FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEHOUSE (March 9, 2026) — State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper) is addressing misconceptions about House Enrolled Act 1343, a new law that ensures Indiana National Guard members who are deployed to assist local police are properly trained.
"HEA 1343 actually places more guardrails around the use of military police for law enforcement than what currently exists today in Indiana," Schmitt said. "The governor could activate the National Guard today to assist with policing. That’s not new. HEA 1343 ensures that guardsmen who would be called upon are trained military police who can assist in police duties, rather than other Indiana National Guard members who may not be trained for basic police duties like arrest procedures, traffic and crowd control, and the collection of evidence."
Schmitt has heard from many constituents concerned that the law creates a police force within the Indiana National Guard. However, the National Guard Military Police already exists, and the governor already has broad authority to activate the Indiana National Guard with statewide police authority under powers granted to him by the Indiana Constitution as Commander in Chief of Indiana's military forces.
HEA 1343 creates higher qualifications for the military police to act as law enforcement officers and establishes guardrails for how the governor will carry out his authority when activating military police for police duties.
Schmitt encourages constituents to contact him with any questions or comments they may have. Schmitt can be reached by filling out a "Contact Me" form online at www.IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Schmitt or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper) represents Senate District 48,
which includes Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
