You can make a difference
What’s Next!, our next public meeting will be Thursday March 2 at 6pm at the Merrillville Library. During our meeting in January we discussed our Open Letter to the Democratic Party. We sent that letter along with your responses and comments to significant players within the Democratic Parry. Now it’s time to plan what steps and actions we will take. Together we can bring change to Indiana! Please register here.
Be aware of the following proposed Indiana bills that require our action:
Senate Bill 305 would greatly expand education scholarship accounts—universal school choice.
This bill passed through the Senate Education Committee and has been assigned to the Appropriations Committee.
The Indiana State Teachers Association has made it easy to take action. Let committee members and your elected officials know you oppose universal choice.
Please note that this is Milton Friedman’s plan to end public education, in response to the Brown v the Board of Education decision. His plan was to bypass court enforced diversity by replacing public schools with private education funded by taxpayer dollars–schools with no enforced standards or accountability.
Read more about this bill and additional talking points at the Indiana Coalition for Public Education.
House Bill 1428 School board elections
From Common Cause Indiana: This bill would create a hodge-podge of ways that school boards are elected across the state, because it turns the decision over to “local control”. So, in some communities the races would be non-partisan, in some the school boards themselves could decide to have partisan races, and still another option would be to have a local referendum on the issue.
We oppose this bill because creating a crazy quilt of different types of school board elections across the state would be confusing for voters and a big headache for election administrators. School board races are already too contentious – making them partisan will make a bad problem even worse.
Common Cause has made it easy to take action. Click here. For talking points in opposition to partisan school boards, go to the Indiana Coalition for Public Education.
SB 188 would require school board candidates to designate a political affiliation on the ballot. Has received a hearing in the Committee on Elections, but has not been brought to a vote. From the Indiana School Boards Association: “A total of 13 people spoke in opposition and five spoke in support of the bill. However, there were at least 13 more individuals who were present to oppose the bill who did not have a chance to speak. The chairman held the bill without a vote, and it is yet to be determined whether it will be brought back at a future meeting for a vote. Please email or call your state senator to oppose this bill.”
Contact your senator. Talking points from the Indiana Coalition for Public Education.
House Bill 1116 Various elections matters
This bill would disenfranchise from voting anyone who is convicted of felony election fraud for 10 years.
From Common Cause Indiana: This bill is just another attempt to complicate our elections and confuse voters. HB1116 would add a new penalty to the punishment for election fraud; anyone convicted of felony vote fraud would be disenfranchised for 10 years.
We oppose this bill because it’s not necessary – Indiana doesn’t have a problem with election fraud, so our current laws work just fine. And disenfranchisement is just a bad idea; it doesn’t have a deterrent effect and the impact is felt disproportionally in communities of color. Contact your representative. And take action easily with Common Cause Indiana. Click here.
Calls to action from the League of Women Voters:
SB 335 Climate Solutions Task Force
Contact Environmental Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Rick Niemeyer: s6@iga.in.gov, 800-382-9467, or 317-232-9489
Urge him to support this important legislation and give it an opportunity for a vote in committee. If your senator serves on this committee, call or email them to support this bill, which has bi-partisan co-authors.
(Click here and then click on “Members” to find the list of committee members. Then click on the name to get their email and phone number.)
HB 1515, a tax incentive to property owners for preserving wetlands (bi-partisan co-authors).
If your state representative is on Ways and Means, contact them and urge their support
(Click here and then click on “Members” to find the list of committee members. Then click on the name to get their email and phone number.)
All of us should contact Ways and Means Chairman Jeff Thompson with the same message: 317-232-9651, 800-382-9841, or h28@iga.in.gov.
HB 1138 Preschool & Childcare Facility Water Testing
This bill would require childcare centers and preschools to test their drinking water for lead and to take action if lead is found. The bill is authored by Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond) and co-authored by Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R-Hebron) and Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie).
All of us should contact House Environmental Affairs Committee Chairman Alan Morrison and ask him to hear this bill: 317-232-9753, 800-382-9841, or h42@iga.in.gov.
