FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEHOUSE (April 30, 2026) — Today, Governor Mike Braun ceremonially signed Senate Enrolled Act 256, a nation-leading security measure authored by Senate Majority Leader Chris Garten (R-Charlestown). The new law effectively draws a line in the sand against covert influence operations by hostile regimes—including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia—solidifying Indiana’s position as the national leader in state-level sovereignty.
Senate Enrolled Act 256 enacts the strictest transparency and accountability requirements in the country for foreign agents. By mandating that these individuals register with the Indiana Attorney General and provide full public disclosure of their funding, expenditures, and political agendas, the law strips away the shadows that adversarial nations use to manipulate Indiana’s economy and political discourse.
"Our enemies do not sleep, and they do not operate in good faith. They are actively working to undermine our economy and erode our American way of life from within," Garten said. "I authored SEA 256 to send a clear message to the world: Indiana is not for sale, and we will not be a playground for foreign propaganda. We are putting the security of our citizens ahead of the interests of hostile regimes."
This landmark legislation is the latest in Garten’s aggressive push to insulate Indiana from foreign threats. Building on his 2023 law that purged Chinese companies from the Indiana Public Retirement System and his 2024 ban on foreign-owned farmland, SEA 256 goes further by categorically banning companies from adversarial nations from owning any land in the State of Indiana.
"Hoosiers work too hard to have their tax dollars, their land, or their government leveraged by nations that openly wish us harm," Garten said. "We aren't just reacting to threats; we are dismantling them before they can take root. SEA 256 is the gold standard for state security, and I will never apologize for putting Indiana’s safety and Hoosier sovereignty first."
SEA 256 takes effect immediately, establishing Indiana as a vanguard against the creeping influence of foreign adversaries and providing a blueprint for states across the country to follow.
Photo caption: Senate Majority Leader Chris Garten (R-Charlestown, to the right of the governor) attends a ceremonial bill signing for Senate Enrolled Act 256, which establishes rigorous transparency and accountability requirements for agents operating on behalf foreign adversaries.
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State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) represents Senate District 45,
which includes Clark County and portions of Floyd County.
He serves as the Senate Majority Floor Leader.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
Contact: Lance Gideon, Senior Press Secretary
Lance.Gideon@iga.in.gov
317-234-9221
