You can make a difference
How To Get Involved
Join us for our next public meeting on Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Portage Library, 2665 Irving St. in Portage at 6pm. Join us for updates and working groups. They are working to plan and take actions in a variety of areas. You can join a group at any time. Read about our Working Groups here: https://indivisiblenwi.org/2025/01/working-groups/
Sign up here–and bring a friend!
Reliable news sources: https://indivisiblenwi.org/2025/01/reliable-news-sources/
Read about Indiana’s legislative process—how a bill becomes a law on our website here.
For GOOD bills to get a chance at becoming law, they first need to get a committee hearing. Reach out to the committee chairs for the bills that matter most to you and urge them to give these bills a hearing.
You can help kill bad bills now. Contact committee chairs and tell them which bills you oppose. As chairpeople, they have the power to keep BAD bills from moving forward in the legislative process. You can also help good bills to pass.
MadVoters has a sample script:
Sample Script: “My name is [name]. I’m contacting you today to urge you as the chairman of the [Committee Name] to bring [bill number] to your committee / keep [bill number] out of your committee. This matters to me because [reason]. Thank you.”
There are some good bills and many bad ones.
For now most bills have been assigned to a committee. Each bill must pass through committee before it can be voted on in the House or Senate.
- For each bill listed below the committee to which the bill has been assigned is given. Click on the committee name to go to that committee’s page.
- Then scroll down to the bottom of the page to see links to committee members, including the chair. If a bill is of concern to you and there hasn’t been a hearing, contact the committee chair.
- If a committee vote is pending, contact all members.
- If it passes, contact your representative (for House bills) or senator (for senate bills).
Learn more about pending Indiana legislation from the bill tracker from MadVoters.
They have identified the good and the bad, summarized each bill into simpler terms, linked emails for easy communication, flagged bills coming up on the schedule, and more. It links to each bill and also to the committee to which its been assigned. You can click right on the link to the committee chair to email him or her. View the bill tracker here.
Another excellent bill watch is from the Indiana State Teachers Association: https://www.ista-in.org/our-advocacy/bill-watch
And a comprehensive list: https://www.hannah-in.com/Report_Custom.aspx?sid=xIeqAAfDN2A%3d&rid=pNDAyx4jysY%3d
Another good bill tracker from Indiana Broadcasting Stations: https://ipbs.org/projects/2025billtracker/index.html
Note that the text under each bill is not necessarily a description of a bill, but rather the title of the article in which the bill is discussed. Click on that text to link to the article.
Some bills that deserve our attention are below, but I urge you to read the bill tracker from MadVoters. It’s frequently updated and provides important contact links.
For the latest, follow us on Facebook and on BlueSky.
Indiana–Pending Legislation
Budget
Senate Bill 1 will be the primary property tax relief vehicle this session — a response to Mike Braun’s proposals.
It follows Braun’s four-pillar plan that includes immediate property tax cuts for homeowners, as well as the introduction of a cap to limit future growth. Other portions of Braun’s proposal include transparency on tax calculations and reforming the tax referendum process.
It also includes a $50 million per year cut to the local public health funding program. In addition, Braun’s proposed budget would not fund the state’s only predominantly Black university or a state grant program designed to get more first-generation and minority students to college. (Mirror Indy)
Education
House Bill 1002 Various education matters
This bill is over 130 pages long. Key points provided by MadVoters:
- Removes requirement that IN Secretary of Education have educational experience, live in Indiana or have a college degree.
- Guts rights and responsibilities delegated to both the State Board of Education and local elected school boards and removes offices on the board.
- Allows charter schools to open without submitting a statement of economic interest, reduces oversight of charters, and repeals language prohibiting discrimination.
- Removes requirement that schools must provide transportation.
- Removes consideration of cultural competency in developing school environment.
- Removes World Religions as a course elective.
- Removes summer school option.
- Allows students to drop out at 16.
- Removes requirement that eligible students receive Free and Reduced Lunch forms.
