You can make a difference
Join us on Thursday, April 3 at 6pm for our next public meeting at the Merrillville Library. This meeting will focus on veterans issues. We will welcome Martin Del Rio, chief executive officer of the Armed Forces Services initiative in Washington DC. He is going to give us an up to the minute update on what services are being cut for veterans and what we can do to help. If you have a veteran as a friend or family member, please bring them to this meeting. Not only will he speak to us about what’s going on, but he will answer questions. Martin has been a good friend to our Indivisible chapter, and we are lucky to be able to have his observations on what is going on at present in DC.
Register here—and bring a friend, bring a vet.
Join a rally on April 5:
Michigan City: LaPorte County courthouse
300 Washington ST. – NOON
This rally is sponsored by Indivisible NWI & Stronger Together – Current Events Study Group LaPorte Co.
Find poster graphics here. Registration is not necessary, but is appreciated. Register here–& bring a friend.
Peoples’ Veto Day 12-2 on the Old Courthouse Square, Crown Point. Sponsored by NWI Takes Action
Protest & Food Drive Rally in Solidarity with 50501: April 5, 12-2, 16 E Lincolnway in Valparaiso. Bring canned or nonperishable foods to be donated to local food pantries. Sponsored by NWI Activists.
See updated information about state bills here—and other state bills—at our website: https://indivisiblenwi.org/2025/03/calls-to-action-state/ We’ve made it as easy as we can for you to make your voice heard. We’ve organized the bills by topic and included bill summaries, scripts and contact info. The session ends by the end of April and possibly before. The time is now to contact your state legislators.
Also check out MadVoters’ bill watch. It is excellent and continuously updated. A less comprehensive but more user friendly version of their bill watch is here: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker
Check out info and calls to action for education on our website: https://indivisiblenwi.org/2025/03/take-action-dept-of-education/
Check out info and calls to action for public libraries on our website: https://indivisiblenwi.org/2025/03/take-action-for-libraries/
Indiana
Senate Republicans have until April 10 to release their version of the next two-year spending plan.
Trending during testimony were requests for millions of dollars to be retained for Indiana Main Street, a statewide program that helps fund revitalization projects for dozens of Hoosier downtown areas.
Multiple others separately called on lawmakers to consider increases to Indiana’s cigarette tax. Doing so, proponents said, would provide the state with additional revenue to fund additional line items in the budget and stopgap the decrease in dollars from the federal government.
(Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Unless otherwise noted, these bills have passed both chambers and are on their way to the governor’s desk. Contact the governor about bills of concern.
Support: House Bill 1095, authored by State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) The bill extends the Indiana Crime Guns Task Force into Lake County to help prevent gun violence in The Region.
The task force was created during the 2021 legislative session and seized more than 270 illegal firearms and over 75,000 grams of illegal narcotics in 2024 alone.
Senate Bill 457, which would exempt pipeline companies from needing to get certificates of authority in certain cases, create a permit for exploratory wells and well conversions; add inspection provisions; charge new fines for legal violations and tweak other fees passed with a vote of 55-37 — but a separate measure striking a funding compromise is yet to come.
(Indiana Capital Chronicle)
House Bill 1137
Indiana’s red flag law allows police to temporarily remove firearms from people considered “dangerous.” Under House Bill 1137, records would be sealed and expunged if a court later decides someone isn’t dangerous, although law enforcement would maintain access.
Senate Bill 424 would offer public utilities working on small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) a path to recover 80% of pre-construction costs, including anticipated spending, from customers within three years — and before they obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The other 20% would be part of a general rate case.
Senate Bill 424 advanced on a 59-30 vote.
The committee deleted a Senate expiration date for the cost-recovery provisions, so the Senate must agree to the change before the legislation heads to Braun.
Identical language in House Bill 1007 is also expected to cross the finish line, but it is still in committee. See below. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Senate Joint Resolution 21
“Indiana on Monday became the 11th state to issue an identical call for a convention to amend congressional term limits into the United States Constitution — after five years of attempts, which representatives approved on a 66-30 vote.” The resolution does not require Braun’s signature. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Passed through committee to the chamber floor for a vote
Oppose:
HB 1348 Nonaccredited nonpublic schools. Makes no distinction between diplomas issued by accredited schools and homeschools. Passed out of committee to the Senate floor for a vote. Contact your senator.
Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to urge you to oppose HB 1348. This bill makes no distinction between the value of a diploma from an accredited school or homeschool. Homeschools are exempt from all accountability requirements required of public schools; permitting them to issue the same diploma as accredited schools would make accreditation meaningless, and could lower the bar for quality education. A quality education should be the hallmark of a diploma and this bill would render that meaningless. Thank you.”
