Our Legislative Impact
| HB1016 | PILOT PROGRAM TO FUND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT (BARTLETT J) Establishes the parent education assistance pilot program (pilot program). Provides that the office of the secretary of family and social services shall administer the pilot program. Specifies the requirements an individual must satisfy to be eligible to participate in the pilot program. Provides requirements for maintaining participation in the pilot program. Specifies the amount of an eligible individual’s grant under the pilot program. Establishes the parent education assistance pilot program fund (fund) for the purpose of funding the pilot program. Provides that the office of the secretary administers the fund. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Family, Children and Human Affairs | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1017 | RESIDENT TUITION FOR ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS (HARRIS JR. E) Provides that an individual who meets certain conditions is eligible for the resident tuition rate as determined by the state educational institution. Requires such an individual to verify that the individual meets the criteria to receive the resident tuition rate. | |
| Current Status: | 1/11/2022 – added as coauthor Representative Hamilton | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1018 | MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION MATTERS (SHACKLEFORD R) Specifies that an individual’s incarceration, hospitalization, or other temporary cessation in substance or chemical use may not be used as a factor in determining the individual’s eligibility for coverage in: (1) a state employee health care plan; (2) Medicaid; (3) the healthy Indiana plan; (4) a policy of accident and sickness insurance; or (5) a health maintenance health care contract. Requires an opioid treatment program to: (1) provide a patient of the facility appropriate referrals for continuing care before releasing the patient from care by the facility; and (2) counsel female patients concerning the effects of the program treatment if the female is or becomes pregnant and provide to the patient birth control if requested by the patient. Requires the division of mental health and addiction (division) to annually perform an audit of 20% of an opioid treatment program facility’s patient plans to ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. Requires the division to establish a mental health and addiction program to reduce the stigma of mental illness and addiction. Requires hospitals to establish emergency room treatment protocols concerning treatment of a patient who is overdosing, has been provided an overdose intervention drug, or is otherwise identified as having a substance use disorder. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Public Health | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1028 | STUDENT HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS (HARRIS JR. E) Establishes the student hunger and homelessness study committee (committee) for the purposes of: (1) studying the prevalence of homelessness, housing insecurity, and food insecurity among students at Indiana colleges and universities during the 2022 academic year; and (2) providing suggestions for eliminating these issues. Provides that the committee must determine, as accurately as practicable, the number of Indiana college and university students who are homeless, housing insecure, or food insecure. Provides that the committee consists of: (1) an employee of the family and social services administration; (2) an employee of the department of child services; (3) an employee of the department of education; (4) an employee of the commission for higher education; (5) an employee of the Indiana housing and community development authority; (6) a member of the commission on improving the status of children in Indiana; and (7) an employee of each state educational institution. Provides that the committee may solicit assistance from private groups, colleges, and universities in performing the study. Requires the committee to report the results of the study to the governor and the legislative council not later than July 31, 2023. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Rules and Legislative Procedures | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1030 | MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS (HARRIS JR. E) Allows a political subdivision, in consultation with the technical assistance center, to contract with mental health providers for the purpose of supplementing existing crisis intervention teams with mental health professionals. Specifies certain eligibility requirements for mental health professionals seeking an appointment to a crisis intervention team. Requires a mental health professional who is appointed to a crisis intervention team to accompany responding law enforcement or police officers to a call involving a mental health or substance abuse disorder crisis. Provides that a law enforcement or police officer (officer) may not be held liable for damages, including punitive damages, for any act or omission related to a mental health professional’s contribution to a crisis intervention team or a crisis intervention team response. Specifies that no other person or entity may be held liable for certain damages by reason of an agency relationship with an officer. Defines certain terms. