You can make a difference
Join us for a town hall with Indiana State Representative Moseley on
Wednesday, March 23, at 6pm central time.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdO2qrzoqEt3wN8miZJU77csbENJgZqYy
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Learn about this year’s legislative session and what to expect for the rest of this year and in 2023 in the state legislature. Many devastating and controversial bills were considered this year and some passed. What can we expect going forward?
Although the legislative session has ended, there is still time to take action. A few bills are awaiting the governor’s signature. Contact Governor Holcomb to urge him to veto these bills. He must veto by Tuesday; even if he takes no action, the bills become law.
Contact Governor Holcomb: govholcomb@gov.in.gov or 317-232-4567. You can also email from his website: https://www.in.gov/gov/ask-eric/
- House Enrolled Act 1296, authorizes adult Hoosiers to carry a handgun in public without a license.
- House Enrolled Act 1041 bars transgender girls from participating in girls sports
- Senate Enrolled Bill 382 would cut the tax rate on some e-cigarettes and give other addictive tobacco products a favorable tax rate–a terrible bill that would impact the health of Hoosiers, especially kids. Cancer Action Network makes it easy to take action. Just click on ‘take action’ and fill out the form: https://www.fightcancer.org/states/indiana
Join us for a town hall with Indiana State Representative Moseley on
Wednesday, March 23, at 6pm central time.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsdO2qrzoqEt3wN8miZJU77csbENJgZqYy
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Learn about this year’s legislative session and what to expect for the rest of this year and in 2023 in the state legislature. Many devastating and controversial bills were considered this year and some passed. What can we expect going forward?
Although the legislative session has ended, there is still time to take action. A few bills are awaiting the governor’s signature. Contact Governor Holcomb to urge him to veto these bills. He must veto by Tuesday; even if he takes no action, the bills become law.
Contact Governor Holcomb: govholcomb@gov.in.gov or 317-232-4567. You can also email from his website: https://www.in.gov/gov/ask-eric/
- House Enrolled Act 1296, authorizes adult Hoosiers to carry a handgun in public without a license.
- House Enrolled Act 1041 bars transgender girls from participating in girls sports
- Senate Enrolled Bill 382 would cut the tax rate on some e-cigarettes and give other addictive tobacco products a favorable tax rate–a terrible bill that would impact the health of Hoosiers, especially kids. Cancer Action Network makes it easy to take action. Just click on ‘take action’ and fill out the form: https://www.fightcancer.org/states/indiana
Indiana
Signed into law by the governor
House Bill 1002 Various tax matters
The tax cut plan calls for reducing the state’s current income tax rate of 3.23% to 2.9% in small steps until its planned full implementation in 2029 but doesn’t include some sizeable business tax cuts that House Republicans sought. The plan would cut the tax rate to 3.15% for 2023, which would amount to $40 savings for those with $50,000 in taxable income. Further reductions in 2025, 2027 and 2029 would only occur if state tax revenue grows by at least 2% in the previous budget year. (Associated Press)
House Bill 1300 Bail–Limits charitable bonds, ensuring that poor Hoosiers receive inequitable treatment to wealthy Hoosiers who can afford to pay and not languish in jail while awaiting trial.
House Bill 1130 Open meetings–“Indiana school boards will be required to allow public comment during their meetings…” (Associated Press)
Senate Bill 271 Small modular nuclear reactors
Directs the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission to make rules when it comes to the construction, purchase or lease of what are being called small modular nuclear reactors. Environmental groups are opposed to this bill—it is unproven technology not used anywhere in the country; results, if any, would be far into the future; costs can be passed off to consumers long before development; these reactors are not proven to be cost-effective or safe, (WANE)
Senate Bill 1 Automatic taxpayer refund
Senate Bill 1079 Elements of rape—defines consent
House Bill 1140 Medicaid coverage for pregnant woman—extends coverage
House Bill 1294—ends restraint of pregnant women during labor and delivery
Vetoed
House Bill 1211 State and local authority
This bill is “a hodge podge of provisions relating to state and local government that was put together last week using the wreckage of various failed proposals mere hours before the House and Senate adjourned for the year…The governor specifically took issue with a requirement in the measure that all broadband expansion projects supported by READI grants — the state’s regional economic development program entirely funded by the federal American Rescue Plan — comply with the stringent broadband expansion rules crafted last year by state Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso.