The measure includes dozens of repeal provisions, loosening or eliminating some existing requirements related to teacher training, professional development, school programming, administrative duties, and school boards, among other changes…
Multiple sections related to charters would additionally reduce reporting and operation requirements for the non-traditional public schools.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
This bill passed out of committee to the House floor. Contact your representative.
House Bill 1102 Contracting for preschool programs
Permits school corporations to enter into a contract with religiously-affiliated nonprofit preschool programs, blurring the boundary between church and state. Passed out of committee to the House floor. Contact your representative.
House Bill 1348 Nonaccredited nonpublic schools
Permits unaccredited high schools to issue diplomas, and would make no distinction from diplomas issued by accredited schools. Passed out of committee to the House floor. Contact your representative.
HB1230 School board elections
Provides that for school board offices, each candidate’s affiliation with a political party or status as an independent candidate must be stated on the ballot. Referred to Elections and Apportionment Committee.
House Bill 1173 would protect university students from discipline over some types of speech and also eliminate minority scholarships in Indiana. It prohibits universities from using an applicant’s “race, color, or ethnicity to make decisions concerning the applicant’s admission, scholarship, or financial aid.” It would also guarantee protections for students expressing political beliefs or making statements that others perceive as “bias, prejudice, stereotypes, or intolerance.
(Indiana Public Media) It has been referred to the Education Committee where it has not yet been heard.
Senate Bill 289 Nondiscrimination in employment and education
Requires Indiana’s school corporations, charter schools, state agencies, and political subdivisions to publicly post all training and curricular materials related to topics such as diversity, equity, inclusion, race, ethnicity, sex, and bias on their websites, with specific details about the materials’ origins and accessibility. This will have a chilling effect that changes how topics around race, gender, and bias are taught or addressed. Schools will face restrictions in how they handle diversity and inclusion initiatives, limiting some of their educational practices. Passed out of committee to the Senate floor. Contact your senator.
House Bill 1041 Student eligibility in interscholastic sports.
Requires colleges and universities to expressly designate sports teams as male, female, or co-ed; and prohibits trans women from participating in women’s sports at the collegiate level; and requires out-of-state teams that do allow trans women to play on their team to provide notice to the Indiana coach, athletic director, and each individual athlete at least 60 days before competition. This bill targets trans women and is written with the intention to exclude and demean, rather than resolve widespread problems. It also oversteps the purview of the NCAA, which currently is headquartered in Indiana and is a significant economic contributor. Referred to the Education Committee where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
House Bill 1231 Display of the Ten Commandments
Requires each school corporation to display the text of the Ten Commandments in each school library and classroom. Blatant violation of the separation of church and state. Assigned to the Education Committee.
House Bill 1136 proposes converting 50 schools in the Indianapolis Public Schools district into charter schools due to enrollment shifts.
Four other school districts would also be disbanded under the legislation: Gary Community Schools, Tri-Township Consolidated Schools in LaPorte County, Union Schools southeast of Muncie, and Cannelton City Schools near the Kentucky border in Perry County.
The bill states that if more than 50% of students residing within a school district’s boundaries were enrolled in schools not operated by the district as of Oct. 1 of the previous year, the district must be dissolved. School districts’ average daily enrollment is determined on that date annually.
Each school corporation’s locally elected school boards would also be disbanded. HB 1136 establishes “a new governing board, requirements, and procedures” for each school. Each board would consist of seven members, including appointees from the governor, local leadership, and the director of the Indiana Charter School Board. Unlike traditional school boards, these members would not be elected by voters. (WFYI)
State Representative Vernon Smith noted that Gary does have a lot of charter schools but that the public schools outperform most of the charters. (Capital B Gary)
This bill has been assigned to the Education Committee. You can contact members of the committee at https://iga.in.gov/2025/committees/house/education.
The committee chair is Robert Behning. Contact him to urge him not to bring the bill up before the committee: h01@iga.in.gov and 317-232-9753.
