission and the Indiana economic development corporation conduct a joint study of the anticipated electricity use of the prospective data center and certify to the governor and the general assembly that the electricity estimated to be u

  • SB 480: Prior authorization.

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

    Sets forth requirements for a utilization review entity that requires prior authorization of a health care service.

  • SB 5: State fiscal and contracting matters.

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

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

  • SB 503: Pharmacy benefit administration.

    2025 · Co-authored · reported from Senate committee; no Senate third-reading vote

    Requires the attorney general to designate or appoint a pharmacy benefit compliance officer if certain prescription drug benefit public-private partnership contracts are entered into by the state.

  • SB 515: Historic sites.

    2025 · Co-authored · reported from Senate committee; no Senate third-reading vote

    Establishes the division of historic sites (division) in the department of natural resources.

  • SB 523: School chaplains.

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

    Allows a principal or superintendent of a public school, including a charter school, to employ, or approve as a volunteer, a school chaplain if certain requirements are met.

  • HB 1103: Foreign trade offices.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that a state agency and the Indiana economic development corporation may not establish an office in a country that is a foreign adversary.

  • HB 1499: Education matters.

    2025 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that certain students have the opportunity to retake the determinant evaluation of reading skills at least twice in the summer before grade 3 retention requirements apply.

  • HB 1562: Farm and home based food sales.

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

    Repeals current home based vendor regulations.

  • HB 1602: Various food matters.

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

    Provides that a recipient may appeal to the legislative body an enforcement action issued or taken by a local health officer under IC 16-20-1 in response to a food establishment inspection.

  • HB 1012: Notice to owner of the site of an accident.

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

    Provides that, on or before July 1, 2026, each law enforcement agency shall adopt and implement protocols for the law enforcement agency to notify a real property owner of: (1) damage to the owner's real property, crops, or a building, structure, or fixture attached to the owner's real property that is reported to a law enforcement officer or law enforcement agency; and (2) debris identified by a

  • HB 1041: Student eligibility in interscholastic sports.

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

    Requires, for purposes of interscholastic athletic events, state educational institutions and certain private postsecondary educational institutions to expressly designate an athletic team or sport as one of the following: (1) A male, men's, or boys' team or sport.

  • HB 1137: Expungement of red flag law records.

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

    Requires a court to expunge certain records related to the red flag law if the court finds that an individual is not dangerous, and permits a court to expunge certain records related to the red flag law if the court finds that an individual previously found dangerous is no longer dangerous.

  • HB 1149: Agricultural online portal.

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

    Requires the Indiana state department of agriculture (department) to establish and maintain an online portal on its website for the purposes of: (1) assisting users in the successful navigation of agricultural or related topics among various federal and state agencies; (2) providing a single source for users to access agricultural or related funding opportunities; (3) providing a searchable data b

  • HB 1285: Education matters.

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

    Prohibits a school corporation from doing the following: (1) Removing a student's property without providing the student's parent with the opportunity to collect the student's property if the student has died, transferred, dropped out, or otherwise withdrawn from enrollment in the school corporation for any reason.

  • HB 1489: Indiana-Ireland trade commission.

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

    Establishes the Indiana-Ireland trade commission (commission) to advance bilateral trade and investment between Indiana and Ireland and other related matters.

  • SB 113: Elections matters.

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

    Requires each county election board to provide to the election division through a module of the computerized list, not later than 14 days after each election, the votes cast for each candidate and on each public question in each precinct at the last election.

  • SB 206: Protection of underground facilities.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Provides that the following are exempt from the law governing demolitions and excavations in the area of underground facilities: (1) Excavation that is performed: (A) only with a hand tool; (B) by a communications service provider; and (C) to a depth not greater than 12 inches; for the purpose of connecting a communications service customer's home or business to the communications service provider

  • SB 215: Gender matters.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

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

  • SB 230: Department of agriculture.

    2026 · Authored (listed 3rd) · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Makes various amendments to the role of supervisors on soil and conservation boards.