“This seemingly innocuous language unfortunately has the practical effect of slowing, if not arresting, approximately $154 million of broadband projects currently under active consideration as part of the $500 million READI grant program,” Holcomb said…Holcomb also took issue with lawmakers taking chunks of House Bill 1100 [an anti-environment bill], which failed to advance out of committee in the Senate, and sticking them in this measure with no opportunity for opponents to testify and share their concerns about it, or to suggest modifications that could have improved the bill. In particular, Holcomb said he’s concerned a requirement for the attorney general to approve the content of emergency rules issued by state agencies will delay the adoption of state rules needed to respond to emergencies, such as the ongoing bird flu epidemic at several turkey farms in southern Indiana.” (KPVI)
For the status of bills that have passed the legislature and have been signed into law or are awaiting his signature or veto, see Governor bill list: https://www.in.gov/gov/newsroom/2022-bill-watch/
Most lawmakers disappointed and sometimes infuriated many of their constituents during this short session of the Indiana General Assembly, largely ignoring the needs and opinions of many Hoosiers. The public, however, worked hard to defeat some of the most harmful bills. Read a short summary of wins and losses for Hoosiers this session from Hoosier Action.
In other news
Indiana tops the list of states with the most dirty waterways, according to a new report that found nearly 25,000 miles of Hoosier rivers and streams are too polluted for recreation and swimming. (Indy Star)
A special judge rejected the Lake County sheriff’s motion to dismiss his indictment on a felony count of resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor reckless driving. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
To find and contact your Indiana legislators: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
Enacted, signed into law by the President
S. 854: Methamphetamine Response Act of 2021
S. 349: Seniors Fraud Prevention Act of 2021
Some of this bill was incorporated into H.R. 2471: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, which was enacted ( by president) on March 15, 2022.
HR 2471 Consolidated Appropriations Act
This $1.5 trillion omnibus contains all 12 fiscal 2022 spending bills, $13.6 billion in supplemental appropriations to address the crisis in Ukraine and a lengthy list of unrelated measures fortunate enough to ride on the must-pass vehicle. The omnibus allows for almost equal increases in defense and nondefense spending. For a brief list of some of the more significant provisions, see https://indivisiblenwi.org/2022/03/03-14-2022-weekly-legislative-update/
Congress
Passed the House, Senate next
H.R. 2116: CROWN Act of 2021
GovTrack.us: “To prohibit discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair.”
Passed 235 – 189. Representatives Mrvan and Carson voted yea; all other Indiana reps voted nay.
H.R. 1931: Japanese American Confinement Education Act
GovTrack.us: “This bill establishes a museum program on the historical importance of Japanese American confinement during World War II and permanently reauthorizes the Japanese American Confinement Sites preservation program. The bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish a program of grants to a Japanese American museum to educate individuals in the United States on the historical importance of such confinement and the commitment of the United States to equal justice.”
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
H.R. 6434: Japanese American World War II History Network Act
GovTrack.us: “This bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish the Japanese American World War II History Network within the National Park Service.” Passed 406-16 with all Indiana reps voting yea except Hollingsworth.
H.R. 3113: MAPLand Act
GovTrack.us: “This bill directs the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to jointly develop and adopt interagency standards to ensure compatibility and interoperability among federal databases for the collection and dissemination of outdoor recreation data related to federal lands.” Passed 414-9 with all Indiana reps voting yea.
H.R. 963: FAIR Act of 2022
GovTrack.us: “This bill prohibits a predispute arbitration agreement from being valid or enforceable if it requires arbitration of an employment, consumer, antitrust, or civil rights dispute.”
