Indiana SB 256 — Foreign agent registration, foreign terrorist organizations, and foreign adversaries.

Indiana, 2026. SB 256: Foreign agent registration, foreign terrorist organizations, and foreign adversaries.

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

March 5, 2026 — Public Law 131

Summary

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. Requires certain persons acting on behalf of a hostile foreign country to register with the attorney general. Establishes a procedure to deny state benefits to persons who aid a foreign terrorist organization. Requires a state educational institution to meet certain requirements regarding the admission and enrollment of a foreign student into qualifying programs at state educational institutions. Requires an approved postsecondary educational institution to provide to the commission for higher education the number of foreign students currently enrolled in a qualifying program and the number of foreign students enrolled in a qualifying program for each academic year for the preceding 10 years. Prohibits certain individuals and business entities from acquiring real property located in Indiana. Provides that an agreement or cooperative agreement between a unit and a prohibited person is contrary to public policy and is void and unenforceable. Repeals existing statutes regarding foreign ownership of agricultural land.

Sponsors

• Chris Garten — primary sponsor
• Eric Koch — primary sponsor
• Aaron Freeman — primary sponsor
• Justin Busch
• Scott Baldwin
• Gary Byrne
• Daryl Schmitt
• Blake Doriot
• Randy Maxwell
• Liz Brown
• Ron Alting
• Matt Commons — primary sponsor
• Chris Judy
• Chris Jeter
• Andrew Ireland

Bill text

Enrolled Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Engrossed Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Senate Bill (H) Read version ↗

Engrossed Senate Bill (H) Read version ↗

Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Introduced Senate Bill (S) Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. February 27, 2026CCR # 1 filed in the House
2. February 27, 2026CCR # 1 filed in the Senate
3. February 27, 2026Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 412: yeas 82, nays 13
4. February 27, 2026Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 316: yeas 49, nays 0
5. February 27, 2026Signed by the Speaker
6. February 27, 2026Senator Baldwin added as conferee
7. February 27, 2026Senator Taylor G removed as conferee
8. February 27, 2026Senator Baldwin removed as advisor
9. February 27, 2026Senator Alting added as coauthor
10. March 5, 2026Public Law 131
11. March 5, 2026Signed by the Governor
12. February 27, 2026Signed by the President Pro Tempore
13. February 27, 2026Signed by the President of the Senate
14. February 26, 2026Representative Judy added as conferee
15. February 26, 2026Representative Judy removed as advisor
16. February 26, 2026Representative Garcia Wilburn removed as conferee
17. February 25, 2026Senate advisors appointed: Randolph Lonnie M, Baldwin, Koch
18. February 25, 2026Senate conferees appointed: Garten, Taylor G
19. February 25, 2026Senator Brown L added as coauthor
20. February 24, 2026Senate dissented from House amendments
21. February 24, 2026Motion to dissent filed
22. February 24, 2026House advisors appointed: Judy, Jeter, Ireland, Burton
23. February 24, 2026House conferees appointed: Commons, Garcia Wilburn
24. February 24, 2026Senator Maxwell added as coauthor
25. February 20, 2026Returned to the Senate with amendments
26. February 19, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 292: yeas 93, nays 1
27. February 18, 2026Amendment #2 (Commons) prevailed; voice vote
28. February 18, 2026Representative Ireland added as cosponsor
29. February 18, 2026Amendment #1 (Judy) prevailed; voice vote
30. February 18, 2026Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
31. February 16, 2026Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
32. January 28, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary
33. January 27, 2026Referred to the House
34. January 26, 2026Cosponsors: Representatives Judy, Jeter
35. January 26, 2026House sponsor: Representative Commons
36. January 26, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 82: yeas 44, nays 0
37. January 26, 2026Senator Doriot added as coauthor
38. January 22, 2026Senator Byrne added as coauthor
39. January 22, 2026Senator Schmitt added as coauthor
40. January 20, 2026Second reading: amended, ordered engrossed
41. January 20, 2026Amendment #1 (Garten) prevailed; voice vote
42. January 15, 2026Committee report: do pass, adopted
43. January 8, 2026Coauthored by Senators Busch, Baldwin
44. January 8, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Judiciary
45. January 8, 2026Authored by Senators Garten, Koch, Freeman

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