Public policy in Indiana

* Fiscal policy
* Budgets
* Budget and finances by state
* Tax policy by state
* State Budget Terms
* State government tax collections by source
* Total state expenditures
* State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures
* State debt
* Finance
* Financial regulation in the United States
* Dodd-Frank Act
* Federal Reserve
* Pensions
* Pension policy by state
* Public pension health by state
* Pension reform in San Jose and San Diego
* Pension Terms and Definitions
* Public pensions
* Civil liberties
* Affirmative action
* Campaign finance
* Nonprofit regulation
* Education
* Public education by state
* School choice by state
* Charter schools by state
* Higher education by state
* Education policy in the United States
* Public education in the United States
* Education statistics
* Education statistics in the United States
* Education spending per pupil
* Number of schools by school type in the U.S.
* Demographic information for all students in the United States
* Public school system expenditures in the United States
* Public school system revenues in the United States
* Public school teacher salaries in the United States
* Graduation rates by groups in state
* Public high school dropout rates by state
* ACT and SAT scores in the United States
* NAEP scores by state
* Major terms
* Blended learning
* Charter schools
* Common Core
* Dropout rate
* Progressive education
* Regulatory Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate
* School vouchers
* Teacher merit pay
* United States education agencies
* Elections
* Voting policy
* Voter identification laws by state
* Online voter registration
* Early voting
* Ballot access
* Ballot access for presidential candidates
* Ballot access for major and minor party candidates
* List of political parties in the United States
* Political party designation
* Redistricting
* State-by-state redistricting procedures
* Majority-minority districts
* Energy and Environment
* Energy Policy by state
* Fracking
* Fracking information by state
* Fracking
* Fracking in the United States
* Energy policy in the United States
* Energy use in the United States
* Oil and gas on federal lands by state
* Energy terms and definitions
* Agencies and legislation
* Environmental Policy by state
* Endangered Species Policy
* Endangered species policy by state
* Environmental policy in the United States
* Environmental statistics
* Endangered species statistics
* Glossary of environmental terms
* Glossary of endangered species terms
* Healthcare
* Healthcare policy by state
* Medicaid spending by state
* Effect of the Affordable Care Act by state
* Healthcare policy in the United States
* Affordable Care Act
* Immigration
* Immigration in the United States
* Immigration by state
* Index

## Contents

* 1 Budget Policy
* 1.1 Budget and finances
* 1.2 Taxes
* 2 Civil Liberties Policy
* 2.1 Affirmative action
* 2.2 Campaign finance
* 3 Background
* 4 Contribution limits
* 4.1 State comparisons in the 2024 elections
* 5 Candidate reporting requirements
* 5.1 Reporting requirements
* 6 Campaign finance legislation
* 7 Election and campaign ballot measures
* 8 Contact information
* 8.1 Election agencies
* 9 Recent news
* 10 See also
* 11 Footnotes
* 11.1 Nonprofit regulation
* 12 Education Policy
* 12.1 K-12 Public education
* 12.2 Higher education
* 12.3 School choice
* 12.4 Charter schools
* 13 Election Policy
* 13.1 Ballot access requirements
* 13.2 Redistricting
* 13.3 Voting
* 14 Energy Policy
* 14.1 Energy information
* 14.2 Fracking
* 15 Environmental Policy
* 15.1 Environmental information
* 15.2 Endangered species
* 16 Finance Policy
* 16.1 Financial regulation information
* 17 Healthcare Policy
* 17.1 Healthcare information
* 17.2 Medicaid spending
* 17.3 Effect of the Affordable Care Act
* 18 Immigration Policy
* 18.1 Immigration information
* 19 Pension Policy
* 19.1 Public pensions
* 20 Public policy in other states
* 21 Footnotes

* * *

This article does not contain the most recently published data on this subject. If you would like to help our coverage grow, consider donating to Ballotpedia.

* * *

The Public Policy Project on Ballotpedia aims to illuminate major policy issues being discussed and implemented throughout the United States. Public policy can be complicated and controversial; deciding what works best and how to allocate resources to achieve a policy goal can involve multiple trade-offs. Much of the public policy that affects citizens economically, legally and socially, is made at the state level. Below you will find links and introductions to all the Indiana public policy articles on Ballotpedia. To see the policy overview of another state click on the map below.

For a list of all public policy articles on Ballotpedia see here.

## Budget Policy[edit]

### Budget and finances[edit]

In Indiana, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Between fiscal years 2015 and 2016, total government spending in Indiana increased by approximately $2.1 billion—from $29.3 billion in fiscal year 2015 to an estimated $31.4 billion in 2016. This represents a 7.0-percent increase.[1]

* In Indiana in fiscal year 2015, 60.3 percent of total tax revenues came from sales taxes and gross receipts. Income taxes accounted for 35.6 percent of total state tax collections.