  • SB 25: School board candidates.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Specifies that if there is more than one candidate for a school board office within certain designated groups of candidates, the candidates shall appear in a certain order and within the grouping and in alphabetical order according to surname.

  • SB 4: Various fiscal matters.

    2026 · Authored (listed 3rd) · 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 54: Zoning overlay districts for solar projects.

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

    Provides that after December 31, 2025, a permit authority may not establish in a unit a zoning overlay district in which one or more commercial solar energy projects (CSE projects) will be located unless each underlying zoning district across which the proposed overlay district will extend is zoned for a use that, under the unit's existing zoning ordinance at the time the overlay district is propo

  • SB 73: Masks at public assemblies.

    2026 · Authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Makes wearing a mask at a public assembly a Class C misdemeanor, and increases the penalty to a Class A misdemeanor for a second or subsequent offense.

  • SB 8: Library budgets.

    2026 · Authored · 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 88: Education matters.

    2026 · Authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends good citizenship instruction requirements.

  • SB 1: Human services matters.

    2026 · Co-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 · Co-authored · 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 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting.

  • SB 122: Various immigration matters.

    2026 · Co-authored · 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 174: Various health matters.

    2026 · Co-authored · not reported from Senate committee

    Prohibits a person from adding a chemical to a public water supply in certain circumstances.

  • SB 176: Shooting ranges.

    2026 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the maintenance, repair, renovation, modernization, or expansion of buildings, structures, or facilities used in connection with a shooting range, including improvements to safety, security accessibility, or environmental controls, is a continuation of a permitted use and may not be treated by a local unit of government as: (1) an expansion of a nonconforming use; or (2) a basis to d

  • SB 182: Gender issues.

    2026 · Co-authored · 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 223: Workforce related programs.

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

    Requires a state provider of a workforce related program (state provider) to include the following information in an annual report concerning the workforce related program: (1) The number of participants who participated in another workforce related program after completing the program.

  • SB 236: Abortion inducing drugs and abortion reports.

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

    Modifies the definitions of "abortion" and "abortion inducing drug".

  • SB 250: Regulation of hemp.

    2026 · Co-authored · passed the Senate only; did not pass the House

    Defines "THC" for purposes of Indiana alcohol and tobacco law.

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

    2026 · Co-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 56: Veterinary licensing.

    2026 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Provides that the board of veterinary medicine may issue a license or registration to a qualified applicant without an examination if the qualified applicant: (1) satisfies the requirements for reciprocity of health care professionals; and (2) otherwise meets the requirements to become a licensed veterinarian or a registered veterinary technician.

  • SB 76: Immigration matters.

    2026 · Co-authored · 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 78: Wireless communication device policy.

    2026 · Co-authored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends definitions, requirements, restrictions, and exceptions regarding wireless communication device policies adopted and implemented by school corporations and charter schools.

  • HB 1195: High school equivalency programs.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Amends Indiana high school equivalency diploma program eligibility requirements for individuals under 18 years of age.

  • HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales.

    2026 · Sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Allows the executive board of the Indiana department of health to adopt rules concerning time temperature control for food safety, but provides that the rules may not be applied to a homestead vendor or small farm vendor.

  • HB 1002: Electric utility affordability.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Requires an electricity supplier, other than a municipally owned utility, that is under the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) to do the following: (1) Beginning with the first monthly billing cycle that begins after June 30, 2026, apply a levelized billing plan (plan) to all active residential customer accounts: (A) for service provided under the electricity supplier

  • HB 1032: Redistricting.

    2026 · Co-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 1048: VFD clothing and automobile allowances.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Increases, from $100 to $250, the clothing and automobile allowance for an active member of a volunteer fire department (department).

  • HB 1268: Indiana defense matters.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Adds one voting member to the Indiana defense task force (task force) appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and one voting member to the task force appointed by the speaker of the house.

  • HB 1389: Adoption and foster care matters.

    2026 · Co-sponsored · enacted: signed by the Governor

    Prohibits a governmental entity from discriminating against a person in adoption and foster care matters based on the person's sincerely held religious belief, unless the discriminatory act as applied to the person is required to advance a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of advancing the interest.