Our children are dying from a preventable gun epidemic that Republicans refuse to meaningfully address. Instead here in Indiana Republican legislators focus on stripping transgender children of protections provided by DCS (House Bill 1407 Parental rights), costing retirees millions by dictating that investments cannot be in environmental, criminal or social justice industries (House Bill 1008 Pension investments), and on non-existent issues such as providing transgender care for inmates (House Bill 1569 Restrictions on DOC provision of gender therapy). Perhaps most egregious is that Indiana Republicans do have a response to school shootings—arm school staff—and train them—all voluntary of course (House Bill 1177 Handgun training for teachers).
There’s more—check out ‘Indiana’ below. The legislation is not all bad, but as always we need to remain vigilant while Indiana is in session.
This Friday on February 17th the First Lady Jill Biden will be in Valparaiso at Ivy Tech!! Looks like Trump followers are planning a protest of her visit at the movie theater across from Ivy Tech.
We hear she will be at Ivy Tech around 1pm.
Join us and other groups in NWI to welcome the First Lady!
We can’t allow the hateful to show up without her supporters there.
For now- plan to show up at 1 pm – bring your signs welcoming Jill Biden.
As we learn more we’ll let you know. Check our Facebook page for updates. We’ll send an email too if we learn details soon.
Congress
House
“A new House panel investigating the “weaponization of the federal government” held its first hearing on Thursday, as part of the Republican majority’s push to ramp up scrutiny of the Biden administration.
Republicans and Democrats traded attacks during the hours-long meeting for the House Judiciary Committee’s select subpanel. Chairman Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who leads both the full committee and the new subcommittee, laid out his party’s plans.”
Already this session, the Republican-controlled House Judiciary and Oversight committees have held hearings on Biden’s border policies, federal COVID relief spending and Twitter’s handling of allegations surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop. GOP lawmakers, led by Jordan and Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., also intend to investigate the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, and whether Biden engaged in what they have called “influence peddling” while serving as vice president.
Before the meeting began, Ian Sams, Special Assistant to the President, released a memo attacking the hearing’s objectives, citing recent polls.
One of those surveys suggests a larger perception problem for the subcommittee: 56 percent of Americans said the panel is “just an attempt to score political points” in a Washington Post-ABC News poll.” (NPR)
Passed the House
H.Res. 104: Condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over United States territory as a brazen violation of United States sovereignty.
Agreed to unanimously. This is the end of the legislative process for a simple resolution.
Passed the House and goes to the Senate next
H.R. 185: To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.
GovTrack.us: “This bill nullifies the order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic and published on April 7, 2022. (The order restricts the entry of noncitizens who are not immigrants into the United States by air travel unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or otherwise attest that they will take public health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.)”The vote was 227-201 with all Indiana reps voting yea except Mrvan and Carson who voted nay. View the vote.
H.R. 302: To direct the Secretary of Energy to provide financial assistance to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers pursuing certain courses of study relating to cybersecurity and energy infrastructure, and for other purposes.
The vote was 357-56. All Indiana reps voted yea except Bucshon and Spartz who did not vote. View the vote.
H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (A joint resolution is often used in the same manner as a bill. If passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and signed by the President, it becomes a law.)
GovTrack.us: “This joint resolution nullifies the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia. The act allows noncitizens who meet residency and other requirements to vote in local elections in the district.”
Passed 260-162 with all Indiana reps voting yea except Mrvan and Carson who voted nay. View the vote.
H.J.Res. 26: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022.
GovTrack.us: “This joint resolution nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia (DC). The act makes a variety of changes to DC criminal laws, including by providing statutory definitions for various elements of criminal offenses, modifying sentencing guidelines and penalties, and expanding the right to a jury trial for certain misdemeanor crimes.” Passed 250-173 with Reps Mrvan and Carson voting nay and all other Indiana reps voting yea. View the vote.
