Legislative Summary from Indiana State Rep Tim Yocum

I supported a bill this session to reduce regulations on the state’s K-12 schools, a House Republican priority effort.

The legislation is a continuation of an effort that began last year to remove outdated and unnecessary regulations and give schools more control over local education decisions. Last year’s law decreased Indiana’s education regulations by more than 35,000 words. With House Bill 1004 this year, thousands of additional words are expected to be removed from code, including 45 chapters and 181 sections.

This bill was a collaborative effort with input from several statewide education associations representing educators, administrators, school board members, superintendents, principals and teachers unions, as well as organizations that represent both traditional public schools, public charter schools and non-public schools.

The goal is to collectively reduce the number of regulations schools must navigate so they can focus more on educating our children. HB 1004 recently passed the House and is being considered by the Senate. Click here to learn more.

With the 2026 legislative session expected to conclude at the end of February, several Indiana House members reflect on their years of public service as they approach their retirement. This week of Around the House, hear from retiring lawmakers on the work that defined their time at the Statehouse:

Many parents and families are struggling with finding reliable, affordable child care. The legislature is working on several proposals this session aimed at expanding availability and lowering costs. Read more in this week’s blog: