On January 12, 2026, the House Judiciary Committee HB 1193 on Civil Rights Commission authored by Rep. Jeter. The bill does the following:
- Provides that the civil rights commission may not represent a private individual in a civil action filed in a circuit or superior court.
- Requires the party asserting a civil rights violation must file their own civil case.
- Specifies that the commission may order damages to restore an aggrieved party’s losses, if the commission determines the party has incurred losses as a result of a discriminatory housing practice.
- Provides that the commission may only represent the state in a civil action and repeals a provision allowing a court to award monetary damages in those cases.
- Authorizes the commission to investigate unconstitutional practices if no other state agency has jurisdiction to investigate these practices.
The Civil Rights Commission testified in support of this bill. The Fair Housing Center testified that they were neutral to the bill. Additionally, Strength over Struggle and a member of the public testified in opposition to the bill.
On January 22, 2026, the Committee heard the bill for amend and vote. The Committee amended the bill by consent and the relevant portions include:
- Adds to the definition “discriminatory practice” the following: a violation of a person’s rights protected by the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Indiana, federal law and guaranteed through the Fourteenth Amendment Title VI of the federal Civil Right Act of 1964, Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
- Defines “unconstitutional practice” to mean an action that violates a person’s rights protected by:
- The Constitution of the United States;
- The Constitution of the State of Indiana; or
- Federal law and guaranteed through the Fourteenth Amendment, including:
- Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964;
- Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
The term includes a right relating to parenting, education, religion, and speech. The amended bill was passed 11-0.
Read the bill at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1193