Passed by voice vote so no individual record of votes was taken
H.R. 548: Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
H.R. 423: Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023
To find and contact your Members of Congress: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials
In other news
House
“A new House panel investigating the “weaponization of the federal government” held its first hearing on Thursday, as part of the Republican majority’s push to ramp up scrutiny of the Biden administration.
Republicans and Democrats traded attacks during the hours-long meeting for the House Judiciary Committee’s select subpanel. Chairman Jim Jordan, the Ohio Republican who leads both the full committee and the new subcommittee, laid out his party’s plans.”
Already this session, the Republican-controlled House Judiciary and Oversight committees have held hearings on Biden’s border policies, federal COVID relief spending and Twitter’s handling of allegations surrounding Hunter Biden’s laptop. GOP lawmakers, led by Jordan and Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., also intend to investigate the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, and whether Biden engaged in what they have called “influence peddling” while serving as vice president.
Before the meeting began, Ian Sams, Special Assistant to the President, released a memo attacking the hearing’s objectives, citing recent polls.
One of those surveys suggests a larger perception problem for the subcommittee: 56 percent of Americans said the panel is “just an attempt to score political points” in a Washington Post-ABC News poll.” (NPR)
Passed the House
H.Res. 104: Condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s use of a high-altitude surveillance balloon over United States territory as a brazen violation of United States sovereignty.
Agreed to unanimously. This is the end of the legislative process for a simple resolution.
Passed the House and goes to the Senate next
H.R. 185: To terminate the requirement imposed by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for foreign travelers, and for other purposes.
GovTrack.us: “This bill nullifies the order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention titled Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic and published on April 7, 2022. (The order restricts the entry of noncitizens who are not immigrants into the United States by air travel unless they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or otherwise attest that they will take public health measures to prevent the spread of the disease.)”The vote was 227-201 with all Indiana reps voting yea except Mrvan and Carson who voted nay. View the vote.
H.R. 302: To direct the Secretary of Energy to provide financial assistance to graduate students and postdoctoral researchers pursuing certain courses of study relating to cybersecurity and energy infrastructure, and for other purposes.
The vote was 357-56. All Indiana reps voted yea except Bucshon and Spartz who did not vote. View the vote.
H.J.Res. 24: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022 (A joint resolution is often used in the same manner as a bill. If passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and signed by the President, it becomes a law.)
GovTrack.us: “This joint resolution nullifies the Local Resident Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia. The act allows noncitizens who meet residency and other requirements to vote in local elections in the district.”
Passed 260-162 with all Indiana reps voting yea except Mrvan and Carson who voted nay. View the vote.
H.J.Res. 26: Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022.
GovTrack.us: “This joint resolution nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia (DC). The act makes a variety of changes to DC criminal laws, including by providing statutory definitions for various elements of criminal offenses, modifying sentencing guidelines and penalties, and expanding the right to a jury trial for certain misdemeanor crimes.” Passed 250-173 with Reps Mrvan and Carson voting nay and all other Indiana reps voting yea. View the vote.
Passed by voice vote so no individual record of votes was taken
H.R. 548: Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
H.R. 423: Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023
Indiana
Passed the Senate, House next
Senate Bill 1 Behavioral health matters
“This bill provides that, not later than December 31, 2024, the office of the secretary of Family and Social Services shall apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services; or to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program. It also requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to establish and maintain a help line to provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line; and that is accessible by calling a toll-free telephone number. Finally, the bill re-establishes the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission.” (Legislative Update Courts) In its original form, the bill’s funding would be funneled into mental health crisis mobile response units and clinics and to sustain Indiana’s 988 mental health crisis hotline. But it was amended to strip all funding from the bill; funding will be contingent on the state budget debate. “This concerns mental health advocates across the state as the crisis continues to swell. Some law enforcement officials are calling for an overhaul of the system which has turned some jails into “pseudo mental health centers,” said Boone County Sheriff Mike Nielsen. funding will rely on the budget process.” (WFYI) Passed unanimously in the Senate and goes to the House next.
