Bitcoin ETFs inch toward INPRS access as HB1042 advances

HB1042 enables optional regulated crypto ETF access via brokerage windows

Indiana HB1042 has cleared both chambers of the state legislature and awaits the Governor’s approval, as reported by Foresight News. The bill is framed to expand choice for certain public retirement savers without requiring any plan or pension trust to buy digital assets.

According to blog.upay.best, the measure would permit exposure to regulated crypto ETFs exclusively through a self-directed brokerage window attached to eligible state-administered programs. This design places crypto-linked funds outside core plan menus and keeps public pension trusts from allocating directly to digital assets.

Who is eligible and what HB1042 excludes

Eligibility centers on participants in applicable defined contribution arrangements rather than defined benefit pensions that guarantee lifetime income. That distinction helps separate individual investment decisions from pooled pension assets and their fiduciary obligations.

As reported by hokanews.com, the framework channels access only through regulated crypto ETFs, avoiding direct coin custody and related operational complexities. In practice, a self-directed brokerage window typically sits alongside a plan’s standard lineup rather than inside it, which preserves the existing core menu while offering an optional pathway to specialized funds.

INPRS has indicated alignment with this structure after working with lawmakers to refine scope and guardrails. “INPRS has worked closely with the House to get [HB1042] to the current form and (we’re) more or less happy with it,” said Tom Perkins, Investment Counsel and Director of Investment Stewardship at the Indiana Public Retirement System.

Status, effective dates, and safeguards before rollout

HB1042 has passed both the House and Senate and is pending executive action. If enacted, some provisions could take effect on July 1, 2026, and the measure also references protections for self-sovereign custody and for lawful digital-asset mining activity in industrial zones, as reported by Cryptopolitan. The report notes that participation would be voluntary via eligible self-directed brokerage windows and that stablecoin funds and direct holdings are excluded in favor of regulated crypto ETFs.

Committee deliberations have emphasized risk controls and the avoidance of unintended consequences. According to Sen. Scott Baldwin, chairing Senate discussions on financial institutions, lawmakers are weighing policy language carefully and are not seeking to force any entity out of business with the crypto provisions. While the framework narrows exposure to regulated ETFs and defined contribution accounts, participant outcomes would still depend on individual choices, fees, and the inherent volatility of crypto-linked strategies.