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Public Health | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1031 | WAGE HISTORY AND WAGE RANGE INQUIRIES (ERRINGTON S) Prohibits, with certain exceptions, an employer from using an applicant’s wage history in the hiring process. Prohibits, in certain situations, an employer from relying on the wage history of an applicant for employment. Prohibits employers from failing or refusing to provide an applicant for employment the wage range for the position for which the applicant is applying. Requires an employer to provide to an employee the wage range for the employee’s job under certain circumstances. Allows for the department of labor (department) to receive and investigate complaints. Provides that the department may do the following: (1) Issue a warning for the first violation. (2) Impose a civil penalty of $50 for the second violation. (3) Impose a civil penalty of $100 for the third violation and each subsequent violation. Requires the department to maintain a list of employers who have four or more violations and provide the list to the office of the chief equity, inclusion, and opportunity officer (office). Requires the office to post the list on the equity data portal. Provides that if an employer is found to have violated this chapter, the employer shall notify its employees of the violation. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Employment, Labor and Pensions | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| HB1038 | ARREST WARRANTS FOR ALLEGED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (ENGLEMAN K) Provides that if a court denies a request for an arrest warrant involving a crime of domestic violence, a prosecuting attorney may petition the court to hold an ex parte hearing to present additional evidence to establish probable cause. Requires a court to set the ex parte hearing within 24 hours after the petition is filed. Provides that if a court denies a request for an arrest warrant after the ex parte hearing and issues a summons for the defendant, certain notice of the summons to the victim is required. Requires the service of summons on a defendant concerning an alleged crime of domestic violence to be served by a law enforcement officer. Requires a bail hearing if a person is charged with a crime of domestic violence. Enhances the penalty for invasion of privacy to a Level 6 felony if a person violates a no contact order that was issued as a condition of probation or a bond. Enhances the penalty for domestic battery to a Level 6 felony if a person has a previous unrelated conviction of domestic battery. Provides that bail must be revoked for a defendant charged with a crime of domestic violence who violates a no contact order while on bail and who is subsequently charged with invasion of privacy or a subsequent crime of domestic violence. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Courts and Criminal Code | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| HB1040 | EDUCATION MATTERS (PRESCOTT J) Defines “qualified school”. Provides that a school corporation or qualified school is prohibited from subjecting any student to, or making available, disseminating, or providing to any student, any obscene matter or performance or certain matters or performances harmful to minors. Provides that each school corporation or qualified school shall provide for all students in grades 6 through 12 as part of required recitation concerning the system of government in Indiana and in the United States, instruction that socialism, Marxism, communism, totalitarianism, or similar political systems are incompatible with and in conflict with the principles of freedom upon which the United States was founded. Provides that a school corporation or qualified school may not provide instruction that socialism, Marxism, totalitarianism, or similar political systems are compatible with the principles of freedom upon which the United States was founded. Provides that a parent of a student or an emancipated student who attends a school corporation or qualified school may opt out of a face mask or face covering requirement. Requires the department of education (department) to develop a notice form that may be used by a parent or an emancipated student to indicate that the parent or emancipated student opts out of the face mask or face covering requirement. Provides that the governor, a state agency, a local health board or local health officer, or a school corporation or qualified school may not require a student of a school corporation or qualified school to quarantine against COVID-19 or other communicable disease if the student is asymptomatic. Provides that the governor, a state agency, a local health board or local health officer, or a school corporation or qualified school may not require, as a condition for employment, enrollment, attendance, or participation in a school corporation or qualified school or in a school extracurricular activity, a student to be immunized against COVID-19 or other communicable disease. Provides that, after December 31, 2020, the list of communicable diseases that require documentation of immunity for a student may be expanded or modified only by an act of the general assembly. Establishes certain consent requirements regarding students. Provides that, if the attorney general determines that a school corporation or qualified school: (1) discloses a student education record, or any information in a student education record; or (2) has a student who is less than 18 years of age and is not emancipated participate in any medical inspection, medical treatment, mental health assessment, mental health service, psychiatric or psychological examination or test, or psychiatric or psychological treatment without the informed written consent of the student’s parent; the attorney general may assess a civil penalty against the school corporation, charter school, or laboratory school. Provides that the parent of a student or protected