Ben Smaltz

Smaltz voted YES on SB 1 (2025), the property tax relief and local government finance reform bill (Source 4). However, he voted NO on SB 1 (2026), the Medicaid/SNAP immigration verification and eligibility tightening bill — one of only four Republicans to break with the caucus on that bill (Source 5). His vote against the 2026 SB 1 represents a departure from the Republican caucus position on fiscal/welfare reform, creating a mixed record on this lens.

Smaltz authored and championed HB 1032 (2025 special session), the mid-cycle redistricting bill, framing redistricting as a legitimate legislative function (Source 7). He voted YES on SB 289 (2025), the DEI prohibition bill (Source 10). His authorship of HB 1032 — which expanded legislative authority to redraw maps outside the post-census window — may be read differently depending on one's definition of limited government; recorded positions cited here are limited to his own stated rationale and votes (Sources 9, 12).

Smaltz was a co-author of HB 1032 (2025, foreign interests bill) alongside the 2A-related HB 1084 (2024), and voted YES on HB 1084, Indiana's Firearms Financial Transactions Privacy Act (Source 8). The 2A Privacy Act passed as a partisan Republican bill with no Democratic support in the Senate conference vote (Source 8). No NRA-PVF rating independently confirmed as of April 2026.

Smaltz voted YES on SB 236 (2026), the abortion-inducing drug ban and wrongful-death liability bill (Source 11). No contrary vote or statement on pro-life issues found.

Smaltz voted YES on HB 1041 (2025), banning transgender women from collegiate sports (Source 6), and YES on SB 143 (2025), the Parental Rights Act (Source 9). He also voted YES on SB 289 (2025), the DEI prohibition in schools and public employment (Source 10).