INDIANA
Implemented by Law or Executive Action
In 2025, Senator Brian Buchanan authored Senate Bill 516, which established a statewide Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Passed by House or Senate
In 2025, Representative Jake Teshka authored House Bill 1172, which would establish a statewide Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Requires the office to: (1) develop and administer programs to support the growth of small business, entrepreneurship, and innovation in Indiana; (2) direct and oversee programs and sources of funding related to the growth of small business, entrepreneurship, technology, and innovation in Indiana; (3) work to strengthen policies and programs supporting the growth of entrepreneurship in Indiana; (4) coordinate with state agencies and other state funded entities to align services and programs related to entrepreneurship and starting and scaling a business; (5) work with funded entities on identifying strategies and metrics around the disbursement of funds to measure funds reaching rural communities and other underrepresented socioeconomic communities; (6) work with stakeholders and organizations supporting entrepreneurship to enhance learning and skills, provide technical support, and expand access to resources for entrepreneurs across Indiana; and (7) develop and administer programs to support and encourage youth entrepreneurship, including supporting students and teachers in fostering entrepreneurial skills. The bill passed in the House and in a Senate Committee.
Introduced
In 2024, Representative Jake Teshka authored House Bill 1165, which would establish a “Right to Start Act.” Requires the Secretary of State, the Department of Administration, and the Department of Workforce Development to annually file reports with the General Assembly. Requires the state to encourage 5% of the total number of state contracts to be awarded to businesses that have been in operation for fewer than five years and whose principal place of business is in Indiana. Requires the state to encourage 5% of workforce development funding, including funding allocated by workforce development boards across Indiana, to be used to support organizations or programs for individuals starting new businesses or to those organizations or programs that provide services to businesses established within the previous five years and whose principal place of business is located within Indiana. The bill passed in a House Committee.
In 2023, Representative Jake Teshka authored House Bill 1344, which would establish a Right to Start Act.” Requires the Department of aAdministration, the Department of Workforce Development, and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to annually file reports with the General Assembly. Requires the state to encourage 5% of the total number of state contracts to be awarded to businesses that have been in operation for fewer than five years and whose principal place of business is in Indiana. Requires the state to encourage 5% of workforce development funding, including funding allocated by workforce development boards across Indiana, to be used to support organizations or programs for individuals starting new businesses or to those organizations or programs that provide services to businesses established within the previous five years and whose principal place is located within Indiana. Requires the state to encourage 5% of funding budgeted for economic development programs to be allocated to supporting organizations or programs for individuals starting new businesses or to those organizations or programs that provide services to businesses established within the previous five years and whose principal place of business is located within Indiana. Requires the state to encourage the elimination of all first year business fees relating to any license or registration for any new business or person establishing a new business, including home based businesses, whose principal place of business is located within Indiana.
New businesses create almost all net new jobs in the United States. Entrepreneurs create stronger communities, grow GDP, create homegrown jobs, increase community wealth, diversify goods and services, increase lifetime incomes, and fight inequality and poverty.
65% of Americans believe it's harder to start a business today compared to their parent’s generation. 94% of Americans believe “it’s important to America’s future” that citizens have a fair opportunity to start and grow their own businesses. 81% of entrepreneurs say that the government favors big businesses over them, and 69% say the government doesn’t care about them at all.
Streamlining processes and removing barriers and unnecessary burdens for new, young companies to start and grow is critical to expanding entrepreneurial opportunity for all.
Many states are realizing the importance of new, young businesses to their economic growth and are working to change and update policies.
Your State Needs Entrepreneurs.
Interested?
Right to Start shares best practices to help policymakers support entrepreneurs. We are a leading, national nonpartisan civic organization working to expand entrepreneurial opportunity for all throughout the United States by changing minds, changing policies and changing communities. Our policy recommendations are pro-growth measures, which will remove barriers and streamline processes to starting, cut red tape, advance homegrown job creation, and build a stronger connection between entrepreneurs and government.
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