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 Byrne's record came from

Sources for Byrne

Ethan Sweetland-May

Democratic

Work
Account executive at MXD Process; eleven years a sanitation worker [19]

Ethan Sweetland-May, the Democratic nominee, is a Floyd County resident who worked 11 years as a garbage collector across the district [18, 17].

Sweetland-May's background

  • Worked about 11 years as a sanitation worker on routes from Mauckport to Salem and Corydon to New Albany, according to his campaign [18, 17].
  • His BallotReady candidate profile lists his current job as account executive at MXD Process since 2020 [19].
  • Grew up in Terre Haute and lives in Floyd County, where he moved in 2009 [17].

Sweetland-May's positions

Health care

  • His platform opposes the 2025 Medicaid law (SEA 2), which it says Byrne backed, and calls for limiting further Medicaid work requirements, state support for rural hospitals, and continuous coverage for children and postpartum mothers [20].

Education

  • Criticizes the 2025 property-tax law for cutting school and pre-K funding; calls for fully funding pre-K, capping child-care costs at 7% of family income, and raising teacher pay [20].

Housing

  • Supports restricting corporate bulk purchases of single-family homes and creating an implied warranty of habitability for rentals [20].

Energy & utilities

  • Proposes banning utility reconnection fees, as summarized by a podcast host [17].

Economy & jobs

  • Supports apprenticeships and clean-energy jobs and notes Indiana has not raised its minimum wage since 2009 [20].

How Sweetland-May would run the office

  • Proposes a $35-per-month statewide cap on insulin costs, as summarized by a podcast host [17]. His platform also proposes a Reproductive Privacy Act and statewide nondiscrimination protections [20].

Sweetland-May on the current officeholder

  • Criticizes Byrne's votes for the 2025 property-tax law and for SB 518, which he says would have required public schools to share operating funds with charter schools, as summarized by a podcast host [17].
  • His platform says Byrne backed SEA 2's Medicaid changes, which it says add paperwork barriers to coverage [20].

How Sweetland-May got on the ballot

  • Was the only Democrat to file for the seat and is the party's nominee on the November ballot [15, 2].

What we could not find about Sweetland-May

  • No mainstream news coverage of his campaign beyond candidate lists was found.
  • Podcast statements are the host's summaries, not transcripts.
  • Fundraising was not verified against state campaign finance filings.
  • No endorsements are listed on his campaign website [18]. A podcast host reported his campaign has raised nearly double what the 2022 race for the seat raised [17].

Sweetland-May's campaign website

Sources for Sweetland-May

Key points

Sources

Researched Saturday, October 10, 2026

  1. Indiana Senate (Wikipedia)
  2. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  3. Gary Byrne (politician) (Wikipedia)
  4. Sen. Gary Byrne biography and news releases (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  5. Byrne's public safety bill heads to governor's desk (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  6. Requirement to teach consent returns to sex education bill at Indiana Statehouse (WNDU)
  7. Byrne: Governor Signs SEA 287 (2025) (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  8. A bill to require schools to promote marriage before having kids has divided Indiana (NBC News)
  9. Byrne authors bill to require more oversight of library budgets (Indiana Senate Republicans)
  10. 2026 primary elections: Here's who's running in Clark, Floyd Counties (Louisville Public Media)
  11. Here's who's filed for the primary in Southern Indiana so far (Louisville Public Media)
  12. HoosLeft Podcast #146 - LIVE w/ Ethan Sweetland-May for SD47 (Progressive Indiana Network)
  13. Sweetland-May for Indiana Senate District 47 (Ethan Sweetland-May campaign)
  14. Ethan Sweetland-May (candidate profile) (BallotReady)
  15. Priorities (Ethan Sweetland-May campaign)
  16. State lawmakers representing Southern Indiana split on redistricting (Louisville Public Media)
  17. Redistricted Indiana 47th pits two incumbent state senators in the primary (WAVE)
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.