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Scott Aaron Rogers interviews Kaitie Rector from MADVoters for their weekly legislative update covering bills moving through the Indiana General Assembly. Bills have crossed over from their original chambers. Good news: HB 1333 (agricultural/data centers) appears dead after public outcry. Positive bills include DCS reforms (HB 1036, 1307), syringe exchange (SB 91), medical consent (SB 90), hospital oversight (SB 225, HB 1335), anti-bribery (HB 1065), childcare credits (HB 1177), and environmental impact studies (HB 1343). Concerning bills include SB 76 (immigration enforcement), SJR 1 (bail amendment), HB 1423 (IPS charter), SB 239 (eliminating financial aid/charter schools), SB 88 (”good citizenship”/success sequence), SB 200 (Turning Point USA in schools), SB 15 (library restrictions), and SB 277 (eliminating environmental monitoring).
BILLS DISCUSSED (IN ORDER WITH TIMESTAMPS):
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0:06:51 - HB 1333: Agricultural Development / Data Centers
- Would allow data centers on brownfield agricultural land, overriding local control
- Passed House 56-43 showing Republican defections
- Authors walking back support after public outcry; appears dead
0:10:31 - HB 1086: Ten Commandments in Schools (DEAD)
- Watered down from required to optional posting
- Died before crossover
0:11:37 - HB 1199: Death Penalty / Firing Squad Methods (DEAD)
- Would have added firing squad as execution method
- Died before crossover
0:13:10 - SB 76: Immigration Enforcement Cooperation
- Mandates law enforcement, schools, universities, local governments cooperate with ICE
- Heavy fines for non-compliance
- Vague “cooperate” language could require detaining individuals without warrants
0:19:28 - SJR 1: Constitutional Amendment on Bail
- Would allow judges to deny bail for “substantial risk to community”
- Concerns: higher pretrial detention, jail overcrowding without funding
0:20:56 - HB 1036 & HB 1307: DCS Reform Bills
- Improving DCS processes and transparency
- Mandating assessments for vulnerable kids
0:22:27 - SB 91: Syringe Exchange Program
- Redoing/improving syringe exchange program
- Passed Senate 48-2
0:24:15 - SB 90: Medical Consent for Unconscious Patients
- Requires consent for pelvic, prostate, rectal exams on unconscious patients (except emergencies)
- “How is this not already illegal?”
0:26:22 - SB 225: Hospital Business Practices Oversight
- Increases hospital oversight
- Protects patients from aggressive medical debt collection
0:28:19 - HB 1065: Bribery/Gratuities to Public Officials
- Bans “gratuities” to public officials
- Responding to 2024 Supreme Court case finding Portage mayor’s payment was “tip” not bribe
0:29:27 - HB 1066: Luxury Vehicle Purchase Ban (DEAD)
- Rep. Mitch Gore’s bill would have mandated base model vehicles for elected officials
- Would have blocked Beckwith and Morales from $90,000 luxury vehicles
- Passed committee unanimously but pulled from schedule at deadline
0:31:01 - HB 1177: Child Care Expenditure Credit
- Expands childcare expenditure credit, incentivizes businesses to provide childcare benefits
- Does NOT increase childcare worker pay or fund CCDF vouchers
0:35:14 - HB 1343: Environmental Impact Studies for Large Projects
- Requires environmental impact studies before major projects (LEAP, data centers)
- Committee hearing 9 AM Wednesday, Room 233
0:41:07 - HB 1423: IPS Charter School Conversion
- Indianapolis Public Schools charter conversion bill
- Part of “War on Public Education Wednesday” schedule
0:41:30 - SB 239: Charter Schools / Eliminating Need-Based Financial Aid
- Eliminates need-based financial aid for Indiana students
- Creates pathways to convert public schools to charter schools
- Public testimony allowed Wednesday morning
0:44:06 - SB 88: “Good Citizenship” Curriculum / Success Sequence
- Requires teaching “waiting until marriage to have children” (”success sequence” from conservative think tank)
- Amendment for comprehensive sex education rejected
- NOTE: Skipped initially, returned to after SB 239
0:48:45 - SB 200: Political Youth Organizations in Schools (Turning Point USA)
- Allows partisan political organizations like Turning Point USA in public schools
- State actively partnering with and promoting Turning Point USA
0:52:17 - SB 15: Library Restrictions / Foster Youth Bill of Rights
- Requires DCS to create Foster Youth Bill of Rights
- Includes library restrictions
0:53:01 - HB 1335: Nonprofit Hospital Accountability
- Requires nonprofit hospitals provide community benefit exceeding tax exemptions
- Requires proactively informing patients of financial assistance options
0:54:41 - SB 236: Additional Abortion Restrictions
- Bans abortion pills
- Allows citizens to be “bounty hunters” against providers
0:57:26 - SB 277: Eliminating Environmental Monitoring
- Eliminates requirements for monitoring air and water quality
- Committee vote Wednesday
CONTACT INFORMATION:
- Visit madvoters.org for bill tracker
- Phone numbers connect directly to legislators’ desks with voicemail
- Nothing is final - bills still being amended
MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker
Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here
