You can make a difference
On Wed. Feb. 12 at 12pm join our Stop Elon Musk Protest. at the office of Senator Jim Banks, Hammond Federal Building/Courthouse, 5400 Federal Plaza, Ste 3200 in Hammond. This event is sponsored by NWI Takes Action and Indivisible NWI.
We’re hosting a self-care event via zoom this Thursday, Feb. 13
at 6pm Register here: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisiblenwi/event/753093/
Once you’ve registered, you will receive your zoom link.
On Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6pm at the Merrillville Library. State Representative Earl Harris will join us to talk about how a bill becomes a law in Indiana. He’ll also give us updates on legislation. Please register here—and bring a friend!
Then save the date for Thursday, March 6 at 6pm at the Merrillville Library. Buffy Adam’s, Sr. Manager of Resource Development for IYG, formerly Indiana Youth Group, https://iyg.org, will speak. IGA “Creates safer spaces to foster community and provides programming that empowers LBGTQ+ young people and magnifies their voices” They do a lot, programming, therapy, help with housing for older teens, welcoming community space, food, therapy, way more, all free They just opened a space in Crown Point on Rt 30 (almost in Schererville) They’ve been in existence since 1987. More info will be coming soon.
There are many great bill trackers for this session and the best and most comprehensive is from MadVoters.
From MadVoters:
“Our bill tracker has clickable hot links and the direct phone number for every committee chair. Committees meet from now until February 17.
We are tracking over 100 bills at madvoters.org! Visit our website to see a spreadsheet of the bills that includes an explanation of the bill in laymen’s terms, the committee to which it’s assigned, contact information for the legislators, the bill’s status, upcoming actions, and more. It’s designed to be easy to use and empower you to take.:” View the bill tracker here.
There are other good bill trackers as well:
Follow the status of education bills on Chalkbeat Indiana
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
Indiana Broadcasting Stations also has a good bill tracker: 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.
These bills are moving quickly toward becoming a bill. Please consider taking action:
Oppose
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. Passed 34-13. View the vote.
“The legislation was amended earlier in the week to include pieces of a related measure, Senate Bill 235. That language would bar state agencies and colleges from funding DEI offices or employees and from bestowing contracts or grants on entities that mandate DEI training. It also lets Indiana’s attorney general sue for violations.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
From Madvoters: “On Thursday, extremist Senators passed a sweeping bill to whitewash our public spaces here in Indiana. SB 289 will restrict or even outright eliminate training, policies, and curriculum that explore allyship, antiracism, intersectionality, social justice, privilege, bias, race, diversity, gender, and more.
The ramifications of SB 289 should it become law will be immense. Companies may face difficulties in recruiting diverse employees. Teachers will be less likely to practice in Indiana, as the bill also requires them to publicly post all materials relevant to DEI – a mammoth task considering the broadness of the Republicans’ definition of “DEI,” and one especially difficult to do considering the already-limited free time teachers have. Women, LGBTQ+ people, people of color, and people of different ethnicities, nationalities, and backgrounds will find their very identity restricted.
What Can We Do?