* Education accounted for 36.6 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 31.2 percent went to Medicaid.

### Taxes[edit]

Indiana generates the bulk of its tax revenue by levying a personal income tax, a general sales tax and select sales taxes (otherwise known as excise taxes). The state derives its constitutional authority to tax from Article 10 of the state constitution.[2]

Tax policy can vary from state to state. States levy taxes to help fund the variety of services provided by state governments. Tax collections comprise approximately 40 percent of the states' total revenues. The rest comes from non-tax sources, such as intergovernmental aid (e.g., federal funds), lottery revenues and fees. The primary types of taxes levied by state governments include personal income tax, general sales tax, excise (or special sales) taxes and corporate income tax.[3]

HIGHLIGHTS

* According to the United States Census Bureau, Indiana collected $17.59 billion in tax revenue in 2016. The state's tax revenue per capita was $2,652.

## Civil Liberties Policy[edit]

### Affirmative action[edit]

Affirmative action in Indiana refers to the steps taken by employers and universities in Indiana to increase the proportions of historically disadvantaged minority groups at those institutions. Historically, affirmative action nationwide has taken many different forms, such as strict quotas, extra outreach efforts, and racial and gender preferences. However, racial quotas in university admissions were banned in a 1978 United States Supreme Court case, Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.[4]

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court reversed lower court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina, effectively ending the use of affirmative action in college admissions. As of March 2015, 109 out of 577 public four-year universities across the country reported that they considered race in admissions. This practice has been banned in eight states. Meanwhile, 28 states require affirmative action plans in either public employment or apprenticeships. Affirmative action programs that grant racial preferences have come under scrutiny in the courts for potentially violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.[5][6]

The following information details the use of affirmative action in universities and employment in Indiana, as well as notable court cases originating in the state.

HIGHLIGHTS

* In Indiana, two public universities reported considering race in admissions as of March 2015. Additionally, Indiana law requires that all state agencies, except state educational institutions, develop an affirmative action plan for their employment process'

The effects of affirmative action policies are contested. Proponents argue that affirmative action diversifies selective institutions and provides more opportunities to minorities. Opponents argue that implementing policies that favor some groups requires discrimination against others and that these policiesmay harm individuals they are meant to help.

### Campaign finance[edit]

Campaign finance requirements govern how much money candidates and campaigns may receive from individuals and organizations, how they must report those contributions, and how much individuals, organizations, and political parties may contribute to campaigns. In addition to direct campaign contributions, campaign finance laws also apply to third-party organizations and nonprofit organizations that seek to influence elections through independent expenditures or issue advocacy.

This page provides background on campaign finance regulation, lists contribution limits to state candidates and ballot measures in Indiana, compares contribution limits to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates in Indiana with those from other states, and details the candidate reporting requirements in Indiana.

The information on this page pertains to candidates for state office and state ballot measures. Candidates for federal office are subject to federal campaign finance law. Candidates for local office are subject to all applicable state laws as well as any separate local campaign finance regulations.[7]

As of July 2025:

* Individuals could contribute unlimitedly to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates.

* State parties could contribute unlimitedly to gubernatorial candidates, unlimitedly to state senate candidates, and unlimitedly to state house candidates.

* Political committees could contribute unlimitedly to gubernatorial and state legislative candidates.

* Corporations and unions could contribute $5,000 per year in the aggregate across all gubernatorial candidates, $2,000 per year in the aggregate across all state senate candidates, and $2,000 per year in the aggregate across all state house candidates.

## Background[edit]

Seal of the United States Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) is the independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign election laws. The FEC is responsible for disclosing campaign finance information, enforcing limits and prohibitions on contributions, and overseeing public funding of presidential elections.[8] According to the FEC, an individual becomes a federal candidate and must begin reporting campaign finances once he or she has either raised or spent $5,000 in his or her campaign. Within 15 days of this benchmark, the candidate must register with the FEC and designate an official campaign committee, which is responsible for the funds and expenditures of the campaign. This committee must have an official treasurer and cannot support any candidate but the one who registered it. Detailed financial reports are then made to the FEC every financial quarter after the individual is registered. Reports are also made before primaries and before the general election.[9]

