By State Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-Jasper)
While my work as your state senator takes place throughout the year, the Indiana General Assembly is only in session for a few months. The 2026 legislative session will reconvene the first full week of January.
This year's session is expected to be complete by late February, and bills go through a lengthy process before they reach the governor's desk for the final signature.
Once a Senate bill is filed, it is heard on the Senate floor for the first time and assigned to a committee.
That committee's chairman then decides if the bill will receive a committee hearing. If a bill is heard in committee, members of the public can testify and give their opinions on the legislation.
If the committee votes to move the bill forward, it is heard on the Senate floor for a second reading. During both the committee hearing and second reading of a bill, the legislation can be amended to change its wording.
After second reading, the bill is heard for a third time in the Senate and, if approved, heads to the House of Representatives where it goes through the process again.
Once a bill is approved by both chambers with the exact same language, it heads to the governor's desk for final signature before becoming law.
While the process a bill takes to become law can be long, it's an important procedure to ensure laws are vetted thoroughly and created in a transparent way. I look forward to working with my constituents and colleagues in the weeks ahead as we work on legislation that will have a meaningful impact on Hoosiers across Indiana.
As always, constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns by email at s48@iga.in.gov or by phone at 1-800-382-9467.
-30-
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.
