Indiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted 16 R cosponsors

SB 176 — Shooting ranges.

Last action — Signed by the Governor

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 05, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Mike Braun (Republican) on March 05, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 62% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 16 sponsors

    4 primary, 12 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (16 R).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill simplifies the approval process for shooting ranges and related facilities.

SB 176 allows for easier maintenance and expansion of shooting ranges by preventing local governments from denying permits based on prior zoning. It also permits indoor shooting ranges in certain commercial and industrial areas.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Workers in shooting ranges and related facilities may benefit from expanded job opportunities as a result of easier establishment and growth of these businesses.
  • Consumers: Consumers will have greater access to shooting ranges and related activities, enhancing recreational options available to them.
  • Small Business: This means small businesses can more easily open and expand shooting-related services, fostering growth in this sector.

Summary

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.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor

  2. Public Law 117

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. Signed by the President Pro Tempore

  5. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 403: yeas 67, nays 25

  6. Signed by the Speaker

  7. Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 309: yeas 42, nays 8

  8. CCR # 1 filed in the House

  9. CCR # 1 filed in the Senate

  10. Senator Freeman added as coauthor

  11. Senator Doriot removed as conferee

  12. Senator Taylor G removed as conferee

  13. Senator Koch added as coauthor

  14. Senator Doriot added as conferee

  15. Senator Garten added as conferee

  16. Representative Commons added as conferee

  17. Representative Commons removed as advisor

  18. Representative Johnson B removed as conferee

  19. Senate advisors appointed: Pol, Buck

  20. Senate conferees appointed: Tomes, Taylor G

  21. House advisors appointed: Commons, Lucas, Smith V

  22. House conferees appointed: Smaltz, Johnson B

  23. Senate dissented from House amendments

  24. Concurrence withdrawn

  25. Motion to concur filed

  26. Returned to the Senate with amendments

  27. Motion to dissent filed

  28. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 252: yeas 65, nays 25

  29. Second reading: ordered engrossed

  30. Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

  31. Representatives Commons, Lucas added as cosponsors

  32. Representative Pressel added as cosponsor

  33. First reading: referred to Committee on Local Government

  34. Referred to the House

  35. Senator Doriot added as coauthor

  36. Senator Brown L added as coauthor

  37. Senators Crider, Maxwell, Byrne, Johnson T, Bohacek added as coauthors

  38. House sponsor: Representative Smaltz

  39. Senator Buck added as second author

  40. Third reading: passed; Roll Call 75: yeas 38, nays 6

  41. Senator Young M added as third author

  42. Second reading: ordered engrossed

  43. Committee report: do pass, adopted

  44. First reading: referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law

  45. Authored by Senator Tomes

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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4 sponsors · 12 co-sponsors · 134 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (12)

Not signed on (134)

134 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 134 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 176 do?
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.
Who sponsors SB 176?
SB 176 is sponsored by Jim Lucas (Republican), Matt Commons (Republican), Jim Pressel (Republican), Ben Smaltz (Republican), Aaron Freeman (Republican), Eric Koch (Republican), Blake Doriot (Republican), Liz Brown (Republican), Mike Bohacek (Republican), Tyler Johnson (Republican), Gary Byrne (Republican), Randy Maxwell (Republican), Michael Crider (Republican), Michael Young (Republican), James Buck (Republican), and James Tomes (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 176?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 05, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 176?
Track SB 176 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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