Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) announced Monday a schedule shift aimed at addressing time-sensitive legislative issues, including those prompting Governor Mike Braun’s call for a special session, while maximizing efficiency and minimizing cost to taxpayers.

Huston explained that instead of a separate special session, the General Assembly will tackle urgent matters during the first two weeks of December.

“The meeting days in December would be part of the 2026 regular session that officially starts on Organization Day on Nov. 18,” Huston said. “Because of this calendar alignment, starting the regular session early would be the most cost effective and efficient way to address the Governor’s call for a special session.”

The session days are set for December 1 through 12.

“Our goal is to avoid any added session-related costs, and we will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer dollars as we work through and finalize the schedule,” Huston added.

More specific details on the December session days are expected to be released in the coming weeks, with a full calendar anticipated on Organization Day.

Indiana deer hunters face new rules this season. The DNR replaced the county bonus system with a single bag limit – the number in the hunting guide is now the total antlerless deer you can take per county, with a statewide cap of six.

Hunters can also use any firearm that fires a bullet at least .219 inches or 5.56 millimeters wide. Some reduction zones near South Bend, Elkhart, and Porter County are suspended this year because of last year’s EHD outbreak.

Deer season runs September 15 through January 31, with firearm season November 15 through 30.