You can make a difference
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| Join us for our Secretary of State Forum on Thurs., Feb. 26 at 6pm at the Merrillville Library. Please register here--and bring a friend! If you can, help us support to our communities. This month we are collecting for Raindrops Rising, an organization that helps victims of sexual violence. |
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| Rally with us every Saturday, 12-1 in Highland on the SE corner of Ridge and 41 at the Highway of Flags Veterans Memorial. Limited parking, along with handicapped spots, is available behind the memorial. If the lot is full, park at Wicker Park and rally on the NW corner of Ridge and 41. Please bring nonperishable food items. We donate to a different pantry each week. Please let us know you’re coming and register here. And save the date for Sat. March 28 for the next No Kings Rally. We’ll gather at our corners in Highland. More info is coming. Lake County Sheriff Forum. Thurs., March 19, 6pm at the Merrillville Library. Hear from all the candidates for the Democratic nomination. Please register here—and bring a friend! The SAVE America Act to require proof of citizenship nationwide to register to vote and overhaul voting laws has now topped 50 votes in the Republican-controlled Senate. The bill is supported by Trump and passed the House last week, meaning the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rule is the only thing standing in the way of it becoming law. (NBC) Contact your legislators about the SAVE Act: With Indivisible National With 5calls.org With the League of Women Voters Celebrate Black history and leadership by examining how past organizers built resilient movements. Explore systemic power structures and inequities, and translate historical lessons into contemporary movement-building and leadership practices. Mon. Feb. 23, 6pm. From Indivisible National. Register here. |
Indiana
Bills are moving quickly. Make your voice heard now!
For the most up to date info on bills, go to our website post Indiana 2026 Legislative Session. Bills are organized by category.
Today, 2/19, was the last day for a bill to pass out of committee to the Senate or House floor. When a bill doesn’t pass out of committee, it is considered ‘dead’. BUT the language in a ‘dead’ bill may be inserted into a bill that has made it to the chamber floor. (For example, see SB 4 below–language that could have stripped funding from public libraries was in SB 8, a bill that didn’t pass committee. But that language has now been inserted into SB 4, a sprawling package that will almost certainly be approved. But some of it can be mitigated–see a call to action below!)
When a bill reaches the Senate or House floor for a vote, contact your legislator.
Bills must pass the House or Senate by early next week. Many bills have been changed in the opposing chamber, such as a House Bill in the Senate. In that case, the changes must be agreed to in the bill’s originating chamber. If that chamber doesn’t agree, a conference committee of members from both chambers work out a compromise.
All bills must be finalized and passed by Feb. 27, the day the session ends.
The following are some bills of most concern. Make your voice heard by contacting your legislator. Some alarming bills did not pass through committee and so are no longer being considered. But many others are. Go to our webpage, Indiana 2026 Legislative Session, to read about additional significant bills that are close to passage. Make your voice heard!
This bill has passed both chambers but has been amended so both chambers need to agree. There is still time to voice your opinion:
Immigration
We oppose
SB 076 . Immigration matters. Strengthens the enforcement of federal immigration laws. From Indiana Capital Chronicle: Indiana House Republicans pushed through a bill mandating local cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns, brushing aside criticism that the measure would misdirect police resources and was un-Christian. House members voted 61-28 on Thursday in favor of the bill, which also would allow the state attorney general’s office to seek sanctions against businesses found to have hired “unauthorized aliens.” Democratic legislators repeatedly during debate on the bill denounced the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that have led to turmoil in Minneapolis and other cities. They also condemned the legislation’s mandate that all police departments, schools and universities comply with the federal agency’s enforcement activities. The House made numerous changes to this bill from the version passed by the Senate last month, so agreement must be reached on a final version of the bill before the scheduled Feb. 27 adjournment for this year’s legislative session. There is still time to make your voice heard. Contact your senator and your representative.
From MadVoters: Mandates that Indiana law enforcement, public schools, universities, and local governments must comply and cooperate with federal immigration authorities and agencies, including ICE, or be sued for $10,000 per violation. Prohibits employers from hiring undocumented people. More specifically, SB 76 increases the risk of wrongful detention and 4th Amendment violations; it requires mandatory compliance with ICE detainers, which increases the risk of unlawful detention, leading to costly litigation. This has happened in other states, and SB 76 sets up Indiana to experience the same problem. SB 76 increases surveillance of immigrant communities; it weaponizes public programs and hospitals by requiring them to report and collect data on non-citizens, which could deter eligible people from seeking essential services. (Source: Hoosier Asian American Power).