In addition to contacting your State Representative to tell them to oppose SB 289, it’s critical that we reach other Hoosiers. Many do not know about SB 289. Writing a Letter to the Editor is an excellent way you can help get the word out to your community. Your Letter could explain what the bill means, persuade why it’s important to stop SB 289, or even tell others about Lt. Gov. Beckwith’s latest stunt on the Senate floor. We have lots of resources to help you write and publish a Letter to the Editor at madvoters.org/madvoices
On the Senate floor, 2nd reading scheduled. A vote will occur on the third reading. Contact your state senator: : https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
SB 450 Article V convention. From the League of Women Voters: Oppose.SB 450 outlines Indiana’s self-imposed rules for an Article V Convention, spelling out which of the 27 Amendments to the U.S. Constitution would be off limits – the Bill of Rights, which are Amendments 1-10 (personal rights Amendments), and Amendments 13 (abolition of slavery), 14 (equal protection), 15 (right to vote not denied by race), 19 (women’s right to vote), 23 (presidential vote for D.C.), 24 (abolition of poll taxes), and 26 (right to vote at age 18). However, SB450 specifically excludes amendments dealing with Presidential term limit and succession, and popular election of senators, among others. An Article V Convention has the potential to become “runaway” in that all manner of heinous alterations to existing amendments could be proposed, as well as new amendments we can only imagine. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/oppose-sb450-article-v-convention-dangerous-bill?source=direct_link&
Education
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. Bill amended. View Call to Action. 2nd reading is scheduled in the Senate today, Feb. 10. Contact your state senator: : https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
Oppose
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. Passed out of committee to the Senate floor for a vote. Contact your state senator: : https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
SB 287 School board matters
Makes school board elections partisan. School boards govern public schools, and selection of these offices should be based on relevant experience and commitment to the good of the school, its students, and its teachers, not partisan affiliation that is largely irrelevant to the responsibilities of this particular office. Passed out of committee to the Senate floor for a vote. From the League of Women Voters: Sign the Petition and send an email to your state senator. Contact your state senator: : https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
SB 442 Instruction concerning human sexuality
If a school provides any instruction to students concerning human sexuality, the school board must include details about the instruction in a conspicuous place on the school’s website, and obtain written request for consent for instruction concerning human sexuality. Prohibits a school from using learning materials that concern human sexuality unless approved by the school board. “Human sexuality instruction” has not yet been defined by Indiana Code, so this bill will create a chilling effect on any mention of or reference to LGBTQ+ people or topics. View Call to Action. Passed out of committee to the Senate floor for a vote. Contact your state senator: : https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
Voting and elections
Oppose
Senate Bill 284 Early voting
“Hoosier voters could see in-person early voting slashed from a month to 2 weeks under legislation moving to the Indiana Senate’s floor
Under current law, voters can cast ballots in person for 28 days ahead of elections. After a Monday amendment, Senate Bill 284 would reduce that period to 14 days. It originally would’ve cut the period to just seven days.” Passed out of committee to the Senate floor.: (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
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. @nd reading on the Senate floor is schedule for Feb. 10. Three readings are required.
Contact your state senator: : https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
Easy action from League of Women Voters: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/oppose-sb-284-reduces-early-voting-days?source=direct_link&
Senate Bill 201 Closed primary elections
This bill “would add new text to voter registration forms: “Would you like to choose your political party? If you wish to vote in a primary election, you must first choose your political party affiliation and may only vote that party’s ballot in the primary election…also requires county voter registration offices to affiliate every registered voter with either the Democratic or Republican Party based on their last primary election vote. A voter would be able to change parties at any time by using a new voter affiliation form — except for a “blackout period” 119 days before a primary election.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Passed out of committee to the Senate floor. Contact your state senator: : https://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
Still in committee:
Support
SB 317 Health care debt and costs
Adds new rules for hospitals in Indiana, and changes how healthcare debt is handled: Hospitals must offer patients a chance to pay medical bills through a payment plan, and inform patients about any charity care programs they offer. For hospitals with more than $20 million in yearly revenue, they must check if patients qualify for charity care before billing for emergency or necessary medical services, and if eligible, offer to enroll the patient in the charity care program. Hospitals must give patients a good faith estimate of out-of-pocket costs before billing them for emergency or necessary medical services. Health care debt cannot be taken from an Indiana consumer’s earnings through garnishment, and health care providers cannot report health care debt to credit agencies for consumers with an income under 500% of the federal poverty level. Consumers can ask for their health care debt records to be removed from their credit file if they are reported incorrectly. Health care providers cannot charge more than 3% interest on unpaid medical bills, providers can’t take collection actions while the consumer is appealing a denial of insurance coverage, and health care debt cannot be used to place a lien on a person’s home or personal property. Violating these rules is considered a deceptive act, which the attorney general can act on. Overall, the bill aims to protect consumers from unfair billing practices and to make medical debt more manageable for patients. View Call to Action. Health and Provider Services (Senate)
Email Chairman Charbonneau A hearing and vote is scheduled for Wed., Feb. 12.
SB 119 Repeals the certificate of public advantage concerning hospital mergers.
Removes the COPA (which approves hospital mergers) requirement. “Indiana is one of 19 states that have COPA laws, which allow hospital mergers that the Federal Trade Commission otherwise considers illegal because they reduce competition and often create monopolies.” Learn more. View Call to Action. Scheduled for a committee hearing on Wed. Feb. 12. Contact members of the committee and chairman. Health and Provider Services (Senate) Email Chairman Charbonneau
Oppose
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. See how much money your local school district would lose. View fiscal note to see impact on local services.
