IndianaIndiana defense officials report spending as aircraft test site follows limited exemptions
Indiana's defense task force and development office report priorities and spending, while the unmanned aircraft test site follows limited state rule exemptions subject to budget review.
What it does
The defense task force needs a majority vote to act, including on required reports. Its chair votes only to break a tie.
The defense task force reports its spending priorities each May, and the state defense development office reports related spending each August. The office considers those priorities when preparing its budget, as far as practicable.
While federal test site rules apply, Indiana's defense development corporation and its nonprofit partner do not have to follow certain state purchasing, contracting, and fee-setting rules to run the site. The exemption requires budget committee review.
The nonprofit partner keeps test site money in a separate account, tracks its spending, and reports on expenses and plans. It runs daily operations and handles federal safety duties under the state corporation's supervision.
Argument forRegular reports could help lawmakers compare defense spending plans with actual spending and see how extra funding supports those priorities.
Argument againstThe exemption could make it harder to oversee some test site purchases, contracts, and fees, though budget committee review still applies.
More detail
The task force needs a majority of its voting members to approve an action, including a required report. The chair votes only to break a tie. The rule applies to actions by the Indiana defense task force, including reports required by law. The voting rule takes effect July 1, 2026.
The task force reports spending priorities, and the state defense development office reports related spending and considers those priorities when preparing its budget. The reports cover the task force's state spending priorities, related appropriations, and spending by the office of defense development. The office must consider and include the task force's priorities only to the extent practicable. The task force's first report is due May 1, 2026, for the state fiscal year starting July 1, 2026. The office's first report is due August 1, 2027, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027; budget planning starts with fiscal year 2026–27.
The state corporation and its operating partner are exempt from certain state purchasing, contracting, and fee-setting rules when operating the test site. The exemption covers the corporation and its Indiana nonprofit operating partner, only for running the Indiana FAA unmanned aircraft test site. The exemption is subject to budget committee review and applies only while the test site remains subject to federal program requirements. The exemption applies only during the period the site remains subject to federal test site program requirements.
The operating partner manages test site funds and daily operations, while the corporation supervises the site and may provide support. The rules apply to the nonprofit operating partner and the corporation's Indiana unmanned aircraft test site. The partner must respond to requests for help from economic development groups and state agencies. The corporation may provide staff, administrative, or financial support as it considers necessary and appropriate. The partner's account report is due by July 1 each year. The partner and corporation must send their first spending report by December 1, 2026, then report by June 1 and December 1 each year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 4Signed by the Governor Mike BraunBecame Law
- Mar 4Public Law 87Major
- Feb 27CCR # 1 filed in the HouseMinor
- Vote recorded HB 1268 - Bartels. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded HB 1268 - Goode. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 27Signed by the President Pro TemporeMajor
- Feb 27Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- Feb 27Signed by the SpeakerMajor
- Feb 27Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 408: yeas 94, nays 1
- Feb 27Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 317: yeas 48, nays 0
- Feb 27CCR # 1 filed in the SenateMinor
- Feb 25Motion to dissent filedMinor
- Feb 25House dissented from Senate amendments
- Feb 25House conferees appointed: Bartels, DeLaney
- Feb 25Senate conferees appointed: Goode, Spencer
- Feb 25Senate advisors appointed: Schmitt, Ford J.D.
- Feb 25House advisors appointed: Lindauer, Judy, Lopez, Pack
- Feb 24Senators Becker, Koch, Donato added as cosponsors
- Vote recorded HB 1268 - Goode - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 24Third reading: passed; Roll Call 247: yeas 47, nays 0Passed Senate
- Feb 24Returned to the House with amendmentsMinor
- Feb 17Senators Tomes, Crider, Buck, Byrne added as cosponsors
- Feb 16Second reading: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 16Amendment #1 (Goode) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 12Senators Charbonneau, Doriot, Maxwell added as cosponsors
- Feb 10Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Feb 5First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and The MilitaryMinor
- Feb 3Referred to the SenateMinor
- Feb 2Senate sponsors: Senators Goode, Schmitt
- Vote recorded HB 1268 - Bartels - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Representative Judy added as coauthor
- Feb 2Third reading: passed; Roll Call 178: yeas 85, nays 0Passed House
- Jan 29Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 27Representative DeLaney added as coauthor
- Jan 27Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 12Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
- Jan 12Representative Lindauer added as coauthor
- Jan 12Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 6Authored by Representative Bartels
- Jan 6First reading: referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs and Public SafetyIntroduced
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