right petitioner may bring a civil action for certain violations. Defines “protected right violations”. Defines “protected right petitioner”. Establishes procedures for a protected right petitioner to file a complaint form alleging a protected right violation occurred within a school corporation or qualified school. Provides that a protected right petitioner may appeal a school corporation’s or qualified school’s findings to the department. Requires the department to appoint an administrative law judge to adjudicate appeals. Requires the department to issue a final order. Requires the attorney general or the attorney general’s designee to review a school corporation’s or qualified school’s findings or the department’s final order. Provides that the attorney general may assess civil penalties if the attorney general determines a protected right violation occurred. Provides that a school corporation or qualified school may not take retaliatory action against a protected right petitioner or an individual related to or associated with the protected right petitioner. Provides that, if a school corporation or qualified school uses a third party vendor in providing a personal analysis, evaluation, or survey that reveals or attempts to affect a student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings, the third party vendor and the school corporation or public school may not collect or maintain the responses to or results of the analysis, evaluation, or survey in a manner that would identify the responses or results of an individual student. Provides that the consent requirements for certain student personal analysis, evaluations, or surveys apply even if the analysis, evaluation, or survey is directly related to academic instruction. Requires, not later than June 30, 2022, and not later than June 30 each year thereafter, each qualified school to post on the qualified school’s Internet web site, in a manner that is accessible by the public, certain information regarding learning materials and educational activities. Requires the department to develop and post on the department’s Internet web site a model plan for presenting the learning material or educational activity information. Makes changes to information that must be included on a school corporation’s annual performance report. Makes changes to information that must be included on a school’s longitudinal dashboard. Reconciles versions of IC 10-21-1-2 that were enacted by the 2019 general assembly. Repeals provisions requiring the department to develop the children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health plan. Makes conforming amendments. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Education | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1042 | VARIOUS SCHOOL BOARD MATTERS (THOMPSON J) Provides that the primary voting history of each candidate for school board office for the two most recent primary elections must be indicated on the ballot and if a candidate did not vote in the most recent primary elections, that fact must also be stated. Provides a procedure to adjust the term of office of certain elected members of the governing body of a school corporation. Increases the maximum annual salary of a school board member from $2,000 per year to $5,000 per year. Requires the state board of education to establish a maximum per diem rate for meetings of members of the governing bodies of school corporations, including Indianapolis Public Schools. Removes a provision that provides that, if a governing body is totally comprised of appointed members, the appointive authority must approve the per diem rate before the governing body may make payments to the members. Requires the governing body of each school corporation to file with the department of education (department) a copy of the school corporation’s organization plan and all amendments to the organization plan. Requires the department to publish each school corporation’s organization plan on the department’s Internet web site. Requires a school employer that is seeking to hire a prospective employee to contact the school employer that previously employed (or is currently employing) the prospective employee and request certain information. Requires a school employer that receives a request for certain employment information to comply with that request within 10 days. Provides that a school employer who receives a request for information must provide the prospective employee, upon request, with a copy of any information that is sent to the requesting school employer. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Education | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1065 | CULTURAL AWARENESS AND COMPETENCE TRAINING (SHACKLEFORD R) Provides that the state health data center (center) shall maintain statistics concerning race and ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status. (Under current law, the center is required to maintain statistics concerning gender and ethnicity.) Requires the center to adopt and implement the data collection standards established by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Provides that a health care professional and a community health worker must complete two hours of cultural awareness and competence training every two years. Establishes certain requirements for the training. Provides that the state department of health may grant an exemption from the training requirements under certain circumstances. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Public Health | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1067 | CHILD CARE (SHACKLEFORD R) Requires the division of family services to continue waiving copays for eligible families and reimburse eligible providers using funds allocated under the federal CRRSAA and CCDF until the federal pandemic emergency ends. Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on public health, behavioral health, and human services a study concerning matters related to child care in Indiana. Requires the committee to report to the legislative council by September 30, 2022. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Family, Children and Human Affairs | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1077 | FIREARMS MATTERS (SMALTZ B) Repeals the law that requires a person to obtain a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. Specifies that certain persons who are not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun are not required to obtain or possess a license or permit from the state to carry a handgun in Indiana. Prohibits certain individuals from knowingly or intentionally carrying a handgun. Creates the crime of “unlawful carrying of a handgun” and specifies the penalties for committing this crime. Allows particular individuals who do not meet the requirements to receive a handgun license and are not otherwise prohibited to carry a handgun in limited places. Allows a resident of Indiana to obtain in certain circumstances a license to carry a handgun in Indiana. Makes theft of a firearm a Level 5 felony. Defines certain terms. Makes conforming amendments and repeals obsolete provisions. | |
| Current Status: | 1/12/2022 – Referred to Senate | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1081 | HUMAN TRAFFICKING (MCNAMARA W) Modifies the definition of “protected person” for purposes of the admission of a statement or videotape of an individual who is less than 14 years of age at the time of the offense but less than 18 years of age at the time of trial. Removes the requirement that money paid for a human trafficking victim or for an act performed by a human trafficking victim be paid to a third party. Increases the penalty if the human trafficking victim is less than 18 years of age. Specifies that: (1) consent by the human trafficking victim; or (2) a belief that the human trafficking victim was at least 18 years of age; is not a defense to a prosecution. Requires law enforcement agencies to report human trafficking investigations to the attorney general within 30 days after an investigation begins. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – House Bills on Third Reading | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1082 | PROPERTY TAX RATES (THOMPSON J) Phases down the minimum valuation floor for depreciable personal property in a taxing district from 30% to 15% over a five year period beginning with the 2023 assessment date. Provides that, notwithstanding any increase in assessed value of property from the previous assessment date, the total amount of operating referendum tax that may be levied by a school corporation for taxes first due and payable in 2022 may not increase by more than 5% over the maximum operating referendum tax that could be levied by the school corporation in the previous year. Specifies that the statute requiring the adjustment of certain property tax rates does not apply to a local airport authority’s cumulative building fund tax rate. Specifies that a political subdivision may increase the tax rate for its cumulative building fund without complying with procedures under the cumulative fund statute. Requires a political subdivision to give notice of the proposed increase and hold a public hearing on the proposal before increasing the tax rate. Makes technical corrections. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| HB1084 | BAN ON PUBLIC FUNDING OF BAIL PAYING ORGANIZATION (FRYE R) Prohibits the state and a political subdivision from: (1) posting bail for any person; or (2) providing a grant to any entity that provides funding for any person. Prohibits an entity that has received a grant from the state or a political subdivision from posting bail for any person or providing a grant, directly or indirectly, to an entity that posts bail for any person. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Courts and Criminal Code | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1085 | SUMMONS TO APPEAR (FRYE R) Requires a local or regional advisory council to determine and compile a list of which Class B and Class C misdemeanor offenses would qualify as an offense for which a local law enforcement officer may issue a summons and promise to appear in lieu of arresting a person. Provides that the summons must: (1) include only a misdemeanor offense approved by a local or regional advisory council located in the officer’s jurisdiction; and (2) set forth substantially the nature of the offense and direct the person to appear before a court at a stated place and time. Provides that, a law enforcement officer may not issue a summons if the person has committed a violent misdemeanor offense that involves a victim or a weapon or if the person has committed an offense involving the impaired operation of a motor vehicle. Provides that if the person summoned fails without good cause to appear as commanded by the summons and the court has determined that there is probable cause to believe that a crime (other than a failure to appear) has been committed, the court shall issue a warrant of arrest. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Courts and Criminal Code | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| HB1094 | CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (TESHKA J) Provides that not later than December 31, 2022, the department of education (department) shall enter into an agreement under which a company or entity will provide adequate employer liability and worker’s compensation insurance coverage for students enrolled in a work based learning course. Provides that the department of workforce development shall designate certain career and technical education programs as youth apprenticeship programs. Makes changes to the career and technical education enrollment grant program. Makes conforming amendments. | |