SB 287 School board matters: Makes school board elections partisan. This bill passed out of committee to the House floor for a vote. Contact your representative.
Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to urge you to oppose SB287. 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. That’s why 75% of Hoosiers oppose making school races partisan. Doing so would also allow big money campaign dollars to influence our elections, and distract from the real responsibilities of governing a school district. Thank you.”
HB 1393 Immigration notice. Requires a law enforcement officer to provide the name, address, and other identifying information to ICE after arresting or issuing a summons to an individual suspected of not being lawfully present in the United States. Will lead to increased racial profiling. Passed out of committee for a vote on the Senate floor. Contact your senator.
Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to oppose HB 1393 because I believe this bill will lead to increased racial profiling. This is important to me because I believe there are many immigrants in this country that are here awfully but will be detained due to their race. Thank you.”
Passed through the first assigned committee to another committee
Oppose: HB 1515 Education and higher education matters. “HB 1515 strips away local control over zoning decisions for charter schools in 92 counties, allowing them to open without regulation on how many can cluster near traditional public schools. A charter authorizer hours away from Indianapolis could approve unlimited charters in the city—without any supply and demand analysis” – Sen. Fady Qaddoura. Will now be heard in the Appropriations Committee. Contact members of the committee: Chair Sen. Mischler s9@iga.in.gov; Sen. Garten s45@iga.in.gov; Sen. Bassler s39@iga.in.gov; Sen. Brown s15@iga.in.gov; Sen. Charbonneau s5@iga.in.gov; Sen. Crider s28@iga.in.gov; Sen. Freeman s32@iga.in.gov; Sen. Goode s38@iga.in.gov; Sen. Holdman s19@iga.in.gov; Sen. Raatz s27@iga.in.gov; Sen. Niezgodski s10@iga.in.gov; Sen. Pol s4@iga.in.gov; Sen. Qaddoura s30@iga.in. To phone a senator, call 800-382-9467
Sample Script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to urge you to oppose HB 1515. This bill is another effort to detract from public schools. Unlimited and unregulated numbers of charter schools will further erode quality education for Hoosier children. Charter schools do not have the oversight, regulation, rigor, transparency, or accountability required of public schools. Nor are they required to accept every student as public schools are. I support public schools and I urge you to vote no. Thank you.”
House Bill 1004 would implement “price caps” on nonprofit hospital charges and restructure a provider tax to increase federal reimbursements for health care entities. Price caps would be based on Medicare reimbursement and received significant pushback from republicans, who passed it anyway. (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Will now be heard in the Appropriations Committee.
Still in committee. Committee hearings scheduled
Committee hearing March 25 Hearing scheduled at 10am CST.
Support: HB 1413 Rape kits. Creates a fund to help law enforcement and testing labs reduce the backlog of untested rape kits. Contact members of Corrections and Criminal Law.: Chairman Freeman: s32@iga.in.gov; Sen. Carrasco s36@iga.in.gov; Sen. Bohacek s8@iga.in.gov; Sen. Brown s15@iga.in.gov; Sen. Clark s24@iga.in.gov; Sen. Click s13@iga.in.gov; Sen. Koch s44@iga.in.gov; Sen. Pol s4@iga.in.gov; Sen. Taylor s33@iga.in.gov. And call 800-382-9467 and ask for the senator’s office.
Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to urge you to support HB 1413. 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. Thank you.”
Committee hearing March 25 at 12:30 CST
Oppose:
HB 1002 Educational matters. The bill is over 130 pages long! In sum, it provides a pathway to eliminate many public school programs, services, and requirements:
- 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 State Board of Education and local elected school boards, and removes required offices on the board.
- Allows a public school district to be completely “charterized” – that is, public school districts governed by locally-controlled, elected school boards could be completely dissolved and replaced with charter schools governed by non-elected, appointed boards instead.
- Exempts charter school board members from submitting a statement of economic interest, reduces oversight of charters, and repeals language prohibiting discrimination. Removes liability from charter schools
- Allows students to drop out at 16 without a qualifying reason.
- Allows schools to cut transportation services with just one year’s notice.