Committee hearing is tomorrow morning. Contact members of the committee: Tax and Fiscal Policy (Senate) Email Chairman Holdman
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. Prohibits the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA) from using state or federal funding on data-proven long term solutions like permanent housing, and instead forces them to redirect funds towards short term ‘solutions’ like shelters. Allows the State Attorney General, private citizens, and businesses to sue cities & towns for perceived insufficient enforcement of the bill. Synopsis based on summary from Allen County Young Dems. View Call to Action.
HB 1662 is scheduled for a committee hearing on Monday 2/10 at 10:30am in the House Chamber.
HB 1662 is a truly terrible bill that will literally criminalize homelessness. Arresting, fining, and imposing criminal records on some of the most vulnerable members of our society – many of them veterans – is unacceptable and cruel. It does not resolve any problem currently contributing to homelessness – like lack of affordable housing, lack of good-paying jobs, treatment for substance use disorder, or skyrocketing cost of living and healthcare costs. HB 1662 will create more problems – like overcrowding our jails and overburdening our police officers.Help us stop HB 1662. Here are 3 ways you can take action:
1. Call Chairman Rep. Doug Miller at 317-234-9139, and ask him to stop HB 1662.
2. Email the Government & Regulatory Reform Committee members, and ask them to vote NO to HB 1662: h48@iga.in.gov, h78@iga.in.gov, h18@iga.in.gov, h70@iga.in.gov, h17@iga.in.gov, h30@iga.in.gov, h49@iga.in.gov, h47@iga.in.gov, h29@iga.in.gov, h3@iga.in.gov, h95@iga.in.gov, h2@iga.in.gov, h26@iga.in.gov.
Education
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. Scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 12. Contact members of the committee. Education (House) Email Chairman Behning
Other
Support
HB 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. View Call to Action. Scheduled for a 2nd reading (3 are required) on the House floor. Contact your representative.
There are still good bills that need a committee hearing to move on.
From MadVoters: “Last chance for bills still in committee: With the committee hearing deadline on Monday 2/17, this next week is the last chance for bills to get a committee hearing. Here are some efforts we’re highlighting in the hopes that they can still get a committee hearing:
There are so many great bills on the verge of “dying” without a committee hearing. We hope that with enough public support, we can secure a committee hearing for some of these bills.
To see other bills still in committee, head over to our bill tracker, and look at which bills are marked as “in committee” for their status (column F). You’ll want to contact the committee chair listed in the next column and ask them to bring that bill to their committee for consideration.
Once a bill passes committee, it still has to be passed by both chambers of the legislature in order to be eligible to become law.”
Good bills that will die without a committee hearing:
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 Email Chairman Thompson
SB 173 Sales tax exemption for menstrual discharge collection devices.
Tax and Fiscal Policy (Senate)
Email Chairman Holdman
HB 1162 Rental rate increase control
Prohibits a landlord from increasing the rental rate by 5%, plus the percentage cost of living increase; or 10%; of the lowest rental rate paid during the 12 months prior (whichever is less). Prohibits a landlord from increasing the rental rate in more than two increments over a 12 month period. Regulating increases in rental rates helps keep housing attainable and protects against predatory landlords. View Call to Action. Judiciary (House) Email Chairman Jeter
HB 1175 Repair of residential rental properties.
Requires a landlord to repair or replace an essential item not later than 24 hours after being notified by a tenant that the tenant’s rental unit is without certain essential services. See also HB 1328, SB 214. Protects consumers from predatory slumlords. View Call to Action. Judiciary (House)
Email Chairman Jeter
HB 1328 Landlord-tenant matters
Requires a landlord to repair or replace a malfunctioning or inoperable essential system no later than 48 hours after being notified. Protects consumers from predatory slumlords. View Call to Action. Judiciary (House) Email Chairman Jeter
To find and contact your Indiana legislators: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
In other news
“The Indiana Department of Health opted to settle with an anti-abortion group seeking access to terminated pregnancy reports on Monday, as outlined in a seven-page agreement.
The department will release the individual reports filed on every abortion, though with redactions to protect identity.
In a release thanking Gov. Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita for their support, the executive director for plaintiff Voices for Life celebrated the victory.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