The following bills have reached the House or Senate floor for a vote:
Affordability
We oppose
SB 1. Human services matters. This bill is a priority proposal for the chamber’s Republican caucus, would end Indiana’s expanded eligibility for SNAP, which allows those with slightly more assets to participate than under the federal baseline. That would push an estimated 3,000 households off the program, according to a fiscal analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency. Significantly tightens eligibility and administrative requirements for SNAP and Medicaid. Terminating “expanded categorical eligibility” (BBCE) means Indiana will revert to stricter federal income and asset limits, estimated to lead to significant benefit cuts or terminations for millions, including working families and seniors. Expands mandatory work or training requirements to age 64. Requires verification of immigration status and reporting of non-verified individuals. Moving from annual to semiannual (every 6 months) eligibility renewals increases the risk of “procedural” disenrollment, where eligible people lose coverage due to missed paperwork, as well as increases administrative burden and administrative costs. Other provisions would set legal status requirements for SNAP participants — but count all of the income and assets of ineligible immigrants toward their household’s eligibility determination and benefit allotment. Contact your representative.
Education
We oppose:
SB 88: Various education matters. Prior to being amended, SB 88 mandated that public school curriculum include instruction on the 10 Commandments, and restrictions on discussions about racism, sexism, and classism. This section has since been removed, but concerns remain: the bill mandates that schools include instruction on the importance of waiting until marriage to have children as part of being a “good citizen.” This is out of scope for a public school, and risks shaming students for their personal circumstances. The bills also mandates that colleges accept the Classic Learning Test (which emphasizes conservative content and Christian texts), in addition to the SAT and ACT. The CLT is used mostly by religious-affiliated private schools. It’s clear this bill is intended to elevate conservative, Christian perspectives within the public education sphere. It’s also worth noting that language within this bill is basically copy-paste from the Heritage Foundation, and did not originate from Hoosiers’ real concerns. Contact your representative.
SB 200. Public school matters. Mandates that schools must allow “youth patriotic organizations” (currently limited to certain organizations as determined by the federal government, like FFA and the Boy and Girl Scouts) to provide information to students on school grounds at least two times per school year. If a school refuses this access, an organization may submit a grievance to the Indiana Department of Education. Schools found in violation of these access requirements may face a reduction in funding or other consequence. Here is why we’re concerned: If federal law changes to classify Turning Point as one of these eligible “youth patriotic” organizations, schools will effectively have their hands tied and be forced to work with them. Contact your representative.
SB 239. Various education matters. Creates additional pathways for converting existing public schools into charter schools. Unlike public schools, charter schools don’t have elected school boards accountable to taxpayers and voters. They are also exempt from some regulations required of public schools and have a well-documented history of fraud and closure. See also HB 1176. Contact your representative.
Elections
High alert! HB 1359. Scanning ballots. As amended by the Senate Elections Committee, this bill would cut early voting from 28 days to just 16 days. Slashing the early voting window will lead to even longer lines at the polls, ultimately disenfranchising voters in a state with notoriously poor voter turnout and engagement. Plus, these changes will disrupt the May primaries and overburden out county clerks, who will have to make last minute administrative adjustments. his was passed without opportunity for public comment. When questioned about this, Sen. Gaskill said that the committee heard a similar bill last year, so people had chance then to testify. That was a completely separate session. The public deserves to have a say in massive policy changes like this one; sneaking it in after that opportunity is an affront to democracy and the will of voters. Contact your senator.
Environment
We oppose:
SB 277. Indiana Department of environmental management. As if this bill weren’t bad enough, it was amended to add a loophole through which PFAS can flow freely. The amendment allows corporations to continue using PFAS chemicals, gives polluters a pass on toxins already found in Indiana’s water and wildlife, and makes it harder for IDEM to research and test most PFAS. Under SB 277, when faced with evidence of “imminent and substantial endangerment” to human health caused by pollution, the IDEM Commissioner would no longer be required to go to court to stop the pollution. That means, in contrast to the current law, the Commissioner will have the option to do nothing to protect Hoosiers’ health livelihoods. In addition to considering whether a state rule is “more stringent than” the applicable federal regulation, the IDEM Commissioner will now be legally required to consider whether that rule would be “burdensome” to the affected industry – but not Hoosiers’ health, livelihoods, or future. In short, SB 277 dismantles Indiana’s system of environmental management and makes enforcement of any remaining environmental protections essentially optional. (Hoosier Environmental Council) Use HEC’s online action form to take easy action. Narrowly passed committee to the House floor for a vote. Read more at Indiana Capital Chronicle. Contact your representative.