At the moment this bill has been pulled from consideration, but we need to keep up the pressure.
House Bill 1201 bars schools from suspending or expelling students for being chronically absent or habitually truant. (Indiana Public Media) Passed out of committee.
Senate Bill 176 would allow students to begin an educational program in licensed practical nursing while still in high school. Passed out of committee. (Indiana Public Media)
SB 235 Limitations on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prohibits the funding of DEI programs, officers, and initiatives at state agencies, state universities, and health professional licensing boards. This would eliminate training, programming, activities, policies, and procedures that explore allyship, antiracism, intersectionality, social justice, privilege, bias, and more. View Call to Action. Passed out of committee to the Senate floor for debate and vote. Contact your state Senator
SB 257 Civics education Education and Career Development (Senate)
Email Chairman Raatz
Specifies certain ideas as “shared principles” and requires schools to prioritize these principles (federalism, republicanism, limited government, popular sovereignty, and more), while prohibiting instruction that fosters a different national identity, heritage, or culture that is contrary to shared principles (such as racial discrimination, gender discrimination, class struggle, privilege, and more). Requires schools to help foster a national identity, heritage, and culture established by an aspiration to certain shared principles. Creates a process for a parent or community member to request an investigation if they believe instruction is not aligned to shared principles. This bill essentially requires schools to participate in propaganda, provides an investigation process into teachers who are accused of not complying, and elevates the narrative of the status quo while silencing and invalidating experiences of marginalized people. View Call to Action.
HB 1636 Dynamic school choice
Creates a new school voucher system that can be used to cover costs for tuition, supplies, tutoring, extracurricular activities, transportation costs, and more – all at taxpayer expense, regardless of the student’s income level. By giving students who aren’t attending public schools access to public funds, we greatly dilute the funding pot for public schools – especially when we pay for students who don’t even need the help. View Call to Action. Education (House)
Email Chairman Behning
HB 1652 Choice scholarships
Removes income cap for receiving school vouchers. By giving students who aren’t attending public schools access to public funds, we greatly dilute the funding pot for public schools – especially when we pay for students who don’t even need the help. View Call to Action. Education (House)
Email Chairman Behning
SB 523 School chaplains
Permits chaplains to work or volunteer in public schools, offering both secular and nonsecular advice and guidance. Public schools are not Sunday schools. Students shouldn’t feel pressured or evangelized at school. View Call to Action. Education and Career Development (Senate)
Email Chairman Raatz
HB 1394 Authority to deny enrollment to unlawful immigrant
Authorizes a school corporation to deny enrollment to immigrant students if they believe the student is present in the US unlawfully. Not only could this bill be used to racially profile students, but it punishes children for situations far behind their control. Education (House)
Email Chairman Behning
HB 1531 Various immigration matters
An anti-immigrant bill that, among other provisions, requires schools to report on their “unlawfully present” students. Children have no control over their immigration status, and public schools are not immigration officers. View Call to Action. Judiciary (House)
Email Chairman Jeter
HB 1496 State education institution management
Bans state educational institutions from using public funds for activities or programs outside the classroom that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, or engage in political or social activism. View Call to Action. Education (House)
Email Chairman Behning
Support: SB 213 K-12 education funding
Requires each school corporation to establish a minimum salary of $65,000 for each full-time teacher. Increases the income cap of a family that may participate in the on My Way Prekindergarten Program from 150% to 185% of the federal poverty level. Increases school funding by 6% in 2026 and 6% in 2027. View Call to Action. Appropriations (Senate)
Email Chairman Mishler.
Support: SB 228 PAC contributions to a school board candidate.