Contact members of the Senate Education Committee. Chairman Sen. Jeff Raatz s27@iga.in.gov; Sen. Greg Goode s38@iga.in.gov; Sen. Brian Buchanan s7@iga.in.gov; Sen. Gary Byrne s47@iga.in.gov; Sen. Spencer Deery s23@iga.in.gov; Sen. Stacey Donato s18@iga.in.gov; Sen. Tyler Johnson s14@iga.in.gov; Sen. Linda Rogers s11@iga.in.gov; Sen. Daryl Schmitt s48@iga.in.gov; Sen. J.D. Ford s29@iga.in.gov; Sen. Andrea Hunley s46@iga.in.gov; Sen. Fady Qaddoura s30@iga.in.gov; Sen. Shelli Yoder s40@iga.in.gov. Call 800-382-9467
800-382-9467. Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to urge you to oppose HB 1002. This bill will gut public education and replace it with a non-transparent, unaccountable and unregulated system of charter schools that do not have to accept every student. The state school superintendent will not need any qualifications, including residency, and school boards will be stripped of their rights and responsibilities. Professional educators, along with qualified board members should be making decisions about education for Hoosier children. Public education has proven to be the best option for providing a high quality education for all children. Do not support HB 1002. Thank you.”
Committee hearing scheduled for March 26 at 12:30pm CST.
HB 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. 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. Contact Senate Education and Career Development Committee Chairman Sen. Jeff Raatz s27iga.in.gov; Sen. Goode s38@iga.in.ogv; Sen. Buchanan s7@iga.in.gov; Sen. Byrne s47@iga.gov.in; Sen. Deery S23@iga.in.gov; Sen. Donato s18@iga.in.gov; Sen. Johnson s14@iga.in.gov; Sen. Rogers s11@iga.in.gov; Sen.Schmitt s48@iga.in.gov; Sen. Ford s28@iga.in.gov; Sen. Hunley 247@iga.in.gov; Sen. Qaddoura s30@iga.in.gov. And call 800-382-9467 and ask for the senator’s office.
Sample script: My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I am contacting you today about bill 1041. This bill interferes with NCAA rules which sets national standards for play over which Indiana should have no jurisdiction. More than that, this is a discriminatory and demeaning bill would serve only to further belittle a very small minority group. Vote no. Thank you.”
Committee hearing Thursday, March 27 at 8am CST
Oppose:
HB 1007 Energy generation resources: Forces Indiana electric utility customers to foot the bill for SMR [small modular reactor] design, engineering, planning, and permitting costs before the utility seeks approval to build the SMR, and even if they never seek approval and cancel the project. Contact members of Utilities Committee. Email Chairman Sen. Eric Koch: s44@iga.in.gov; phone: 800-382-9467. Contact other members of the committee: Sen. Brian Buchanan s7@iga.in.gov; Sen. Gary Byrne s47@iga.in.gov; Sen. Spencer Deery s23@iga.in.gov; Sen. Stacey Donato s18@iga.in.gov; Sen. Blake Doriot s12@iga.in.gov; Sen. Jean Leising s42@iga.in.gov; Sen. Andy Zay s17@iga.in.gov; Sen. Andrea Hunley s46@iga.in.gov; Sen. J.D. Ford s29@iga.in.gov; Sen. Mark Spencer s3@iga.in.gov. Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to oppose HB 1007 because this bill forces Indiana electric utility customers to foot the bill for SMR [small modular reactor] design, engineering, planning, and permitting costs before the utility seeks approval to build the SMR, and even if they never seek approval and cancel the project. It also reduces regulatory oversight of the monopoly utilities by fast tracking approval of new generation resources to serve Big Tech and their data centers, plus a tracker to charge customers for these resources before they are generating any electricity. Thank you.” Take easy action with the Hoosier Environmental Council
Still in committee, has been heard, vote not yet taken
Oppose
HB 1679 Various election matters. (Committee hearing was Monday; vote not yet taken.) Outlines several changes to election and voting laws – one that would require a county voter registration office to conduct a “voter list maintenance program” at least once every 30 days. These programs can be unreliable and will flag and purge actual eligible voters, in addition to failing to protect data privacy.
Contact members of the Committee on Elections. Contact Chairman Sen. Mike Gaskill: s25@iga.in.gov; other members: s42@iga.in.gov (Sen. Walker); s18@iga.in.gov (Sen. Goode); s14@iga.in.gov (Sen. Johnson); s11@iga.in.gov (Sen. Rogers); s48@iga.in.gov (Sen. Schmitt); s29@iga/in.gov (Sen. Ford); s3@iga.in.gov (Sen. Spencer) Senator Spencer is a local senator. You can send him an email and ask him to read it before the committee. Call 800-382-9467 to speak to a committee member.
Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to oppose HB 1679. This bill will lead to inaccuracies in the voter list, fail to protect voter data privacy and lead to eligible voters being purged. Indiana has an abysmal voting record and needs to support voting rather than enacting draconian measures that will deny eligible voters their right to vote. Thank you.”
