Six New Indiana Laws Set to Impact Farms and Landowners

By Andi Anderson

Most of the Indiana laws approved during the 2026 legislative session officially took effect on July 1, bringing several changes that directly affect farmers, landowners, and rural communities across the state. Indiana Farm Bureau officials highlighted six key laws with significant implications for agriculture.

One new measure, HEA 1249, strengthens protections against harmful drone activity. In addition to prohibiting the harassment of individuals, the law now makes it illegal to intentionally disturb livestock, damage crops, or spray substances over another person’s property without authorization.

HEA 1424 expands opportunities for direct-to-consumer sales by creating a framework for homestead and small farm vendors. The change allows farmers to sell a broader range of products directly from their farms and to consumers within Indiana.

Another major update, HEA 1355, reforms the permitting process for confined feeding operations. The law introduces a 90-day review deadline for permit applications, creates a voluntary pre-application engineering review process, and limits additional upgrade requirements for certain existing facilities during expansions. It also establishes standards for earthen berm maintenance and requires a designated IDEM contact for permit-related inquiries.

Meanwhile, HEA 1003 creates the Agricultural Promotion and Regulation Task Force, which will bring together industry representatives and lawmakers to evaluate regulations and identify opportunities to strengthen Indiana agriculture.

For landowners, SEA 6 requires municipal water utilities to provide at least 60 days’ notice before extending services beyond existing territories. The law also expands communication requirements and allows affected landowners to request meetings regarding proposed projects.

Finally, HEA 1002 increases consumer protections by preventing electric service disconnections during extreme heat, requiring assistance programs for low-income customers, and implementing new utility rate and billing provisions aimed at improving affordability and reliability.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-ne