HB 1003. Elimination of the Natural Resources Commission. HB 1003 lumps Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in with a large number of state government boards and commissions and eliminates them in one fell swoop. HB 1003 runs to 300+ pages, a number of which were being rewritten even as it was being heard in committee. The bill proposes changes to all state agencies and seeks to eliminate multiple statutory boards and commissions, including the NRC. Much of the rationale for these changes was that boards and commissions were no longer needed, rarely met, and often failed to have a quorum to conduct business. None of those reasons applies to the NRC, however, which is instrumental in providing expert guidance and a public forum for natural resource decisions made by Indiana’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The NRC was created based on the public trust doctrine that governs shared state resources, such as fish, wildlife, protected natural lands, and waters. HEC (Hoosier Environmental Council) staunchly opposes the proposed sunsetting of the NRC on Dec. 31, 2026. Contact your senator.
Health
We oppose
SB 275. FSSA fiscal matters. Addresses various fiscal matters related to the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Medicaid program. By lowering the income level as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), fewer Medicare beneficiaries will qualify for Medicaid. This reduces the number of low-income seniors and disabled Hoosiers who can receive secondary coverage through Medicaid to help pay for costs Medicare does not cover (such as long-term care or certain co-pays). Gives FSSA the authority to lower the rates paid to home health service providers, which could undermine efforts to ensure safe, quality care for those needing facility or home-based services. Requires the state to provide six months of public notice before reducing health facility service reimbursements, down from the previous one-year requirement. This means health facilities (like nursing homes) have half the time to adjust their budgets. Ultimately, the bill will impact healthcare for elderly and disabled Hoosiers, as home health is already dealing with high turnover due to low wages and unstable conditions. It may also increase medical debt for some families because they may be forced out of home health services and into hospitals/ERs, nursing homes, etc that are incredibly expensive and will overburden staff/infrastructure intended for other patients & families. Contact your representative.
Libraries
SB 4. Various fiscal matters. will fundamentally destabilize and harm every Indiana public library. This bill will receive a vote on Monday, February 23, 2026. If Senate Bill 4 passes, libraries can be easily defunded by their county or city. This is not how library governance has worked in Indiana for generations. Take easy action with the Indiana Library Federation.
Other
We oppose:
SB 285. Housing Matters. SB 285 criminalizes homelessness, making it significantly harder for unhoused individuals to secure future employment or permanent housing. If found guilty of sleeping on city or state property, individuals could receive a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500. Diverts some state funds from permanent housing toward substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and short-term shelter solutions – the preferred solution wouldn’t be taking from one but to fund both. Prohibits local governments from enacting policies that “prohibit or discourage” the enforcement of public camping or sidewalk obstruction ordinances, overruling local control. Opposed by the Sheriff’s Association. Testimony in committee was overwhelming in opposition. Read more at Indiana Capital Chronicle. Contact your representative.
Veterans
We oppose:
HB 1343. Military or veteran affairs. While much of this broad bill is outside the scope of MADVoters, we do oppose section 5, which would grant police powers to the National Guard. These expanded police powers raise concerns about the militarization of police and encroachment on civil liberties. Contact your senator.
In other news
Indiana residents will no longer be able to change their gender marker on driver’s licenses or other identification cards after the Bureau of Motor Vehicles enacts a new ban on Feb. 12. (WFYI)
When a Washington Post article named a Merrillville warehouse as a potential immigration detention center, the community responded, along with town council members. The folks of Merrillville are not alone. Potential sales or leases of warehouses proposed as prisons have been canceled in several red states, including Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City and Byhalia, Mississippi, according to Project Salt Box. Project Salt Box identifies potential sites to help us all stay informed. Merrillville is not alone in grappling with federal intentions. Fox59/CBS4 reported Wednesday that an ICE office was proposed for Carmel. The city’s council president, Matthew Snyder, said, “Like many residents, I learned of ICE leasing a building in Carmel, not through official city channels, but through emails from concerned constituents.” (WTHR)
To find and contact your Indiana legislators: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/find-legislators/
National
Congress
In other news
This week, the Trump administration invoked the Defense Production Act to increase glyphosate production—a common ingredient in herbicides. The most recognized glyphosate-based herbicide is Roundup. Bayer voluntarily removed glyphosate from its consumer Roundup products to limit litigation exposure from plaintiffs who claim the herbicide causes cancer. (NYT)
SCOTUS
The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs on Friday, handing him a significant loss on an issue crucial to his economic agenda. The 6-3 decision centers on tariffs imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs he levied on nearly every other country. The majority found that it’s unconstitutional for the president to unilaterally set and change tariffs because taxation power clearly belongs to Congress. “The Framers did not vest any part of the taxing power in the Executive Branch,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote. (AP News)
Read about most of the court cases decided so far this term at our website. They are organized by topic and in chronological order. Several have been decided this month.