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. This unduly burdens college students’ ability to vote. From League of Women Voters: The bill also requires the county voter registration office to remove voters from the voting rolls if they have not cast a vote in the two most recent general elections; puts unreasonable requirements on county clerks to verify citizenship; and ends the requirement that BMV employees ask customers if they want to register to vote or update their registration. Still in committee. Contact members of Elections & Apportionment: Chair Rep. Timothy Wesco s21@iga.in.gov; Rep. Zach Payne s66@iga.in.gov; Rep. Kendell Culp s16@iga.in.gov; Rep. Ethan Lawson s53@iga.in.gov; Rep. Kyle Pierce s36@iga.in.gov; Rep. J.D. Prescott s33@iga.in.gov ; Rep. Jim Pressel s20@iga.in.gov ; Rep. Ben Smaltz s52@iga.in.gov ; Rep. Tim Yocum s42@iga.in.gov; Rep. Carolyn Jackson s2@iga.in.gov; Rep. Pat Boy s9@iga.in.gov; Rep. Sue Errington s34@iga.in.gov; Rep. Cherrish Pryor s94@iga.in.gov. Call 800-382-9467 to connect with a representative. Take action with the League of Women Voters.
Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to urge you to oppose SB 10. Voter turnout in Indiana is consistently very low and Indiana should be trying to increase voter turnout–not decrease it as this bill would do. This bill will disenfranchise legally eligible voters by invalidating a state university-issued student ID as a valid form of ID to vote, purging registered voters who have not voted in two general elections, and limiting when BMV officials ask customers about registering to vote or updating their registration.
SB 10 also requires county voter registration offices to cull voters from the voter rolls if a voter has not cast a ballot in two consecutive general elections, not two successive FEDERAL general elections as currently permitted. This promises that validly registered voters will be removed from the voting rolls and denied the right to vote. Voters already confirm under penalty of law when they register to vote that they are citizens and at least 18 years old. Requiring county voter registration officials to review citizenship documentation is outside their scope and an unnecessary burden since non-citizen voting is NOT a problem, as proven by the data. I urge you to oppose the passage of SB 10. It will disenfranchise voters by unreasonably restricting access to voting in a state that ranks 50 out of 51 in voter turnout. Thank you.”
Still in committee
Oppose: HB 1037 – Storm water management. Allows builders to sidestep local erosion control rules. Contact members of Committee on Environmental Affairs: Chair Sen. Rick Niemeyer s6@iga.in.gov; Sen. Andy Zay s17@iga.in.gov; Sen. Scott Baldwin s20@iga.in.gov; Sen. Eric Bassler s39@iga.in.gov; Sen. James Buck s21@iga.in.gov; Sen. Justin Busch s16@iga.in; Sen. Cyndi Carrasco s36@iga.in.gov; Sen. Dan Dernulc s1@iga.in.gov; Sen. La Keisha Jackson s34@iga.in.gov; Sen. David Niezgodski s10@iga.in.gov; Sen. Greg Taylor s33@iga.in.gov. Call 800-382-9467. Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to oppose HB 103 because this bill will allow builders to sidestep local erosion control rules with the result that more pollutant-laden sediment will run off from bare ground construction sites. Thank you.”
Support: HB 1292 Professional sports development commission. Authored by local representative Earl Harris Jr.
Establishes the northwest Indiana professional sports development commission. Authorizes the commission to study various plans and recommendations that are proposed with respect to attracting a professional sports franchise to northwest Indiana. Authorizes the commission to prepare a comprehensive master plan for building the facilities and other infrastructure necessary for attracting and developing one or more professional sports franchises in northwest Indiana. Creates the professional sports development fund.
Appropriations Committee. Contact Chair Sen. Mischler s9@iga.in.gov;. call 800-382-9467 to urge that this bill receive a hearing.
Sample script: My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. This bill is an important step to revitalizing Northwest Indiana, which will benefit all Hoosiers. “
This bill takes a major step toward bringing professional sports to the Region. A professional sports franchise would not only generate jobs and revenue but also introduce a new identity for northwest Indiana. This bill, along with the Gary/Chicago International Airport to casinos and the upcoming convention center, will help make Northwest Indiana the best it can be. Please schedule this important bill for a hearing. Thank you.”