The Supreme Court of the United States has issued a number of rulings pertaining to federal election campaign finance regulations. In the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited. The court's decision also overturned the ban on for-profit and not-for-profit corporations and unions broadcasting electioneering communications in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before a general election.[10] In the SpeechNOW.org v. Federal Election Commission decision, the first application of the Citizens United decision, the court held that contribution limits on what individuals could give to independent expenditure-only groups, and the amount these organizations could receive, were unconstitutional. Contribution limits on donations directly to candidates, however, remained unchanged.[11][12] In 2014's McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission decision, the court overturned biennial aggregate campaign contribution limits, and held that individuals may contribute to as many federal candidates as they want, but may only contribute up to the federal limit in each case.[13]

While the FEC governs federal election campaigns and contribution limits, individual states require their own level of regulation and reporting. The amount of regulation required differs by state, as do the limits on campaign contributions and third-party activities to influence elections. Candidates for local office must follow any applicable state and local campaign finance regulations.

## Contribution limits[edit]

The table below details contribution limits as they applied to various types of individuals and groups in Indiana as of July 2025. The uppermost row of the table indicates the contributor, while the leftmost column indicates the recipient.[14]

Indiana contribution limits as of July 2025 | Individuals| Single candidate committees| PACs (state and federal)| Legislative caucus committees| Political party| Super PACs| Corporations| Unions

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Statewide candidate (e.g., governor)| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| $0| $5,000*| $5,000*
Senate candidate| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| $0| $2,000*| $2,000*
House candidate| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| $0| $2,000*| $2,000*
PAC| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| $0| Unlimited| Unlimited
Party committees| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| $0| $5,000*| $5,000*
Legislative caucus committees| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| $0| $2,000*| $2,000*
Ballot measures| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| Unlimited| $0| Unlimited| Unlimited
Limits apply per year and are applied in the aggregate across all candidates.
Source: Indiana General Assembly, "Indiana Code § 3-9-2-4," accessed July 16, 2025

### State comparisons in the 2024 elections[edit]

See also: State-by-state comparison of campaign finance requirements

Individual contribution limits

Party contribution limits

Political committee contribution limits

Corporation and union contribution limits

As of the 2024 elections, there were no limits on individual contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in 12 states, including Indiana. The remaining 38 states had varying limits.

Indiana

Individual contribution limits in Indiana:

* Governor: Unlimited
* State Senate: Unlimited
* State House: Unlimited

Comparison to other states

In the 38 states with individual contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $625 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $36,400 per election (California)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)
* State House
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $15,499.69 per election (Ohio)

As of the 2024 elections, there were no limits on state party contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in 21 states, including Indiana. The remaining 29 states had varying limits.

Indiana

State party contribution limits in Indiana:

* Governor: Unlimited
* State Senate: Unlimited
* State House: Unlimited

Comparison to other states

In other states with party contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $1,950 per election (Maine)
* Maximum: $874,182.62 per election (Ohio)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $475 (Maine)
* Maximum: $174,371.53 (Ohio)
* State House
* Minimum: $475 (Maine)
* Maximum: $174,371.53 (Ohio)

As of the 2024 elections, there were no limits on political committee contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates in 12 states, including Indiana. The remaining 38 states had varying limits.

Indiana

Political committee contribution limits in Indiana:

* Governor: Unlimited
* State Senate: Unlimited
* State House: Unlimited

Comparison to other states

In other states with political committee contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $625 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $86,000[15] (Wisconsin)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $68,500 per election cycle (Illinois)
* State House
* Minimum: $200 per election (Colorado)
* Maximum: $68,500 per election cycle (Illinois)

As of the 2024 elections, 25 states, including Indiana, had varying limits on corporation or union contributions to gubernatorial or state legislative candidates. They were prohibited in 20 states, and there were no limits in the remaining five states.

Indiana

Corporation/union contribution limits in Indiana:

* Governor: $5,000 in the aggregate across all candidates per year
* State Senate: $2,000 in the aggregate across all candidates per year
* State House: $2,000 in the aggregate across all candidates per year

Comparison to other states

In the 25 states with corporation/union contribution limits:

* Governor
* Minimum: $1,200 per election cycle (Delaware)
* Maximum: $36,400 (California)
* State Senate
* Minimum: $600 per election (Delaware)
* Maximum: $28,800 per election cycle (Tennessee)
* State House
* Minimum: $500 per election (Kansas)
* Maximum: $14,400 per election cycle (Tennessee)

## Candidate reporting requirements[edit]

Seal of Indiana

See statutes: Title 3, Article 9, Chapter 5 of the Indiana Code

Candidates seeking a federal office must file with the Federal Election Commission. Reporting details for federal candidates are not included in this section. Candidates seeking a state executive or legislative office must file with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office.[16] Different reports are required depending on office sought, as explained below.