Senate Bill 177 School board candidate filing deadline
This bill “would move the candidate filing deadline for school board races up by 60 days. The bill unanimously advanced from the Senate chamber Monday and now heads to the House.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Senate Bill 380 Various education matters
This bill “alters the calculation of a school’s graduation rate by limiting the number of graduation waivers that may be included in the calculation and allows a school corporation to adopt a policy on dress code or disruptive behavior.” (Indiana School Board Association)
Passed the Senate 39-10 and heads to the House. View the vote.
Senate Bill 35 Financial literacy
This bill would “would make financial literacy courses a requirement for graduating high school in Indiana.” (Indiana Public Media)
Passed the Senate 47-2 and goes to the House next. View the vote.
SB 7 Physician noncompete agreements and referrals
This bill that would prohibit new non-compete agreements for physicians this session. Passed out of committee 9-3 (WVPE) Passed in the Senate 45-5 and goes to the House next. View the vote in the Senate.
Senate Bill 252 Long acting reversible contraceptives
This bill lets “health providers use abandoned long-acting reversible contraceptive devices.
Current law ties the devices to their assigned Medicaid recipients — even if those people change their minds or just don’t show up to the follow-up appointment.” Passed unanimously and goes to the House next. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Senate Bill 114 Receivership for past due utility bills
This bill cracks “down on landlords who collect utility fees from tenants as part of rent, but who still don’t pay their utility bills.” Passed the Senate unanimously and goes to the House. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Passed the House, Senate next
House Bill 1006 Mental health programs
This bill would “create a system for law enforcement to refer people to mental health centers where they would be assessed by a mental health professional within 48 hours and scheduled for a hearing no more than 24 hours later in front of a judge.” (WFYI) Passed unanimously in the House and goes to the Senate next
House Bill 1005 Housing
This bill “establishes a revolving loan fund meant to help municipalities cover housing-related development costs. Bill author Rep. Doug Miller, R-Elkhart, said the dollar amount attached to the fund had yet to be determined but would prove vital to incentivize the construction of housing to addresses statewide shortages. A handful of Democrats, mostly representing population-dense areas, voted against the bill. Rep. Regan Hatcher, D-Gary, was one of the five Democrats against the bill and earlier voiced concerns about the bill’s required 70/30 funding split, which prioritizes localities with less than 50,000 people.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Passed 91-6. View the vote.
House Bill 1421 Electric generating facility construction
This bill “would allow utilities to use a financing option known as Construction Work in Progress, or CWIP, in which customers pay for the natural gas project gradually — rather than with sudden rate increases.
It’s a process utilities can already use with other types of power like coal, solar and windmills.
The bill was approved 71-26 and now heads to the Senate chamber for further deliberations.
Author Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, maintains the legislation would provide Indiana with a “smooth transition plan” to eventually pivot from fossil fuels.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
House Bill 1015 Worksite speed control pilot program
“would allow speed cameras in four work zones statewide. When workers are present, police could issue speeding tickets to those captured on camera going at least 11 miles per hour over the limit.” (Indiana Pubic Media) Passed 70-28and goes to the Senate next. View the vote.
Bills still under consideration; haven’t yet passed either chamber
Education
House Bill 1177 Handgun training for teachers
“Indiana lawmakers on Wednesday advanced a bill that seeks to provide state-funded firearms training for school personnel — including teachers.
Bill author Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, said the proposal serves as a response to deadly mass shootings at schools across the country.
The bill would reallocate funding from the Indiana Safe Schools fund — and others like it — for optional firearms instruction for school employees. It additionally provides state dollars for counseling services for students, teachers, school staff and employees in the event of a school shooting.
“What we’ve seen consistent throughout all of these school shootings is just a massive breakdown. And not just school policy — police tactics, communications, open doors left in schools where shooters can walk through, and of these are all human mistakes,” Lucas said. “The purpose of this bill is to train teachers and staff — that volunteer and want to have the ability to defend themselves — a chance to survive.”