Provides that a political action committee (PAC) may not make total annual contributions in excess of $5,000 to a specific candidate for a school board office. Dark money and excess interference from PACs corrupts the democratic system into a system where an elected office – and power – is sold to the highest bidder. View Call to Action. Elections (Senate)
Email Chairman Gaskill
Support: SB 320 Choice scholarships
Requires voucher schools (choice scholarship) to hold at least one public meeting with public comment each semester concerning the receipt and expenditure of choice scholarship funds. Specifies annual reporting requirements for schools that enroll choice scholarship students. Currently, private schools that accept vouchers do not have to report on their finances to the public, despite them using public funds. This bill is an important step in ensuring fiscal responsibility, consistency, and accountability. View Call to Action. Education and Career Development (Senate)
Email Chairman Raatz
Support: SB 403 Charter school requirements
Holds charter schools accountable to the access to financial data requirements required of local schools, and requires that at least one member of the charter school board be appointed by the fiscal body of the county in which the charter school is located. Charter schools lack oversight, accountability, and local control, and this bill would help correct that. View Call to Action. Education and Career Development (Senate)
Email Chairman Raatz
Support: House Bill 1069, introduced by Rep. Earl Harris, Jr. (D-East Chicago), would give the Commission for Higher Education power to cap tuition rates and mandatory fees for Indiana residents while they earn a bachelor’s degree. It’s been referred to the Education Committee where it hasn’t been scheduled for a hearing. Contact the Committee Chair to ask that this bill be heard: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/legislators/legislator_robert_behning_187
Elections and voting
House Bill 1029 would allow a Hoosier to vote in a primary election only if the voter has “properly” affiliated with a specific political party by Dec. 31 the year before a May primary.
Currently, “Indiana is considered partially open because you don’t register as a member of the Republican or Democratic parties. But you do choose a Republican or Democratic ballot when voting in a primary. Your choice of ballot is also public record.
The only real deterrent from crossover voting is that you could negatively impact your ability to run for office in the future under a party’s umbrella.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Referred to the Elections and Apportionments Committee where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
SB 010 Voter registration
Makes changes to voter registration: School IDs will no longer be accepted for voting ID purposes – even when they meet all requirements. Requires every county voter registration office to conduct a “voter list maintenance program” at least twice a year. These programs can be unreliable and will flag and purge actual eligible voters, in addition to failing tp protect data privacy. Removes requirement that BMV employees ask if someone wants to register to vote or update their voter info. Read More. View Call to Action.
HB 1644 Student voting
Removes college students’ right to register to vote using their campus address, and takes away college students’ ability to use their school ID for voting purposes, even if it satisfies all ID requirements. This bill is a blatant attempt to silence college students’ voices and make it harder for them to exercise their right to vote. View Call to Action. Elections and Apportionment (House)
Email Chairman Wesco
SB 284 Early voting
Reduces the early voting (in person absentee voting) to just 7 days before the election. Early voting is critical for voter accessibility and improved turnout. Indiana has one of the lowest voter turnout rates, and this bill would worsen turnout. View Call to Action Elections (Senate)
Email Chairman Gaskill
Support: SB 200 Straight ticket voting
Eliminates straight ticket voting in a general or municipal election. Increases the amount of time that a voter may remain in the voting booth from four minutes to seven minutes. Straight ticket voting contributes to partisan divides and voter disengagement. View Call to Action. Elections (Senate)
Email Chairman Gaskill
Energy
House Bill 1007 Energy generation resources
This bill “creates a 20% tax credit for manufacturers of small modular nuclear reactors, or SMRs.
Authored by Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, it was heard and amended in the House utilities committee Tuesday. Consumer advocates argue the novel technology is “too risky” and will come at a “massive” cost to ratepayers. A vote to advance the legislation to the full chamber is expected next week.
Similar legislation, Senate bills 423 and 424 — would create SMR pilot programs and allow utilities to shift research and development costs on to Hoosier ratepayers…Currently, no electricity-generating nuclear power plants exist in the state. And of the few projected SMR sites across the United States — and the world — none are currently operational.
upfront adoption costs can balloon, and some scientists and environmental groups are concerned that operating expenses are actually much higher, and worry that SMR plants are more dangerous than developers let on.