### Reporting requirements[edit]

Figure 2: This is the Statement of Organization form for candidates seeking office in Indiana.

Unless they are seeking an office with compensation equaling less than $5,000, all candidates seeking a statewide or state legislative office in Indiana must file a Statement of Organization form (CFA-1 form) with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office. The Statement of Organization designates a principal campaign finance committee, naming a chairperson and treasurer who will be in charge of reporting campaign finances. A candidate may act as either or both positions. The Statement of Organization must be filed no later than noon (local prevailing time) 10 days after becoming a candidate or noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the final day to file as a candidate, whichever occurs first. An individual is considered a candidate when the individual, the individual's committee or a person acting with the consent of the individual receives contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $100.[16]

* Candidates seeking state executive office in Indiana, such as governor or treasurer, must file five quarterly reports (CFA-4 form) and supplemental reports (CFA-11 form) as needed with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office. These are all filed electronically.[16]
* The first Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from January 1 (or the first day a principal campaign finance committee is organized) to March 31 and is due at noon (local prevailing time) on April 15.
* The second Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from April 1 to June 30 and is due at noon (local prevailing time) on July 15.
* The third Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from July 1 to September 30 and is due at noon (local prevailing time) on October 15.
* The fourth Quarterly Report covers all financial activity from October 1 until the date 15 days prior to the general election. It is due by noon (local prevailing time) seven days before the general election.
* The Annual Report covers all financial activity starting on the date 14 days before the general election through December 31. It is due by noon (local prevailing time) on the third Wednesday in January following the election.
* Supplemental Reports must be filed within seven days of receiving a single contribution of $10,000 or more at any time or within 48 hours of receiving a total of $1,000 or more in multiple contributions during a supplemental reporting period. The four supplemental reporting periods are as follows: April 1 through April 15, July 1 through July 15, October 1 through October 15, and 14 days prior to the election through eight days prior to the election.
* Candidates seeking office in the Indiana State Legislature must file three quarterly reports (CFA-4 form): a Pre-primary Report, a Pre-election Report and an Annual Report with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office. A Primary Election Supplemental Report and General Election Supplemental Report (CFA-11 form) may also be required. These reports must be filed online.[16]
* Pre-primary Reports cover all financial activity starting January 1 (or the first day a principal campaign finance committee is organized) until 25 days before a primary election. These reports must be filed by noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the last day covered in the report.
* Pre-election Reports cover all financial activity starting 24 days before the primary election through 25 days before the general election and must be filed by noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the last day covered in the report. If a candidate is defeated at a primary or convention, withdraws, or is disqualified to run in the general election in any way, a Pre-election Report is not required. Instead, the Annual Report will cover the time period since the last report.
* Annual Reports cover all financial activity starting 24 days before the general election through December 31 of the election year. These must be filed by noon (local prevailing time) on the third Wednesday in January following the election.
* Supplemental Reports cover all financial activity 25 days before a convention, primary, or general election until two days before the convention, primary or general election. These must be filed only if a candidate’s committee receives a total of $1,000 or more in multiple contributions during a supplemental reporting period. The Supplemental Report must be filed within 48 hours of receiving such contributions. Those contributions must also be included on the next quarterly report.
* A minor party, independent or write-in candidate first files financial reports for the period starting on the day he or she becomes a candidate and ending 14 days after their nomination date or filing deadline. Reports must be filed with the Election Division of the Indiana Secretary of State's Office by noon (local prevailing time) seven days after the last date covered in the report.[16]

Additional reports that may need to be filed include the following:[16]

* Outgoing Treasurer's Reports (CFA-4 form) are needed if a committee appoints a new treasurer during an election year. These reports cover financial activity occurring from the day after the most recent report until the last day the individual acted as treasurer. These reports are filed by the former treasurer.
* Final/Disbanding Reports (CFA-4 form) must be filed if a committee disbands. These are due no later than 30 days after the disbanding and must cover financial activity occurring since the most recent report until the last day the committee existed.

## Campaign finance legislation[edit]

The table below displays bills related to campaign finance introduced during or carried over to Indiana's current legislative session.[17]

## Election and campaign ballot measures[edit]

See also: Elections and campaigns on the ballot and List of Indiana ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked 2 statewide ballot measures relating to elections and campaigns.

1. Indiana Protect Right to Vote Act, Public Question 1 (1998)
2. Indiana Governor and Lieutenant Governor Joint Campaign, Amendment 2 (1974)

## Contact information[edit]

### Election agencies[edit]

Seal of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission

See also: State election agencies

Individuals seeking additional information about election administration in Indiana can contact the following local, state, and federal agencies.