Update on SB 001 Property tax relief
Property tax overhaul continues to evolve at the Statehouse. Gov. Mike Braun’s initial plan (SB 1) would have devastated local communities, defunding local law enforcement, county governments, libraries, and public schools. The amended version of SB 1 passed by the Senate reduced the severity of local impact, but revenue cuts would have still damaged those communities. Now State Rep. Jeff Thompson has introduced a third version. This one would focus on reducing long-term increases in property tax, rather than cutting it. Indiana has low property taxes already, but the drastic increase in property values in recent years has made these low rates feel unbearable to many Hoosiers. Rep. Thompson’s plan may balance some tax relief while ensuring our local governments don’t go without critical revenue. But, nothing is final, and the bill is still being considered in the House. This bill has received two hearings and another isn’t yet scheduled for this week.
In its current form, SB 1 claims to provide property tax relief by allowing homeowners to defer property taxes and capping property tax growth. But, this could lead to future financial burdens. SB 1 will cost local communities $1.4 billion in lost revenue. Individual school corporations will lose millions and the bill would reduce public library funding by over $40 million in 2026. The plan does not offer a replacement revenue stream. Plus, it does not offer relief for renters, who have also experienced increases in housing costs. And, it restricts schools to referendums every two years. View school district impact. Contact members of Ways and Means.: Chair Rep. Jeffrey Thompson s28@iga.in.gov; Rep. Craig Snow s22@iga.in.gov; Rep. Timothy O’Brien s78@iga.in.gov; Rep. Edward Clere s72@iga.in.gov; Rep. Harold Slager s15@iga.in.gov; Rep. Robert Heaton s46@iga.in.gov; Rep. Jack Jordan s17@iga.in.gov; Rep. Cory Criswell s54@iga.in.gov; Rep. Robb Greene s47@iga.in.gov; Rep. Dave Heine s85@iga.in.gov; Rep. Chris Judy s83@iga.in.gov; Rep. Danny Lopez s39@iga.in.gov; Rep. Peggy Mayfield s60@iga.in.gov; Rep. J.D. Prescott s33@iga.in.gov; Rep. Elizabeth Rowray s35@iga.in.gov; Rep. Ben Smaltz s52@iga.in.gov; Rep. Gregory Porter s96@iga.in.gov; Rep. Mike Andrade s12@iga.in.gov; Rep. Chris Campbell s26@iga.in.gov; Rep. Edward DeLaney s86@iga.in.gov; Rep. Earl Harris s2@iga.in.gov; Rep. Sheila Klinker s27@iga.in.gov; Rep. Tonya Pfaff s43@iga.in.gov; Rep. Cherrish Pryor s94@iga.in.gov. Several Democratic representatives serve on Ways and Means and yours may be one. If so, you can send an email to your rep and ask that he/she read it to the committee. You may also call: 317-232-9651. This bill must be amended. Sample script: “My name is [name]. I’m a resident of [town/zip code]. I’m contacting you today to urge you to consider the impact of Senate Bill 1. This bill, as it now states, will cost local communities $1.4 billion in lost revenue. The plan does not offer a replacement revenue stream. Plus, it does not offer relief for renters, who have also experienced increases in housing costs. And, it restricts schools to referendums every two years.
This bill needs to be amended. Lawmakers should identify revenue replacements. They should also improve and stabilize school funding, so schools aren’t dependent on referendums to pay for projects. And, lawmakers should create direct relief for property owners facing financial hardship, rather than deferring taxes that could create future financial burdens. Rep. Thompson’s version seems to be a more reasonable approach to property taxes and should be given priority. Thank you.”
In other news
“Indiana Gov. Mike Braun’s latest executive order eliminating environmental justice protections is sparking concern in communities like Gary, a city long plagued by industrial pollution. Environmental advocates warn that gutting oversight will leave vulnerable residents with fewer safeguards against toxic emissions and hazardous waste. .. While Braun framed his legislation as a way to maintain neutrality in the decision-making process, Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, an environmental watchdog organization in the city, warns that eliminating oversight sends a clear message to polluters: Some communities are expendable.” (Capital B Gary)
A $70 million plant converting primarily food waste into natural gas and nutrients for soil will be constructed in La Porte County. (WSBT)
The Indiana Department of Health issued new guidance to local and county health departments to stop accepting gender change requests for Indiana birth records. (WFIU)
U.S. Steel’s lawsuit against the federal government over the blocked Nippon Steel acquisition is being pushed back to give the government more time to discuss the deal. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
More than 16,000 kids in area schools could be at risk of losing free breakfast and lunch under proposed budget cuts at the federal level. (Courier & Press)
Indiana saw its largest population increase in over 15 years due to immigration, but it’s not likely to last long. (WFIU)
The Indiana National Guard has started a second deployment to the southern border — this time for 12 months and costing an estimated $9 million. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith is doubling-down on his assertion that the executive branch of government can simply ignore the judicial branch if the executive disagrees with a court’s ruling. (Times of Northwest Indiana)