Passed 222 – 209 along strict party lines, except for one republican, Rep Gaetz, who voted yea.
Passed the Senate
S.623 Sunshine Protection Act
Makes Daylight Saving Time permanent. The U.S. would transition to year-round DST by not “falling back” beginning in November 2023. Passed unanimously. (Causes)
S. 120: Safe Connections Act of 2021
GovTrack.us: “At a survivor’s request, a mobile service provider must separate from a shared mobile service contract the survivor’s line (and the line of any individual in the survivor’s care) from the abuser’s line. A survivor requesting this must verify through appropriate documentation that an individual under the shared contract committed certain criminal acts (e.g., an act of domestic violence or trafficking) against the survivor… The FCC must also (1) temporarily allow survivors to participate in the Lifeline program (which subsidizes telephone and internet service for low-income individuals) regardless of whether the survivor otherwise meets eligibility criteria, and (2) evaluate expanded access to the program for survivors.”
Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
To find and contact your Members of Congress: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
In other news
The Congressional Progressive Caucus released a list of executive actions Biden could take to achieve Democrats’ domestic agenda on issues like health care, student debt, criminal justice reform, and climate change. [Business Insider / Ayelet Sheffey, Joseph Zeballos-Roig, and Juliana Kaplan]
“A rising number of law enforcement agencies are opting not to share statistics about hate crimes with the FBI — just as hate crimes are skyrocketing, according to U.S. Justice Department numbers….The decline in reporting hurts efforts to accurately document violence against Asian Americans, Black Americans, and LGBTQ+ people, advocates and DOJ officials say….The number of police agencies participating in the FBI’s hate crimes report declined in 2020 — the third straight year of decreases. About 88% of cities don’t report hate crimes data.” (Axios)
Environment
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will seek to ensure pollution sources act as “good neighbors” to downwind states by tightening restrictions on emissions that increase the amount of smog there… The EPA’s proposed rule would include an official determination that emissions from 26 states, including Indiana, “significantly contribute” to air quality in states downwind by interfering with their ability to meet the 2015 ozone standard based on nitrogen oxide emissions…The proposed rule is the result of a lawsuit filed by various national and local environmental organizations from across the nation that said the Trump administration violated the “good neighbor” provision in the Clean Air Act. The provision requires the EPA and states to address interstate transport of air pollution that affects downwind states’ ability to meet federal air quality standards.” (Indiana Environmental Reporter)
Ukraine
“President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke for nearly two hours on Friday in a video call that came as the U.S. tries to convince Beijing to distance itself from Russia’s war in Ukraine.” (Axios)
“Ukraine’s food supply chain is “falling apart” under stress from Russia’s invasion, potentially undermining food security around the world, the United Nations warned on Friday.” (Axios)
“President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced an additional $800 million in military aid to Ukraine, bringing the total amount of funding allocated to the country this week to $1 billion…The new assistance package comes in the form of direct transfers of equipment from the Department of Defense to Ukraine. It includes a host of weapons for civilian and military use: 800 anti-aircraft missiles; 9,000 anti-armor systems; 7,000 small arms, like machine guns, shotguns and grenade launchers; 20 million rounds of ammunition; body armor; and drones.” (Politico)
“Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Fox News as alone among “Western media” in “trying to represent some alternative points of view.” In a lengthy rant on the subject, Lavrov included praise for Fox News — whose commentators have come under criticism for pro-Putin rhetoric — and decried the social media ban of then-President Donald Trump, as well as the labeling of Jan. 6 insurrectionists as “domestic terrorists…” Fox News host Tucker Carlson has been a particular focus of criticism for consistent commentary that critics say aligns with the goals of Russia and President Vladimir Putin.” (Mediaite)
Women’s rights
“The Idaho Legislature gave final approval Monday to a bill that would ban abortion after six weeks and allow the father, sibling, grandparent, aunt or uncle of the fetus to bring legal action against the medical professional who performed the abortion.” (CNN)