Indiana Election Administrators

Click here for a list

Indiana Secretary of State, Election Division

302 West Washington Street, Room E-204
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Phone: 317-232-3939
Fax: 317-233-6793
Email: elections@iec.in.gov
Website: https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/

U.S. Election Assistance Commission

633 3rd Street NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 301-563-3919
Toll free: 1-866-747-1471
Email: clearinghouse@eac.gov
Website: https://www.eac.gov

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

1050 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20463

Telephone: (202)-694-1100

Toll-free: 1-800-424-9530

Email: info@fec.gov

Website: http://www.fec.gov/

## Recent news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Indiana campaign finance. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

Public policy in Indiana - Google News

## See also[edit]

* Campaign finance regulation
* Ballot access requirements for political candidates in Indiana
* Indiana

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ National Association of State Budget Officers, "State Expenditure Report (Fiscal 2014-2016)," accessed June 26, 2017
2. ↑ Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Shares by Type 2000-2013," June 20, 2014
3. ↑ Brunori, D. (2011). State Tax Policy: A Political Perspective. Washington, D.C.: The Urban Institute Press
4. ↑ Oyez, "Regents of the University of California v. Bakke," accessed February 11, 2015
5. ↑ Miller Center of Public Affairs, "Affirmative Action: Race or Class?" accessed February 10, 2015
6. ↑ Business and Legal Resources, "Affirmative Action," accessed March 31, 2015
7. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Campaign Finance Enforcement," accessed May 28, 2025
8. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "About the FEC," accessed June 27, 2012
9. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Candidate Registration Brochure," accessed December 7, 2012
10. ↑ New York Times, "Justices, 5-4, Reject Corporate Spending Limit," January 21, 2010
11. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Speechnow.org v. FEC," April 7, 2014
12. ↑ OpenSecrets, "Two Federal Court Rulings Could Change Campaign Finance Landscape," March 26, 2010
13. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Ongoing Litigation," accessed March 18, 2015
14. ↑ Vox, "Super PACs can spend unlimited amounts on elections, but must disclose their donors," accessed May 21, 2015
15. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Limits on Contributions to Candidates 2023-2024 Election Cycle," accessed May 8, 2025
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 Indiana Secretary of State, "2024 Indiana Campaign Finance Manual," accessed July 17, 2025
17. ↑ Bills are organized by most recent action. Clicking on a bill will open its page on Ballotpedia's Election Administration Legislation Tracker, which includes bill details and a summary.

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v • e

State of Indiana
Indianapolis (capital)

|

Elections |

What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2026 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures

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Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy

### Nonprofit regulation[edit]

Nonprofit regulation in Indiana involves a complex set of rules that govern nonprofit organizations and charitable giving throughout the state. Major issues surrounding nonprofit regulation nationwide include the following:

* contribution limits,
* donor disclosure, and
* the redefinition of issue advocacy.

Indiana is one of 11 states that do not require charitable organizations, or those intending to solicit on their behalf, to register with the state in order to solicit contributions, whether they are Indiana organizations or based out-of-state.[1]

According to Guidestar, an organization that reports on nonprofit companies, regulation of nonprofit activity protects donors and organizations from potential fraud and helps "to maintain trust in the [nonprofit] sector." According to the London School of Economics, nonprofit disclosure requirements can create privacy concerns among potential donors, thereby having an unintended negative impact on donor participation.[2][3]

## Education Policy[edit]

Charter schools •  Higher education •  Public education •  School choice

### K-12 Public education[edit]

The Indiana public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2022, Indiana had 997,869 students enrolled in a total of  1,769 schools in 291 school districts. There were 58,685 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 17 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. In 2020, Indiana spent on average $9,566 per pupil.[4] The state's graduation rate was 87 percent in the 2018-2019 school year.[5]

### Higher education[edit]

Indiana's higher education system is composed of 86 colleges and universities. Of these, 16 are public institutions, 40 are nonprofit private schools, and 30 are for-profit private institutions.[6]

HIGHLIGHTS

* Students attending public postsecondary institutions in Indiana from outside of the state were required to pay an average of $27,001, a 320 percent difference over the average in-state tuition of $8,443.

* State support for public higher education in Indiana totaled $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2015, an 8.5 percent increase over fiscal year 2013.

* Between 2012 and 2014, full-time college enrollment in Indiana decreased from about 257,000 to about 249,000.

### School choice[edit]

School choice is a term that refers to programs offering alternatives to assigned local public school options. Public school choice options include open enrollment policies, magnet schools, and charter schools. Other options include school vouchers, scholarship tax credits, and education savings accounts (ESAs).[7][8]

HIGHLIGHTS

* There were an estimated 91 total charter schools in Indiana in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 40,300 students. Overall, charter school students accounted for 3.92 percent of total public school enrollment in Indiana in 2015..