Of significant concern to advocates, however, is the potential for consumers to bear utilities’ costs of getting SMR up and running. (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Referred to the Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee
Gun control
HB 1170 Elimination of gun free zones
Says that Indiana will generally no longer regulate firearms, ammunition, and firearm accessories. Voids local ordinances, rules, or policies that conflict with this. Individuals who are legally allowed to carry or possess firearms under state or federal law will be able to do so without restriction on certain state-affiliated properties, including state colleges and universities, with limited exceptions. If more guns made us safer, the US would be the safest country in the world. Firearm regulations save lives, and this bill removes those lifesaving regulations, and eliminates local control. View Call to Action. Referred to Committee on Public Policy
Support: HB 1676 Firearm storage
Makes it a Level 6 felony for a person responsible for a dependent to recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally fail to secure a loaded firearm in their home or vehicle if the dependent uses the firearm to harm or kill someone. Safe storage is a critical component of firearm responsibility. View Call to Action. Courts and Criminal Code (House)
Email Chairwoman McNamara
Health
HB 1003 aims to build on the legislature’s previous measures on health care price transparency.
Some of the provisions in Barrett’s expansive bill include tighter controls over prior authorization by health insurers and a stricter timeline for good faith estimates of the cost of health care procedures. (WBOI) This bill was referred to the Insurance Committee and is on the schedule for next Tues., Jan. 28.
Senate Bill 475, which would eliminate noncompete agreements for physicians has passed through committee. (Statehouse File)
House Bill 1042 Sales tax exemption for certain period products
Makes period products and adult diapers tax-free. Indiana is one of 21 states still taxing menstrual products, imposing an unfair, unconstitutional economic burden on Hoosiers. See also SB 173. Read more. Sign the petition. Assigned to the Ways and Means Committee where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 2 affects the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) and includes a cap on enrollment, a lifetime limit on eligibility and Indiana’s previously halted work requirements. (WBOI)
“The state’s Healthy Indiana Plan is an expansion of traditional Medicaid to cover moderate-income Hoosiers who can’t afford other options.
The proposal would limit the number of enrollees to 500,000 — below the 692,028 currently on HIP. The fiscal impact of the legislation is uncertain, as 90% of HIP’s costs are covered by the federal government and the remaining 10% is funded by a hospital provider tax and cigarette tax. beneficiaries currently on HIP — and limit Hoosiers to 36 months of coverage over their lifetime…” (Indiana Capital Chronicle) The bill was referred to the Appropriations Committee and has not yet received a vote.
House Bill 1244 Maternal health
Requires the Indiana Department of Health to develop a program to award grants to certain community based programs to reduce the prevalence of maternal mortality in Indiana. Has been assigned to the Public Health Committee and has not yet been on the schedule.
Hospitals
HB 1004, would examine what nonprofit hospitals are charging for services compared to the Medicare reimbursement rate.
The measure would revoke nonprofit status for hospitals charging more than 200 percent of the Medicare reimbursement rate. (WBOI) Assigned to the Public Health Committee where it has not yet been heard.
Women’s reproductive rights
SB 170 Prohibits sending abortion pills within Indiana. Provides that each offense is a Class A misdemeanor with a Level 6 felony for subsequent offenses. Adds Mifepristone and Misoprostol to the list of Schedule IV drugs. Referred to Health and Provider Services Committee where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
SB 171 Prohibits the prescribing or possession of abortion medication in Indiana, including abortion pills in the mail.
The bill has been assigned to the Health and Provider Services Committee: https://iga.in.gov/2025/committees/senate/health-and-provider-services. It has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Senate Bill 171 has several key provisions:
- Bans the use of “abortion-inducing drugs” in the state — even for women who meet a legal exception to obtain an abortion. Some of Indiana’s abortions fall under this medical category and would now require a surgical abortion.