House Democrats opposed the effort, however, maintaining that Lucas’ bill amounts to a “coordinated campaign” meant to put more guns in schools, as opposed to decreasing threats to students and school staff through resources and “commonsense proposals.”
The measure passed 9-4 from the House Education Committee and now heads to Ways and Means for further consideration, due to its financial impact.” (News and Tribune)
Currently school staff may carry firearms in school with no training required. Read a compelling argument against this seemingly innocuous bill (in that it is voluntary) at Indiana Capital Chronicle.
House Bill 1428 School board elections
“This bill would add political party identifications to what are now nonpartisan school board elections throughout the state. But unlike other versions of the bill that have previously circulated through the Indiana Statehouse to no avail, this legislation provides “local control” over the issue. The House elections committee adopted an amendment to the bill on Wednesday giving school boards an option to vote to become partisan. It also allows voters in a school corporation to decide on the elections via a ballot referendum.” The bill offers three options: School boards can remain nonpartisan; school boards themselves can vote to become partisan; communities can launch a petition for school board partisanship to be on the ballot to be decided by voters. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Senate Bill 327 Gary Community Schools
“Senate Bill 327 pushes to appoint members to a governing body rather than having Gary schools controlled by an emergency manager. The emergency manager role was appointed by legislators to help the district turn around and improve, all while working with the state. The governing body would be in charge of financial and academic matters, with some members coming from the state while others would be appointed locally.
Under this bill, the governing body would also submit a financial report each fiscal year to update the Distressed Unit Appeal Board on its finances.” Senator Melton is proposing an amendment that would give the corporation more local control and autonomy. Under state control the corporation has spent less per pupil, but has declined academically. This bill will receive an additional hearing in the Appropriations Committee. (The Statehouse File)
House Bill 1002 Education and workforce matters
The bill seeks to expand work-based learning in Indiana high schools, like apprenticeships and internships. It would also create career scholarship accounts that are similar to Indiana’s school choice voucher program. Grants could be used by students in grades 10-12 to pay for career training courses, apprenticeships and certifications outside of the student’s school district.
The amount each participating student can receive to pay for apprenticeships, coursework, or certification would be based on a calculation of the state dollars that their school receives.
Democrats pushed back on the bill, however, saying language around credentialing programs is still too vague.” The bill passed out of the Education Committee 8-4 and was referred to Ways and Means Committee. It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
SB 224 Various elections matters
This bill “provides, in part, beginning January 1, 2024, that a local public question or referendum may be placed on the ballot only at the following elections: (1) A general election, or (2) A municipal general election, but only if the election district for the public question is contained entirely within a municipality.” (Indiana School Boards Association)
This bill also “Defines “election worker” and makes it a Level 6 felony to take certain actions: (1) for the purpose of influencing an election worker; (2) to obstruct or interfere with an election worker; or (3) that injure an election worker. Requires certain counties to pay a specified annual per diem to the circuit court clerk of the county. Allows a county election board to permit the use of an electronic device at a precinct or vote center to display or print a sample ballot.” Passed unanimously out of Elections Committee and reassigned to Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.
HB 1449 Twenty-First Century Scholars Program (Author: Representative Harris)
This bill auto-enrolls all eligible students in the scholarship program. ISBA testified in support of this bill, which passed out of the Committee by a vote of 11-0 and was assigned to the House Ways and Means Committee where it passed unanimously
House Bill 1637 Teacher education programs and House Bill 1528 Transition to teaching
In brief, these bills increase scholarship amounts and state appropriations for several pre-service teacher scholarships that will help attract more talented people to the teaching profession. This will be helpful for teacher recruitment and supporting the teaching profession, goals of ISBA. They both passed unanimously out of the Education Committee to Ways and Means where they haven’t yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 369 Automated external defibrillator requirement
This “bill would require schools to have AEDs at the ready during athletic practices and events is advancing in the State Senate.” (WIBC) Passed unanimously out of committee.