* In Indiana, there were 121,230 students enrolled in 870 private schools in fall 2013, accounting for roughly 10.41 percent of the state's total school-age population.

* As of April 2016, Indiana was one of 13 states (plus Washington, D.C.) that had implemented a school voucher program.

Proponents argue that school choice programs improve educational outcomes by expanding opportunity and access for historically disadvantaged students. In addition, advocates claim that school choice programs empower parents and improve traditional public schools through competition. Critics contend that these programs divert funds from traditional public schools, thereby generating unequal outcomes for students. In addition, some critics argue that school voucher programs wrongly direct tax dollars to religious organizations, which operate many private schools.

### Charter schools[edit]

Charter schools in Indiana are public schools operated independently of public school systems. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. As public schools, charter schools cannot charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements; students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds the number of spaces available in a school. Charter schools generally receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from the state and local school districts for operational costs based on enrollment. In most states, charter schools do not receive funds for facilities or start-up costs; therefore, they must rely to some extent on private donations. The federal government also provides revenues through special grants. As of March 2017, 44 states and the District of Columbia had approved legislation authorizing the creation of public charter schools. Six states had not.

HIGHLIGHTS

* According to the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a charter school advocacy group, there were an estimated 91 total charter schools in Indiana in the 2015-2016 school year. These schools enrolled approximately 40,300 students.

* Overall, charter school students accounted for 3.92 percent of total public school enrollment in Indiana in 2015.

* The Indiana General Assembly approved the state's charter school law in 2001. The first 11 charter schools in the state opened in 2002.

## Election Policy[edit]

### Ballot access requirements[edit]

In order to get on the ballot in Indiana, a candidate for state or federal office must meet a variety of state-specific filing requirements and deadlines. These regulations, known as ballot access laws, determine whether a candidate or party will appear on an election ballot. These laws are set at the state level. A candidate must prepare to meet ballot access requirements well in advance of primaries, caucuses, and the general election.

There are three basic methods by which an individual may become a candidate for office in a state.

1. An individual can seek the nomination of a state-recognized political party.
2. An individual can run as an independent. Independent candidates often must petition in order to have their names printed on the general election ballot.
3. An individual can run as a write-in candidate.

This article outlines the steps that prospective candidates for state-level and congressional office must take in order to run for office in Indiana. For information about filing requirements for presidential candidates, click here. Information about filing requirements for local-level offices is not available in this article (contact state election agencies for information about local candidate filing processes).

### Redistricting[edit]

Redistricting is the process by which new congressional and state legislative district boundaries are drawn. Each of Indiana's nine United States Representatives and 150 state legislators are elected from political divisions called districts. United States Senators are not elected by districts, but by the states at large. District lines are redrawn every 10 years following completion of the United States census. The federal government stipulates that districts must have nearly equal populations and must not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity.[9][10][11][12]

Indiana was apportioned nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. Click here for more information about redistricting in Indiana after the 2020 census.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Following the 2020 United States Census, Indiana was apportioned nine congressional districts, which was unchanged from the number it had after the 2010 census.

* Indiana's House of Representatives comprises 100 districts; Indiana's State Senate comprises 50 districts.

* In Indiana, the state legislature is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. The governor may veto the maps drawn by the legislature.

### Voting[edit]

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Select a state from the menu below to learn more about its voting policies.

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The policies governing voter participation are enacted and enforced primarily at the state level. These policies, which include voter identification requirements, early voting provisions, online voter registration systems, and more, dictate the conditions under which people cast their ballots in their respective states.

This article includes the following information about voting policies in Indiana:

* Voter registration details, including deadlines and eligibility requirements.
* In-person voting details, including identification requirements, poll times, and early voting provisions.
* Absentee/mail-in voting deadlines and rules.
* Details about Voting rules for people convicted of a felony.
* Contact information for election agencies.

Click here for more information about election administration in the state, including voter list maintenance policies, provisional ballot rules, post-election auditing practices, and additional election policy context.

For information on elections happening this year, click here.

Do you have questions about your elections? Looking for information about your local election official? Click here to use U.S. Vote Foundation’s election official lookup tool.

## Energy Policy[edit]

### Energy information[edit]

Energy policy involves governmental actions affecting the production, distribution, and consumption of energy in a state. Energy policies are enacted and enforced at the local, state, and federal levels and may change over time. These policies include legislation, regulation, taxes, incentives for energy production or use, standards for energy efficiency, and more. Stakeholders include citizens, politicians, environmental groups, industry groups, and think tanks. A variety of factors can affect the feasibility of federal and state-level energy policies, such as available natural resources, geography, and consumer needs.