- Makes it a misdemeanor to prescribe or possess abortion-inducing drugs in the state, but has a defense for pregnant women. State law defines an abortion-inducing drug as a “substance, drug, or medicine that is prescribed or dispensed with the intent to terminate a pregnancy.”
- Requires a woman who seeks an abortion under the state’s rape or incest exceptions to provide the doctor with an affidavit under penalties of perjury attesting to the rape or incest. This requirement was defeated in 2022 during an amendment fight.
- Makes it illegal for nonprofit organizations in Indiana to provide or offer financial assistance to pay for, offset the cost of, or reimburse the cost of an abortion-inducing drug.
- Gives the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction over actions concerning abortion-inducing drugs. This means the attorney general would be able to prosecute criminal cases if a local prosecutor doesn’t.
(Indiana Capital Chronicle: https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/01/08/proposal-would-outlaw-use-of-abortion-pills-and-tighten-rape-exception/)
Other important information:
“Mifepristone is employed in managing and treating hyperglycemia associated with Cushing syndrome (StatPearls: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557612/)
“While mifepristone is most well-known for its use in medication abortion, its potential uses go beyond ending early pregnancies.
That’s because it has multiple biological effects, which explains why it could work for conditions as unrelated as veterans with brain injuries and pregnant women seeking abortions. In addition to blocking progesterone, it also blocks the hormone cortisol.
Cortisol is often called the stress hormone, since it’s released in response to stress. But cortisol also plays a key role in regulating blood pressure, blood sugar, metabolism, inflammation and sleep cycles, meaning that too much cortisol can contribute to a host of illnesses. Having a safe, effective way to block the receptors cortisol needs in order to act on these systems has been valuable for doctors who treat all sorts of conditions… Apart from its two FDA-approved uses, mifepristone is also being investigated in clinical trials for breast cancer, brain cancer, prostate cancer, alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, among other conditions.” (NBC)
House Bill 1334 Unborn children
Would change the definition of “human being” to include “unborn children.” Provides that homicide and battery apply to “unborn children.” This means that zygotes, embryos, and fetuses would be recognized as people. The bill removed feticide because it has renamed a fetus a human being, and that abortion would be considered murder with the exception of life of the mother or spontaneous miscarriage. Will impact IVF. Referred to the Committee on Committee on Courts and Criminal Code where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Housing
HB 1005 would put more money into a previously-created housing infrastructure loan fund for local governments.
The legislation would prioritize loans for communities focused on policies like multifamily and higher density housing. (WBOI) It has been assigned to the Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform. It is scheduled for a hearing on Mon. Jan. 27.
Justice system
HB 1006 would make a “once-in-a-generation investment” in the criminal justice system.
The bill would create a public prosecution fund that would reimburse counties for up to 50 percent of the cost of their deputy prosecutors’ salaries and benefits.
The legislation would also increase the reimbursement rate counties receive for their public defenders, which Jeter said are an important part of the justice system. (WBOI) Referred to the Committee on Courts and Criminal Code where it is not yet scheduled for a hearing.
LGBTQ+ rights
HB 1341 Birth certificate information
Prohibits making changes to the gender listed on an individual’s birth certificate. This bill is cruel and senseless, and does not benefit Hoosiers in anyway. Referred to the Committee on Public Health (House)
Email Chairman Barrett
SB 441 Definition of sex and gender; birth certificates
Says the terms “sex” and “gender” in the Indiana Code are interchangeable unless stated otherwise in specific cases. Requires the Department of Health to find birth certificates that have had a sex change by court order, change the sex back to the original one on those certificates, and cancel the old certificate. This bill seeks to deny legal recognition to trans Hoosiers by essentially erasing mention of them in state law. View Call to Action.
