The RV Industry Association (RVIA) has presented its annual National Legislative Award to Indiana State Senator Blake Doriot (R-IN) during the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Legislative Summit, held in Boston.
The award recognizes his legislative efforts and sustained support for the RV industry.
Doriot has worked closely with the RVIA’s Government Affairs team on several key initiatives over the past five years, addressing policies affecting manufacturing, sales, and outdoor recreation access in Indiana and beyond.
According to a News and Insights report of RVIA on August 12, in 2020, Doriot sponsored Senate Concurrent Resolution 15, calling for the creation of an Office of Outdoor Recreation Development within the Indiana Destination Development Corporation.
That same year, as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted travel and commerce, Doriot advocated for campgrounds to be classified as “essential businesses.” This designation allowed them to open ahead of Memorial Day weekend and remain operational during public health restrictions.
Doriot also served as the Senate sponsor for House Bill 1059, which set the retail sales tax rate for RV purchases at the rate of the reciprocal state where the vehicle will be titled or registered.
He has continued to support legislation that would extend the sales tax exemption to states lacking reciprocity with Indiana.
In another policy effort, Doriot introduced legislation to clarify regulations affecting transport workers. This measure helped streamline the movement of RV inventory from factories to dealers.
During the fall and early winter of 2024, Doriot collaborated with both the RVIA and the RV Dealers Association on a bill based on their model RV-specific franchise framework.
The resulting proposal, Senate Bill 484, was introduced by Doriot and successfully advanced through both legislative chambers. The bill passed with near-unanimous support and was signed into law by Governor Braun in April 2025.
The RVIA stated that Doriot’s leadership on SB 484 demonstrated a commitment to fostering a stable business environment for the RV sector in Indiana, which is home to a significant share of the nation’s RV manufacturing capacity.