### Fracking[edit]

Read about Indiana's state energy profile »

As of May 2017, there were 7,283 active oil and gas wells in Indiana according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Of that total, 255 wells—3.5 percent of all active wells—were hydraulically fractured. The map to the left shows the location of all hydraulically fractured wells in Indiana (as of May 2017). The map to the right shows all producing oil (in green) and gas wells (in red) in the state as of May 2017.[13][14]

Hydraulically fractured wells in Indiana as of May 2017 (click to enlarge)

Producing oil and natural gas wells in Indiana as of May 2017 (click to enlarge)

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## Environmental Policy[edit]

### Environmental information[edit]

Environmental policy aims to conserve natural resources by balancing environmental protection with economic growth, property rights, public health, and energy production. Federal, state, and local government entities develop and implement environmental policies through laws and regulations. This page features information about environmental policy in Indiana.

### Endangered species[edit]

Endangered species policy in Indiana involves the identification and protection of endangered and threatened animal and plant species. Policies are implemented and enforced by both the state and federal governments.

HIGHLIGHTS

* As of July 2016, Indiana was home to 25 species—18 endangered species and seven threatened species—listed under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

* Of these, 19 were animal species and six were plant species.

## Finance Policy[edit]

### Financial regulation information[edit]

The United States financial system is a network that facilitates exchanges between lenders and borrowers. The system, which includes banks and investment firms, is the base for all economic activity in the nation. According to the Federal Reserve, financial regulation has two main intended purposes: to ensure the safety and soundness of the financial system and to provide and enforce rules that aim to protect consumers. The regulatory framework varies across industries, with different regulations applying to different financial services.[15]

Individual federal and state entities have different and sometimes overlapping responsibilities within the regulatory system. For example, individual states and three federal agencies—the Federal Reserve, the Office of Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)—regulate commercial banks. Other sectors of the financial market are regulated by specific entities.[16][17]

HIGHLIGHTS

* In 2015, there were a total of 92 distinct commercial banks in Indiana, with total deposits of $113.11 billion.

* Banks in Indiana are regulated by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.

* In 2015, a total of 26,509 financial crimes were reported in Indiana according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN), an agency of the United States Department of Treasury.

Some, such as the Brookings Institution, argue that expanded governmental regulation of banks and financial products (e.g., mortgages) can prevent large-scale financial crises, protect consumers from abusive practices, and stabilize financial markets. Others, such as the Cato Institute, argue that over-regulation of banks of banks and financial products burdens business, stalls economic growth, and does little, if anything, to stabilize financial markets. Beyond this basic debate about the role of the government in regulating the private financial sector, there are varying opinions about the proper extent of governmental regulation.[18][19]

## Healthcare Policy[edit]

### Healthcare information[edit]

Healthcare policy in Indiana involves the creation and implementation of laws, rules, and regulations for managing the state's healthcare system. The healthcare system consists of services provided by medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental and physical illness and injury. The system also encompasses a wide range of related sectors, such as insurance, pharmaceuticals and health information technology.

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the 50 state legislatures collectively "make thousands of health policy decisions each year," not including the decisions made by local governments, which often oversee hospitals, and private bodies, such as insurers. These decisions can include budget appropriations, requirements for doctors obtaining their licenses, which services are covered by insurance, how personal health information is managed, and which immunizations children must receive, among many others.[20]

Healthcare policy affects not only the cost citizens must pay for care, but also their access to care and the quality of care received, which can influence their overall health. A top concern for policymakers is the rising cost of healthcare, which has placed an increasing strain on the disposable income of consumers as well as on state budgets.

### Medicaid spending[edit]

Indiana's Medicaid program provides medical insurance to groups of low-income people and individuals with disabilities. Medicaid is a nationwide program jointly funded by the federal government and the states. Medicaid eligibility, benefits, and administration are managed by the states within federal guidelines. A program related to Medicaid is the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which covers low-income children above the poverty line and is sometimes operated in conjunction with a state's Medicaid program. Medicaid is a separate program from Medicare, which provides health coverage for the elderly.

### Effect of the Affordable Care Act[edit]

The impact of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has been debated among politicians, policymakers, and other stakeholders. The ACA was signed into law in 2010 by President Barack Obama (D). The law facilitated the purchase of health insurance through a system of health insurance exchanges, tax credits, and subsidies. Initially, states were required to expand eligibility for Medicaid under the law; a 2012 ruling by the United States Supreme Court made the Medicaid expansion voluntary for states. The law also required insurers to cover healthcare services within a standard set of benefits and prohibited coverage denials based on preexisting conditions. Under the law, all individuals were required to obtain health insurance.