HB 1342 Use of public bathrooms
Criminalizes using a bathroom that does not align with your biological sex. This bill is designed to exclude and demean trans Hoosiers. Trans people aren’t causing issues in the bathroom – predatory people are. Laws should address actual predators, not target vulnerable people. Courts and Criminal Code (House)
Email Chairwoman McNamara
Libraries
Senate Bill 283 Library governance
Eliminates the authority of public libraries to impose an ad valorem property tax as a “taxing unit”. Requires a public library to prepare and submit a recommended annual budget to the fiscal body of the county in which the territory of the public library is located to provide the revenues necessary for the operation and maintenance of the public library by a special tax levy, a specific appropriation, or both.
Referred to the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee where it received a hearing with only testimony against this bill—no one in support of it. Under current law libraries can “introduce a levy on property taxes, an authority overseen by the Department of Local Government Finance. Then the board justifies the levy in a public hearing before the state can certify…”
The Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee opted not to put the bill up for a vote, holding it back for potential amendments.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Local government
House Bill 1233 Local Government Reorganization
This bill would eliminate all fire protection districts and territories across Indiana except for Marion County.
The county executive would assume the duties of township trustees in providing fire protection and emergency services. Counties would be tasked with adopting a fire plan, with the county emergency management director functioning as the county fire chief.
The Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association opposes the bill
“House Bill 1233 eliminates township governments, dissolves fire territories and districts, and centralizes control under county leadership, risking slower response times and reduced local input. Contact your state representatives immediately to voice strong opposition to this bill and protect the safety and independence of our communities,” IVFA said. (Fox59)
Referred to the Committee on Local Government: https://iga.in.gov/2025/committees/house/local-government Scroll down from the link to see members of the committee.
The Chair is Chris May: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/legislators/legislator_chris_may_1. Please contact him to let him know you don’t want him to bring the bill up for consideration. That will kill the bill. It hasn’t yet been scheduled for a hearing.
House bill 1229 Local government finance
This law would: End property taxes in Indiana. Stop local governments from borrowing money or making new financial commitments that rely on property taxes. End certain funding programs that use property tax increases, like special districts that use tax money for specific projects. Allow schools to charge an annual fee instead of collecting certain property taxes to fund their operations or school safety. Make it harder for local governments to increase taxes or create new funding for projects like schools or safety programs. Eliminate county and township assessor jobs, which currently value property for tax purposes. Expand sales taxes to cover more services, except for health-related services and charity work. Assigned to the Ways and Means Committee where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Social media
Senate Bill 11, authored by Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek, would require a social media operator like Facebook or TikTok to restrict a minor from accessing the site if they did not receive “verifiable parental consent” from the minor’s parent. (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Passed out of committee.
Other
HB 1008, “authored by House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers), which would create a joint commission with Illinois to explore annexing counties that seek to secede from Indiana’s western neighbor.
Such action would require legislation by both Indiana and Illinois and likely require Congressional approval, making it unlikely to happen in the near future.” (WBOI) Referred to the Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform.
Senate Bill 4 ensures water projects make sense from both an economic and hydrological standpoint. Specifically, the legislation would require a utility or large private sector user to get approval from Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources before carrying out a water project.
Koch said a second permit process outlined in the bill would loop in Indiana’s Utility Regulatory Commission “for all large, long-haul water pipelines.” Referred to the Committee on Utilities.
(Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Senate Bill 143 Parental rights
Prohibits a governmental entity from: (1) advising, directing, or coercing a child to withhold certain information from the child’s parent; or (2) denying a child’s parent access to certain information. MadVoters: “This bill risks a child’s safety and prioritizes parental control over a child’s health and wellness.”
It was assigned to the Judiciary Committee and was passed and will next be heard on the Senate floor. Contact your senator.
Senate Bill 123 Unemployment compensation
Reduces the maximum number of weeks someone can receive regular unemployment benefits from 26 to 14 weeks. Adds new work requirements. Has been assigned to the Pensions and Labor Committee.
House Bill 1117 State property offenses
Provides that a person convicted of rioting, criminal mischief, burglary, residential entry, or criminal trespass committed on state property is ineligible to receive state public assistance, including tuition assistance, for a period of three years. This bill seems like it targets protestors and could be potentially biased and unfairly applied. Referred to the Committee on House Courts and Criminal Code. Will be heard and voted on next week.
