SUMMARY:
Host Scott Aaron Rogers sits down with MADVoters Director of Advocacy Kaitie Rector for a comprehensive midpoint review of the 2026 Indiana General Assembly session. With crossover approaching and only one month remaining in the abbreviated session, they discuss the MADVoters bill tracker tool and analyze key legislation moving through both chambers. The conversation covers housing affordability efforts (HB 1001), electric utility rate reform (HB 1002), concerning bills like National Guard police powers (HB 1343), mandatory ICE cooperation (SB 76), library board restrictions (SB 8), controversial housing legislation (SB 277), and bills targeting transgender rights (SB 182), abortion access (SB 236), homelessness (SB 285), and public education (HB 1086 - Ten Commandments). Throughout the discussion, Rector emphasizes the importance of constituent action, providing guidance on how to contact legislators and submit testimony during this critical final month of the session.
MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker
Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here
TIMESTAMPED CHAPTER LIST:
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0:00:32 - Introduction & Session Overview
- Halftime of Indiana General Assembly session
- One month remaining in abbreviated session
- Introduction of Kaitie Rector, MADVoters Director of Advocacy
0:01:46 - MADVoters Bill Tracker Overview
- Explanation of MADVoters mission and focus
- Bill tracker tool features (spreadsheet and mobile-friendly views)
- Sorting by author, category, rating, status
- Contact information for legislators included
- Website: madvoters.org
- Social media presence across multiple platforms
0:03:36 - Legislative Process & Crossover Timing
- Explanation of where bills are in the process
- Crossover process beginning
- Impact of snow day on House schedule
- Senate bills moving to House, House bills moving to Senate
- Importance of contacting correct chamber representatives
0:05:30 - House Bill 1001: Housing Affordability
- Omnibus bill seeking to increase housing supply
- MADVoters neutral stance pending amendments
- Balancing regulations vs. safety concerns
- Local control considerations
- Bill sent to Senate for consideration
- Reminder: Contact senators for House bills now crossing over
0:07:39 - House Bill 1002: Electric Utility Rate Reform
- Addresses Indiana’s high electric utility rates
- Restructures how utilities set rates
- Includes moratorium on shut-offs during extreme heat
- Discussion of failed Democratic amendments that would have provided immediate relief:
* Prohibition on disconnections for medically frail people (respirators, ventilators, dialysis)
* Utility reimbursement requirements for outages
* IURC oversight concerns
* Andy Zay appointment as new IURC chair (former senator with utility donations)
* Rate caps and affordability provisions
- MADVoters neutral rating pending Senate amendments
0:15:48 - House Bill 1343: National Guard Police Powers
- Section 5 grants police powers to trained National Guard units
- Units under governor’s control
- Concerns about militarized policing
- Connection to Minneapolis and federal immigration enforcement tactics
- Anti-ICE protest in Bloomington featured “Stop HB 1343” signs
- Lawmakers cited decade-old Boston Marathon bombing as justification
- Timing concerns given current political climate
- Bill has crossed to Senate
0:20:39 - Senate Bill 76: Mandatory ICE Cooperation
- Mandates Indiana law enforcement cooperation with ICE
- Similar to “sanctuary city ban” bills
- Concerns about impact on immigrant communities
- Connection to surveillance infrastructure (Flock cameras, license plate readers)
- Local law enforcement discretion removed
- Contact Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee
- Chairman: Ron Alting
0:27:07 - Senate Bill 8: Library Board Restrictions
- Reduces library board seats from 7 to 5
- Current requirement: boards must have “not less than 2%” bachelor’s degrees
- Bill reduces to “just 2%” with degrees
- Allows more political appointments with fewer qualifications
- Part of ongoing attacks on libraries and intellectual freedom
- Concerns about book banning and censorship
- Examples of controversial board appointments in other states
- Broader pattern of anti-education legislation
0:37:24 - Senate Bill 277: Controversial Housing Legislation
- Passed Senate despite significant opposition
- 200+ pages of complex housing policy
- Prioritizes profit over people in housing development
- Reduces local control and community input
- Environmental and safety regulation concerns
- Preempts local affordable housing requirements
- Dense, complicated bill requiring careful analysis
- Now in House for consideration
0:43:00 - Senate Bill 182: Anti-Trans Legislation
- Removes legal recognition for trans, intersex, and non-binary Hoosiers
- Prohibits birth certificate changes
- Bathroom restrictions based on biological sex
- Correctional facility housing based on biological sex (regardless of transition status)
- Creates danger for trans individuals
- Contradicts research showing trans people are more likely to be victims than aggressors
- Mental health crisis concerns (depression, suicide rates)
- Based on hate and disinformation
- Call to action for representatives
- Not yet scheduled but could move quickly
0:47:33 - Senate Bill 236: Abortion Pill Ban
- Continues anti-abortion agenda
- Bans abortion pills
- Targets medication abortion access
- Part of broader reproductive rights restrictions
- Crosses to House for consideration
0:52:48 - Senate Bill 285: Criminalizing Homelessness ⚠️ THUMBS DOWN
- Essentially criminalizes being unhoused
- Punishes vulnerable populations
- No accompanying resources or solutions
- Passed Senate, now in House
- Advocates for housing and services instead of criminalization
0:56:04 - House Bill 1086: Ten Commandments in Schools ⚠️ THUMBS DOWN
- Originally required Ten Commandments posted in every classroom
- Amended after pushback
- Now allows (but doesn’t require) posting
- Still concerning for separation of church and state
- Other religious/historical documents may also be posted
- Multiple versions/interpretations of Ten Commandments exist
- Taxpayer funding concerns
- Crosses to Senate
0:59:21 - Call to Action & Closing Remarks
- Encouragement to contact legislators during crossover
- Bills deserve attention and constituent feedback
- Leave voicemails, send emails over the weekend
- Individual actions collectively make huge difference
- Advocate for better policies, against bad ones, or for amendments
- Democracy requires participation while we still can
- Don’t be afraid to engage (scripts available through MADVoters)
- Gets easier with practice
- Submit testimony through MADVoters website
- Thanks and reminder to tune in next week
MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker
Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here