| Current Status: | 1/13/2022 – Senate sponsors: Senators Rogers and Raatz | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1114 | SELF-DEFENSE (LUCAS J) Specifies that “reasonable force” includes the pointing of a loaded or unloaded firearm for purposes of arrest or to prevent an escape, or for self-defense. | |
| Current Status: | 1/12/2022 – added as coauthor Representative Payne Z | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1116 | ELECTRONIC VOTING MACHINES (WESCO T) Changes the date by which a county must provide a voter verifiable paper audit trail for electronic voting systems from December 31, 2029, to July 1, 2024. Provides that, after July 1, 2022, a county must meet certain requirements when using any direct record electronic voting system that does not include a voter verifiable paper audit trail for an election. Provides that the security agreement that counties are required to enter into with the secretary of state must be funded by money received from the federal government or from money appropriated by the general assembly. Provides that before an individual can access an absentee ballot application that is submitted in an electronic format using a module of the computerized list, the individual must provide either the individual’s Indiana driver’s license number or the last four digits of the individual’s Social Security number. Provides that under certain circumstances, a person is entitled to vote by absentee ballot by mail if the person is unable to vote for various reasons. Requires that voting before an absentee voter board at the circuit court clerk’s office or at a satellite office be referred to as “early voting” on all forms prescribed by the election division and in all communications with voters. Repeals language that requires the circuit court clerk to provide notice containing certain information to each voter who casts a provisional ballot. Changes the term “risk-limiting audit” to “post-election audit”. Removes the word “pilot” from the chapter concerning post-election audits. Provides that the secretary of state shall determine the number of elections that are subject to a post-election audit. | |
| Current Status: | 1/25/2022 – House Ways and Means, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1119 | INCOME TAX DEDUCTION FOR RECENT GRADUATES (O’BRIEN T) Provides an adjusted gross income tax deduction for Indiana residents who obtain: (1) a bachelor or an associate degree from a postsecondary educational institution; or (2) a certificate from a high value workforce certificate program, as determined by the commission for higher education (commission); in taxable years immediately following the taxable year in which the individual obtained the degree or certificate. Provides that a qualified individual is entitled to the tax deduction in each of the first two or four taxable years, depending on the type of degree or certificate obtained, that begin immediately following the taxable year in which the qualified individual completed the applicable educational program. Provides that the tax deduction for a particular qualified year is equal to the lesser of: (1) the amount of the individual’s Indiana adjusted gross income; or (2) $50,000. Requires the commission to, in part, determine and certify an individual’s eligibility for the tax deduction. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1125 | CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FUNDING (PORTER G) Provides that the state board of finance may transfer, assign, or reassign any appropriation to the office of the secretary of family and social services for the scholarship program established to provide assistance to families for before school and after school care or early childhood education known as the Build, Learn, Grow Scholarship Program. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1130 | OPEN MEETINGS (O’BRIEN T) Requires a governing body of a school corporation (school board) to allow members of the public to provide oral public comment at a public meeting. Allows a school board to permit oral public comment at a public meeting that is conducted electronically during a state or local disaster emergency. Restricts the circumstances in which the governing body of a state or local public agency may hold a virtual meeting during a declared disaster emergency without any of the governing body members physically present. Position: Monitor |
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| HB1134 | EDUCATION MATTERS (COOK A) Defines a “qualified school”. Requires each qualified school to post certain educational activities and curricular materials on the school’s Internet web site. Provides that public records that are available on a qualified school’s Internet web site shall be excepted from public record requests for individuals that have access to the school’s Internet web site at the discretion of the qualified school. Requires the school corporation or qualified school to add functionality that allows parents of students in the school corporation to opt in to or opt out of certain educational activities and curricular materials under certain conditions. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation shall create a curricular materials advisory committee (committee) comprised of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. Requires the committee to submit recommendations regarding curricular materials and educational activities to the governing body of a school corporation. Provides parameters for the composition of the committee, the appointment of committee members, and the appointment of a committee chairperson. Provides that the committee shall meet a certain number of times annually. Provides that a state agency, state educational institution, school corporation, or qualified school or an employee of the state agency, state educational institution, school corporation, or qualified school acting in an official capacity may not promote certain concepts as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or direct or otherwise compel a school employee or student to adhere to certain tenets relating to the individual’s sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation. Provides that a state agency, school corporation, qualified school, or state educational institution or an employee of the state agency, school corporation, qualified school, or state educational institution acting in an official capacity may not require an employee of the school corporation, qualified school, or state educational institution to engage in training, orientation, or therapy that presents any form of racial or sex stereotyping or blame on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation. Provides that a student shall not be required to participate in a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey that reveals or attempts to affect the student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings without parental consent. Provides that, if a school corporation or qualified school uses a third party vendor in providing a personal analysis, evaluation, or survey that reveals, identifies, collects, maintains or attempts to affect a student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings, the third party vendor and the school corporation or qualified school may not collect or maintain the responses to or results of the analysis, evaluation, or survey in a manner that would identify the responses or results of an individual student. Provides, with certain exceptions, that before a school corporation or qualified school may provide or administer certain mental, social-emotional, or psychological services to a student, the school must provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, with a written request for consent to provide or administer certain mental, social-emotional, or psychological services. Makes changes to the definition of “sexually explicit” for the purpose of trade regulation. Removes schools and certain public libraries from the list of entities eligible for a specified defense to criminal prosecutions alleging: (1) the dissemination of material harmful to minors; or (2) a performance harmful to minors. Adds colleges and universities to the entities eligible for a specified defense to criminal prosecutions alleging: (1) the dissemination of material harmful to minors; or (2) a performance harmful to minors. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – House Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1155 | SUMMONS TO APPEAR AND PRETRIAL MATTERS (PRYOR C) Adds additional conditions to an agreement to withhold prosecution including: (1) waiver of fees; (2) right to legal counsel; and (3) collecting and reporting of demographic information. Requires the court to collect demographic information as it relates to the withholding of prosecution and to report the information to the office of judicial administration (office). Requires the office to provide an annual report that includes demographic information and the withholding of prosecution to the governor, chief justice, and the legislative council before December 1 of each year. Provides that in lieu of arresting a person who has allegedly committed a misdemeanor (other than a traffic misdemeanor) in a law enforcement officer’s presence, the officer shall issue a summons and promise to appear unless the person: (1) has committed a violent misdemeanor offense that involves a victim or a weapon or involves an offense related to the impaired operation of a motor vehicle; (2) poses a safety risk to the person, the officer, or the public; or (3) has falsely identified the person to the officer. Provides, however, that the law enforcement officer is not required to issue a summons if the person: (1) is subject to arrest for another offense; (2) has violated the terms of supervised release; or (3) has an outstanding warrant. Requires that the summons set forth substantially the nature of the offense and direct the person to appear before a court at a stated place and time not later than two business days after issuance of the summons. | |
| Current Status: | 1/6/2022 – Referred to House Courts and Criminal Code | |
| Position: | Support | |
| HB1159 | SMALL LOAN FINANCE CHARGES (HAMILTON C) Changes the current incremental finance charge limits that apply to a small loan to a maximum annual rate. Prohibits certain acts with respect to financing of a small loan and makes a violation a deceptive act and subject to penalties. | |
| Current Status: | 1/11/2022 – added as coauthor Representative Klinker | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1164 | SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT (SHACKLEFORD R) Makes an additional appropriation of available federal funds to the office of small business and entrepreneurship for purposes related to minority owned small businesses. | |