House Bill 1085 Tax incentive financing
This bill “ensures a percentage of TIF revenues be dedicated to school corporations.” Passed out of committee 6-4 and heads to the House floor for a vote. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Environment
Senate Bill 335 Climate solutions task force
This bill would create a climate solutions task force. Championed by the youth group Confront the Climate Crisis, the task force would study and make recommendations relating to the impact of climate change on Hoosiers. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Referred to the Committee on Environmental Affairs where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 451 Carbon sequestration pilot project
“The GOP-majority on the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee approved a bill 8-3 Monday that makes changes to Indiana’s ongoing carbon sequestration pilot project.
The proposal seeks to advance the construction of carbon capture and sequestration projects, while also giving special privileges to an Indiana company that is preparing to undertake the nation’s largest carbon dioxide storage project.
Indiana Farm Bureau still opposes after amendment…Supporters of the technology contend it can allow manufacturers to reduce their carbon footprint and provide economic development in Indiana communities. Critics have maintained that injecting carbon dioxide could cause earthquakes and pollute drinking water.
A similar version of the bill was defeated in the 2022 legislative session.
Indiana Farm Bureau remains opposed to such proposals, arguing that the bill would exempt Wabash Valley Resources from obtaining consent from landowners to inject carbon dioxide under their property.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Health
House Bill 1009 Court ordered pregnancy and child birth expenses
An amended version passed unanimously out of a House committee Wednesday, and allowed courts to order fathers to pay for more expenses than before. (WFIU)
Senate Bill 6 Health care billing forms
Under this bill, “the site of service – which could include nearly all outpatient treatment depending on the definition – would determine the payment.”
It “cleared a Senate health committee Wednesday, though nearly every senator voiced concerns with the bill. It passed 8-4 with bipartisan votes on both sides, but at least five of the ‘yes’ votes expressed reservations about the measure.” Now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. Authored by local senator Ed Charbonneau. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Senate Bill 4
“The state Senate’s health committee voted 12-0 in support of a bill laying out the responsibilities that local health departments would have if county officials accept a major increase in state funding being sought by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb…The governor’s plan would direct $100 million in the next state budget year and $200 million in the following year toward boosting Indiana’s county public health department funding from its 45th-place national ranking.”(Associated Press) Read more about this bill at Indiana Capital Chronicle. Has been scheduled for a hearing in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday.
HB 1568 Prescription for hormonal contraceptives
Allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense oral and patch hormonal contraceptives. Provides that pharmacists who oppose contraceptives on moral or religious grounds are exempt from prescribing them. The Committee on Health and Provider Services had a hearing for this bill but did not close with a decision. (Women4Change)
Other
House Bill 1407 Parental rights “A House committee voted to advance a bill Thursday enshrining parental rights and protecting parents who don’t support their transgender children from allegations of abuse.
It is the latest example of transgender legislation sweeping the nation in Republican-led states.
Bill author Rep. Dale DeVon, R-Granger, said the bill wouldn’t permit actual abuse, but would bar the Indiana Department of Child Services from removing a child from a home because their parents disagreed with the “child’s want to be a transgender.”
The agency, in an email to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, said it had no such policy and worked with the state’s judicial branch to make decisions in the best interest of the child based on state statutes.” This bill passed though committee 9-4 along party lines and goes to the House floor for a vote. Several other bills filed, but not yet heard, target transgender children in schools.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
House Bill 1569 Restrictions on DOC provision of gender therapy
This bill would prohibit the Indiana Department of Correction from using any state or federal dollars to provide “sexual reassignment surgery” to state prison inmates, even if the surgery is deemed medically necessary.
To date, no person incarcerated in the Department of Correction has undergone state-funded gender-affirming surgery. The one inmate who recently secured a court order authorizing the surgery still would be able to get it under the plan. Passed out of committee 10-3 to the House floor for a vote.
House Bill 1008 Pension investments
This bill “mandates that Indiana’s public pension system divest from investment firms or funds that use ESG investment criteria.
