Proposed Indiana Firearm Legislation SB0176
Legislation Overview
Title: Shooting ranges.
Description: Shooting ranges. Provides that the maintenance, repair, renovation, modernization, or expansion of buildings, structures, or facilities used in connection with a shooting range, including improvements to safety, security accessibility, or environmental controls, is a continuation of a permitted use and may not be treated by a local unit of government as: (1) an expansion of a nonconforming use; or (2) a basis to deny, delay, or condition approval of any permit that is otherwise required under applicable building codes or safety regulations. Provides that if an area is zoned for commercial use, a retail sporting goods store is a permitted use on each lot or parcel. Provides that if a property is zoned for commercial, industrial, or agricultural use, an indoor shooting range is permitted on any lot or parcel if certain conditions are satisfied. Provides that a retired judicial officer may possess and use a firearm in the same locations as a law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm. (Current law allows a judicial officer to possess and use a firearm in the same locations as a law enforcement officer who is authorized to carry a firearm.)
Session: 2026 Regular Session
Last Action: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
Last Action Date: February 10, 2026
Sponsors
Note: the first sponsor listed is normally the primary sponsor. If a sponsor's name is a hyperlink you can click on it to 'follow the money'.
14 sponsors: James Tomes (R); James Buck (R); Michael Young (R); Michael Crider (R); Randy Maxwell (R);Gary Byrne (R); Tyler Johnson (R); Mike Bohacek (R); Elizabeth Brown (R); Blake Doriot (R); Ben Smaltz (R); Jim Pressel (R); Matt Commons (R); Jim Lucas (R);
Percentage of Senate sponsoring bill: 28% (14 of 50)
History
| Chamber | Date | Action |
| House | Feb 10, 2026 | Committee report: amend do pass, adopted |
| House | Feb 2, 2026 | Representatives Commons, Lucas added as cosponsors |
| House | Feb 2, 2026 | Representative Pressel added as cosponsor |
| House | Jan 28, 2026 | First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government |
| Senate | Jan 27, 2026 | Referred to the House |
| Senate | Jan 26, 2026 | Senator Brown L added as coauthor |
| Senate | Jan 26, 2026 | Senator Doriot added as coauthor |
| Senate | Jan 26, 2026 | Senators Crider, Maxwell, Byrne, Johnson T, Bohacek added as coauthors |
| Senate | Jan 26, 2026 | Third reading: passed; Roll Call 75: yeas 38, nays 6 |
| Senate | Jan 26, 2026 | House sponsor: Representative Smaltz |
| Senate | Jan 26, 2026 | Senator Buck added as second author |
| Senate | Jan 26, 2026 | Senator Young M added as third author |
| Senate | Jan 22, 2026 | Second reading: ordered engrossed |
| Senate | Jan 20, 2026 | Committee report: do pass, adopted |
| Senate | Jan 5, 2026 | Authored by Senator Tomes |
| Senate | Jan 5, 2026 | First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law |
Texts
| Type | Date | State Link | Text |
| Comm Sub | Feb 10, 2026 | state link | bill text |
| Comm Sub | Jan 20, 2026 | state link | bill text |
| Introduced | Jan 5, 2026 | state link | bill text |
Amendments
| Title | Description | Date | State Link | Text | Adopted |
| House Local Government Amendment #3 | House Local Government Amendment #3 | Feb 10, 2026 | State Link | amendment text | No |
| House Local Government Amendment #3 | House Local Government Amendment #3 | Feb 9, 2026 | State Link | amendment text | No |
Votes - Click on description to view vote roll call
| Description | Vote Date | Yea Votes | Nay Votes | No Votes | Absent | Passed |
| Senate - Third reading | 01/26/2026 | 38 | 6 | 0 | 5 | Yes |
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Link: link to state bill page