| Current Status: | 1/6/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1165 | CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDY COMMITTEE AND REFORM (BARTLETT J) Establishes the criminal justice study committee (committee) to conduct a multiyear, comprehensive study of the criminal justice system. Establishes the criminal justice reform commission (commission). Provides for the: (1) membership; (2) membership terms; (3) appointing authorities; (4) quorum requirements; (5) reporting requirements; (6) member per diems; and (7) study topics; for the commission. | |
| Current Status: | 1/6/2022 – Referred to House Rules and Legislative Procedures | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1170 | ARRESTEE PUBLICITY (SAUNDERS T) Prohibits a law enforcement agency that has arrested a person from: (1) sharing the arrestee’s name or booking photo on social media; (2) publishing the arrestee’s name or booking photo on the agency’s Internet web site; or (3) disclosing the arrestee’s name or booking photo during a press conference. Allows disclosure if: (1) the arrestee is a fugitive; (2) the arrestee presents an imminent threat to public safety; (3) a court orders the disclosure; or (4) exigent circumstances necessitate disclosure. | |
| Current Status: | 1/12/2022 – added as coauthor Representative Payne Z | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1177 | PROHIBITION OF RACE DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HAIR (SUMMERS V) Prohibits race discrimination based on traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles. | |
| Current Status: | 1/6/2022 – Referred to House Education | |
| Position: | Support | |
| HB1178 | IMPLICIT BIAS TRAINING (SUMMERS V) Provides that after December 31, 2023, a hospital that provides inpatient maternity services and a birthing center shall implement an evidence based implicit bias training program for all health care providers who regularly provide perinatal treatment and care to pregnant women at the hospital or birthing center. Requires the health care providers to complete the training one time every two years. Provides that after December 31, 2023, a practitioner must complete implicit bias training before renewal of a license in a health care profession. Provides an exemption for a license issued by the board of veterinary medical examiners. Provides that a practitioner is not required to complete implicit bias training more than one time every two years unless specified by the board that regulates the practitioner. Requires the board to approve and publish on its Internet web site organizations approved to offer the implicit bias training to a practitioner. Allows the board to grant the practitioner a hardship waiver from the training requirement. Provides that taking implicit bias training satisfies the requirements for both training at a hospital or birthing center and the license renewal requirements. | |
| Current Status: | 1/6/2022 – Referred to House Public Health | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1187 | GARY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS (BROWN T) Establishes procedures to appoint members to the governing body of the Gary Community School Corporation. Establishes procedures for transferring responsibility of financial and academic matters from the emergency manager to the governing body. Provides that the Gary Community School Corporation is not subject to collective bargaining. Removes obsolete provisions and makes conforming amendments. Provides that, before October 31, 2024, and before each October 31 thereafter, the governing body must submit a report to the distressed unit appeal board summarizing the financial position and operations of the school corporation for the previous state fiscal year. Repeals provisions relating to the election of advisory board members for the Gary Community School Corporation. | |
| Current Status: | 1/20/2022 – House Ways and Means, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
| HB1190 | FREE SPEECH AT STATE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (JORDAN J) Provides that a state educational institution may not: (1) designate an outdoor area on campus as an area where protected expressive activities are prohibited; (2) deny any benefit or privilege to, or discriminate against, a religious, political, or ideological student organization for its protected expressive activity; and (3) deny a benefit to or discriminate against a religious, political, or ideological student organization based on the protected expressive activity or a requirement of the student organization. Allows a state educational institution to enforce reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that comply with certain requirements. Requires a state educational institution to create and publish protected expressive activity policies. Provides that a student or student organization may bring a cause of action for a violation of free speech rights. Allows a court to award injunctive relief, compensatory damages, reasonable court costs, and attorney’s fees to an aggrieved student or student organization if the court finds that a violation occurred. Provides that a state educational institution is not immune from certain liability. Requires the commission for higher education to create a form for a state educational institution to submit information on an alleged violation of this chapter. Makes conforming changes. | |
| Current Status: | 1/20/2022 – House Ways and Means, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1198 | VETERANS’ PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION (BAUER M) Eliminates the assessed value cap that applies to the property tax deduction for a veteran who: (1) has a total disability; or (2) is at least 62 years of age and has at least a 10% disability. | |
