Gary Byrne
Jump toSnapshot
Contact
| Website | indianasenaterepublicans.com/byrne |
| facebook.com/garyforstatesenate/ | |
| linkedin.com/in/gary-byrne-9ab29575/ | |
| Ballotpedia | Ballotpedia profile ↗ |
Snapshot
| Fiscal responsibility | Mixed |
| Limited government | Mixed |
| Second Amendment | Support |
| Pro-life issues | Support |
| Family values | Support |
Background
Gary Byrne has represented Senate District 47 (Harrison, Washington, and most of Floyd County) since winning his seat in 2022 (Source 1)(Source 2). He is a high-profile social-conservative legislator; he co-authored Indiana SB 480 (2023) banning gender-affirming care for minors, authored SB 289 (2025) banning DEI in education and state government, and co-authored SB 215 (2026) on gender definitions (Source 7)(Source 10). He achieved a 100% voting attendance record in the 2026 session (Source 2). The Indiana Chamber of Commerce scored him 62% in 2025 with a 71% four-year aggregate, and The New American's Freedom Index rates his lifetime score at 61% (Source 3)(Source 6).
Positions
Fiscal responsibility
MixedVoted YES on SB 1 (2026) welfare-eligibility reform (38-8) and SB 1 (2025) property tax relief. Indiana Chamber of Commerce 2025 score of 62% (71% four-year aggregate) reflects a mixed pro-business but not consistently fiscal-conservative record (Source 6). Freedom Index lifetime score of 61% (Source 3). No floor statement opposing major appropriations found.
Limited government
MixedAuthored SB 289 (2025) banning DEI mandates — framed as limiting government interference — but also authored SB 480 (2023) and co-authored SB 215 (2026) expanding state regulation of gender definitions and medical procedures. Freedom Index lifetime 61% reflects a partially mixed record on constitutional limited-government measures (Source 3)(Source 4).
Second Amendment
SupportVoted YES on HB 1296 (2022, permitless carry, 30-20 Senate). Voted YES on HB 1084 (2024, firearms financial-transaction privacy, 39-9 Senate). Co-sponsored SB 11 (2026) on execution methods (not directly 2A, but listed as co-sponsor). (Source 11)(Source 12)
Pro-life issues
SupportCo-authored and voted YES on SB 236 (2026) abortion-medication civil enforcement (35-10). Voted YES on SB 143 (2025) parental rights (44-5). IFI praised the session bills Byrne participated in as top family/pro-life wins (Source 5)(Source 8)(Source 13).
Family values
SupportAuthored SB 289 (2025) DEI ban in education; co-authored SB 480 (2023) gender-affirming care ban for minors; Senate co-sponsor on HB 1041 (2025) women's college sports; authored SB 442 (2025) requiring school board approval of human-sexuality curriculum materials; co-authored SB 215 (2026) on gender definitions (Source 5)(Source 7)(Source 9)(Source 10)(Source 16). IFI scorecard graded all these bills positively (Source 5).
Voting record
| Bill | Session | Title | Vote | Lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HB 1296 | 2022 | Permitless carry | Yea | Second Amendment |
| SB 480 | 2023 | Gender-affirming care ban for minors (co-authored) | Yea | Family values |
| HB 1084 | 2024 | Firearms financial-transaction privacy | Yea | Second Amendment |
| SB 289 | 2025 | DEI ban in education / state government (authored) | Yea | Family values / Limited government |
| HB 1041 | 2025 | Women's college sports eligibility (Senate co-sponsor) | Yea | Family values |
| SB 143 | 2025 | Parental rights | Yea | Family values |
| HB 1032 | 2026 session | Congressional redistricting | Yea· cosponsor | Limited government |
| SB 236 | 2026 | Abortion-medication civil enforcement (co-author) | Yea | Pro-life issues |
Endorsements
- source ↗President Donald Trump (March 24, 2026, Truth Social)
Sources
- 1.IGA member page (2026 session)https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/legislators/legislator_gary_byrne_1
- 2.Indiana Senate Republicans — Byrne member pagehttps://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/byrne
- 3.Freedom Index (The New American) — lifetime score 61%https://thenewamerican.com/us/politics/trump-endorses-indiana-senators-despite-low-and-mediocre-freedom-scores/
- 4.Freedom Index — Byrne 2025 scorecard pagehttps://freedomindex.us/legislator/4807/
- 5.Indiana Family Institute 2025 Legislative Scorecard (SB 289, HB 1041, SB 442 graded)https://hoosierfamily.org/news/ifi-releases-2025-legislative-scorecard-20250903/
- 6.Indiana Chamber of Commerce 2025 Legislator Vote Scores (Byrne: 62% / 71% aggregate)https://www.indianachamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/LegislatorScorecard2025_VoteScores.pdf
- 7.IGA — SB 289 (2025, DEI ban, authored by Byrne)https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/289/details
- 8.IGA — SB 236 (2026, abortion medication, Byrne co-author and YES vote)https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/senate/236/actions
- 9.IGA — HB 1041 (2025, women's college sports, Byrne Senate co-sponsor)https://legiscan.com/IN/bill/HB1041/2025
- 10.IGA — SB 480 (2023, gender-affirming care ban for minors, Byrne co-authored)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana_SB_480
- 11.IGA — HB 1296 (2022, permitless carry)https://legiscan.com/IN/bill/HB1296/2022
- 12.IGA — HB 1084 (2024, firearms financial privacy)https://legiscan.com/IN/rollcall/HB1084/id/1406024
- 13.IGA — SB 143 (2025, parental rights)https://legiscan.com/IN/bill/SB0143/2025
- 14.IGA — HB 1032 (2026, redistricting, Byrne voted YES)https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1032/actions
- 15.WFYI — Trump endorsements, redistricting (March 2026)https://www.wfyi.org/public-affairs/2026-03-25/trump-issues-endorsements-for-indiana-republicans-who-supported-redistricting
- 16.Indiana Senate Republicans — Byrne statement on SB 442 (sex ed transparency)https://www.indianasenaterepublicans.com/statement-from-state-sen-gary-byrne1
- 17.Crothersville Times — confirmed Byrne voted YES on redistrictinghttps://crothersvilletimes.com/senate-republicans-vote-down-redistricting/