Indiana’s top government leaders said this week they are concerned about the potential multi-billion-dollar impact of a public pension bill intended to crack down on the environmental, social and governmental framework known as ESG investing.
And senators are pointing to their less-stringent alternative as House lawmakers scramble to “tighten it up.”
“Intent, and where that potentially collides with reality, is always of concern to me,” Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb told reporters Tuesday. “And we don’t want to do anything that risks — anything that responsibly risks — our pension or what retirees expect.”
Author Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport, and supporters say the proposal would ensure that the Indiana Public Retirement System puts finances first. But an updated fiscal analysis, first reported by the Capital Chronicle, revealed the measure could drop INPRS returns by a whopping $6.7 billion over the next decade.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle) The bill passed through the Financial Institutions Committee to Ways and means where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 292 INPRS investments
“This bill would require the Indiana Public Retirement System to make investment decisions for its 500,000 members primarily to maximize the rate of return, not to influence any environmental, social or governmental policies — known as “ESG” investing.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Passed out of Committee but has not yet passed the Senate.
House Bill 1186 Encroachment on an investigation
This bill “says that people who “knowingly or intentionally” get within 25 feet of law enforcement officers doing their jobs would commit “unlawful encroachment on an investigation” if the officers have asked them to back off. The new crime would be a Class C misdemeanor.” Passed unanimously out of committee to the House floor. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
House Bill 1499 Property tax matters
“This bill would give property owners temporary tax relief to stymie the impacts of high assessments last spring. A new study projects homeowners’ bills payable this year could increase as much as 15%. That’s more than double what previous reports estimated for the upcoming bills. While it could mean relief for property owners, schools are expected to take on the brunt of the tax burden if this bill takes effect. Indiana lawmakers on Thursday approved major changes to the proposal. But top GOP legislators cautioned the complex bill is still in its working stages, and other significant amendments are expected as early as next week. The latest draft of the bill was amended in committee Thursday and advanced 18-6 to the full House chamber…The measure now would provide multiple remedies to temporarily drop tax bills, including through a short-term property tax cap and an increase in state income tax deductions. It would also curb how much local units can raise their tax levies.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
House Bill 1160 Workforce pilot training program
Among other things this bill “includes a pilot program for adult students, an incumbent worker training program and the first TANF eligibility increase in over three decades.” Passed out of the Committee on Family, Children and Human Affairs to Ways and Means where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 348 Crimes against public administration
This bill “would create a new crime — residential harassment — if someone pickets or protests outside a person’s dwelling. It would require an intent to harass and be a Class C misdemeanor. It would also apply to anyone’s home — whether an elected official or a private citizen.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Has been scheduled for a hearing in Corrections and Criminal Law Committee.
Senate Bill 248 Driving privilege cards
This bill would expand “driving privileges to immigrants without documentation.
The bipartisan measure narrowly advanced 5-4 from the Senate Transportation Committee Tuesday and now heads to the Appropriations Committee for a fiscal impact evaluation.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
House Bill 1001 State budget
“Lawmakers got a taste of ongoing state budget discussions Thursday, with a five-hour committee hearing highlighting the state’s shortfall on mental health and home health services as well as its investment in K-12 education. It was the first public testimony on House Bill 1001, which contains the two-year budget. It currently is Gov. Eric Holcomb’s proposal but House Republicans will unveil their own plan next week.”
in other news
“Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is under investigation by the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission in relation to his televised statements about the doctor who oversaw a medication abortion for a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Ballots for the May 2 primary were supposed to be taking their final shape this weekend. But there is plenty of election drama to play out before they can print Lake County ballots. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
Attorney General Todd Rokita joined a multi-state lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), claiming a recent rule change infringes on Hoosiers’ gun rights. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
“President Joe Biden announced Thursday the appointment of Govs. Eric J. Holcomb, an Indiana Republican, and Michelle Lujan Grisham, a New Mexico Democrat, to a special bipartisan board that strengthens the federal and state partnership on matters pertaining to national security.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