HB 1662 State and local policies on homelessness
Criminalizes homelessness by prohibiting camping, sleeping, or long-term shelter on state or local government land unless authorized. Unauthorized use of such land could result in a Class C misdemeanor. Penalizes cities or towns if they decline to enforce this prohibition. View Call to Action. Government and Regulatory Reform (House) Email Chairman Miller
HB 1684 Irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
Bans no-fault divorce. Requires people who are married with children to prove why the divorce should be granted. This could lead to more people – predominantly women – trapped in abusive marriages. View Call to Action. Judiciary (House)
Email Chairman Jeter
Support: HJR 2 Initiatives and referendums
This resolution, if passed by both chambers within 2 consecutive legislative sessions, would allow voters to propose and adopt amendments to the Constitution of the State of Indiana through a ballot initiative, and allow the people to approve or reject any law or part of any law enacted by the general assembly through a referendum. This proposed amendment has not been previously agreed to by a general assembly. View Call to Action. Judiciary (House)
Email Chairman Jeter
SB 001 Property tax relief
Changes the homestead standard deduction so that it is either: 60% of the homestead’s assessed value (AV) if the AV is over $125,000; or $48,000 plus 60% of the remaining AV if the AV is $125,000 or less. Eliminates the supplemental homestead deduction. Introduces a property tax liability credit for all taxable real property. Limits referendums only during general elections in even-numbered years. This bill would be retroactive to 1/01/2025, and in the next three years it would cause significant decreases in revenue for local community services, including a loss of $1.8 billion from school corporations, $140 million from libraries, $1 billion from local municipalities, and $4 billion from counties. View Call to Action. Tax and Fiscal Policy (Senate)
Email Chairman Holdman
Support: Senate Bill 142 Eviction issues
An eviction expungement shall be automatically ordered by the court—rather that the tenant having to request it—as long as the tenant meets certain requirements. (Indiana has one oe the highest conviction rates in the country and eviction records make it very difficult to acquire housing in the future.) Was assigned to the Judiciary Committee where it passed out of committee.
Support: Senate Bill 115, authored by Sen. Rodney Pol (D-Chesterton), would require the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to establish a paid family and medical leave program for Indiana workers. (WVPE) Referred to the Pensions and Labor Committee where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Support: Senate Bill 497 would create a newborn tax credit. It would create a $500 tax credit for eligible Hoosiers who earn up to 720 percent of the poverty line. (WVPE)
Referred to the Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy where it has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.
Support: House Bill 1413 Rape kits
Creates a fund to help law enforcement and testing labs reduce the backlog of untested rape kits. Indiana has the nation’s 2nd highest number of untested rape kits; data collected per this bill would inform on best practices to address the backlog, and empower and support victims as they seek justice.
Many bills listed above come from MadVoters’ excellent Bill Watch. Link to it here.
In Other News
“Indiana’s Black Legislative Caucus on Tuesday condemned Gov. Mike Braun’s anti-diversity moves as benefiting only those who “feel attacked.”
Braun last week signed an executive order replacing “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) throughout state government policies and programming with “merit, excellence and innovation” (MEI). It also closed the Office of the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer created by his predecessor.
“Diversity, equity and inclusion is not about giving any group a handout,” said Rep. Earl Harris Jr., the caucus’ leader. “It’s about giving everyone access by expanding opportunities for even more talented and qualified individuals, regardless of their identity.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
On Wed. the governor signed Executive Order 25-20, which calls on the Indiana Department of Health to “monitor all abortions performed in Indiana to assure the abortions are done only under the authorized provisions of the law.” (Statehouse File)
1 million-square-foot Amazon warehouse opens in Merrillville, will become town’s largest employer with 1,000 jobs
Gary finances threatened by state comptroller’s revenue distribution error