HIGHLIGHTS

* Between 2013 and 2016, the number of uninsured individuals in Indiana declined by 41.3%.

* About 147,000 individuals in Indiana were enrolled in health plans offered through the health insurance exchange in 2017. Enrollment in Medicaid amounted to about 1.5 million in May 2017.

* The Kaiser Family Foundation found that between 2016 and 2017, average monthly premiums for benchmark plans on Indiana's exchange decreased by an average of 4% in the Indianapolis market, from $298 to $286.

## Immigration Policy[edit]

### Immigration information[edit]

Immigration policy determines who may become a new citizen of the United States or enter the country as a temporary worker, student, refugee, or permanent resident. The federal government is responsible for setting and enforcing most immigration policy.

Meanwhile, states assume a largely supportive role, enacting their own supplementary laws and setting policies that may, for example, determine which public services immigrants can access, establish employee screening requirements, or guide the interaction between related state agencies and their federal counterparts.

Some jurisdictions, including some states, cities, and counties, have adopted policies of not cooperating with federal immigration enforcement; these jurisdictions have become known as sanctuary jurisdictions.

HIGHLIGHTS

* As of October 2016, Indiana did not allow lawfully residing immigrants to enroll in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.

* In 2014, Indiana's population amounted to about 6.5 million residents. Native-born citizens comprised 95.2 percent of the population; 1.7 percent of residents were naturalized citizens and 3.1 percent were non-citizens.

* Indiana's poverty rate during 2014 was 11.3 percent. Among native-born citizens, 10.6 percent lived below the poverty line, compared to 31.2 percent of non-citizens.

## Pension Policy[edit]

### Public pensions[edit]

Indiana public pensions are the state mechanism by which state and many local government employees in Indiana receive retirement benefits.

There were 257 public pension systems in Indiana as of 2020. Of these, 10 were state-level programs. Membership in Indiana's various pension systems totaled 438,633, as of fiscal year 2020. Of these, 219,027 were active members.[21]

HIGHLIGHTS

* Total contributions of $2.2 billion were made to Indiana's state and local pension systems, in fiscal year 2020. Of this amount, $84.6 million came from employees.

* Indiana's state and local pension systems made payments totaling $2.7 billion, in fiscal year 2020.

* Indiana's state and local pension systems held $33.9 billion in total cash and investment holdings, as of fiscal year 2020.

## Public policy in other states[edit]

Click your state  for an overview of policy information in your state.

Choose your state...AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington, D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyoming

http://ballotpedia.org/Public policy in STATE

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Fishman, S. & Barrett, R. (2012). Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50 State Guide. NOLO.
2. ↑ Guidestar, Fundraising: What Laws Apply?" accessed February 18, 2015
3. ↑ London School of Economics, "Campaign finance laws that make small donations public may lead to fewer people contributing and to smaller donations," January 7, 2015
4. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "U.S. School System Current Spending Per Pupil by Region: Fiscal Year 2020," May 18, 2022
5. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Fast Facts: High school graduation rates," accessed September 28, 2022
6. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "College Navigator - Indiana," accessed July 12, 2016
7. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "School Choice and Charters," accessed June 18, 2014
8. ↑ Friedman Foundation for School Choice, "What is School Choice?" accessed June 18, 2014
9. ↑ All About Redistricting, "Why does it matter?" accessed April 8, 2015
10. ↑ Indy Week, "Cracked, stacked and packed: Initial redistricting maps met with skepticism and dismay," June 29, 2011
11. ↑ The Atlantic, "How the Voting Rights Act Hurts Democrats and Minorities," June 17, 2013
12. ↑ Redrawing the Lines, "The Role of Section 2 - Majority Minority Districts," accessed April 6, 2015
13. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `frackwells`
14. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `allwells`
15. ↑ Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, "Government Performance and Results Act Annual Performance Report 2011," July 10, 2012
16. ↑ The National Bureau of Economic Research, "A Brief History of Regulations Regarding Financial Markets in the United States: 1789 to 2009," September 2011
17. ↑ Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, "The U.S. Federal Financial Regulatory System: Restructuring Federal Bank Regulation," January 19, 2006
18. ↑ Brookings, "The Origins of the Financial Crisis," November 24, 2008
19. ↑ The Cato Institute, "Did Deregulation Cause the Financial Crisis?" July 2009
20. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Health," accessed July 8, 2015
21. ↑ United States Census Bureau, 2020 Annual Survey of Public Pensions: State & Local Tables accessed February 23, 2022

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