| Current Status: | 1/6/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1214 | RESIDENTIAL EVICTION ACTIONS (MANNING E) Defines an “eviction action information provider” as a person that compiles, furnishes, or publishes information that: (1) concerns an eviction action that is filed in a court in Indiana; and (2) is available in records kept by a clerk of a court in Indiana with jurisdiction over the eviction action (eviction action information). Prohibits an eviction action information provider from knowingly compiling, furnishing, or publishing eviction action information if: (1) a court has issued an order under the bill’s provisions prohibiting disclosure of any records in the eviction action; (2) the record of the eviction action has otherwise been restricted by: (A) a court order; or (B) court rules; and is marked as restricted from public disclosure or is removed from public access; or (3) the eviction action information provider knows that the eviction action information is inaccurate. Prohibits an eviction action information provider from knowingly compiling, furnishing, or publishing eviction action information if the eviction action information fails to reflect material changes to the official record occurring at least 60 days before the date the eviction action information is compiled, furnished, or published. Provides that a violation of these provisions is a deceptive act that is actionable under the deceptive consumer sales act. Requires the plaintiff in a residential eviction action to file a motion to dismiss the action if the case is resolved between the parties at any time before final adjudication, unless the plaintiff is seeking damages. Provides that if, at any time after an eviction action is filed, no action has been taken by the plaintiff to further prosecute the case for a period of at least 180 days, the court shall provide to the parties written notice: (1) stating the date of the most recent action taken by the plaintiff in the case; and (2) directing the plaintiff to take action to either: (A) further prosecute the case; or (B) dismiss the case; not later than 10 business days after the date of the notice. Provides that if the plaintiff fails to take any action within the prescribed time: (1) the defendant may petition the court to dismiss the case; or (2) the court on its own motion may dismiss the case. Provides that a residential eviction diversion program may not be offered or operated on a statewide or local basis unless: (1) participation in the program is voluntary for all parties; and (2) a local, state, or federal rental assistance program is operational, and funding is available to the parties. Requires the court in which an eviction action is filed to order the clerk of the court and the operator of any state, regional, or local case management system not to disclose or permit disclosure of any records in the case, subject to certain exceptions, if any of the following occur: (1) The action is dismissed. (2) A judgment in favor of the tenant is entered. (3) A judgment against the tenant is later overturned or vacated on appeal. (4) After a judgment is entered against the tenant, the tenant pays all amounts owed to the landlord, resulting in the dismissal of a damages hearing. Provides that if: (1) an eviction action, regardless of when it was filed, results in one of the specified outcomes allowing for the nondisclosure of records in the action; and (2) the court does not issue an order prohibiting the disclosure of any records in the action; the tenant in the action may petition the court in which the eviction action was filed to issue an order prohibiting the disclosure of any records in the action in accordance with the bill’s provisions. Provides that the court may: (1) issue an order prohibiting the disclosure of any records in the action; or (2) set the matter for a hearing. Provides that the petitioner bears the burden of proof in any hearing set by the court. Requires the clerk of court or other court administrator to: (1) track all eviction actions with respect to which a nondisclosure order is issued by the court; and (2) on an annual basis: (A) compile, as aggregate data that is subject to public inspection, the information tracked; and (B) include the compiled data in the statutorily required statistical data provided to the office of judicial administration (office) on a periodic basis. Requires the office to include the data provided by the courts in the Indiana Judicial Report. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – House Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1278 | ROAD FUNDING (MOED J) Provides that the amounts currently distributed from the motor vehicle highway account and the local road and street account to counties, cities, and towns based upon the proportionate share of road and street mileage shall instead be distributed based on the proportionate share of road and street vehicle miles traveled. Provides that the Indiana department of transportation shall establish guidelines outlining the procedures required to determine vehicle miles traveled. | |
| Current Status: | 1/10/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1279 | RELEASE OF OFFENDER TO COUNTY OF RESIDENCE (MOED J) Requires the department of correction to transport a released offender to the county of residence at the time of the conviction unless certain criteria are met. | |
| Current Status: | 1/10/2022 – Referred to House Courts and Criminal Code | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1300 | BAIL (MAYFIELD P) Allows a charitable organization to pay bail on behalf of a defendant if the organization: (1) is certified by the commissioner of the department of insurance; (2) pays cash bail in the amount of $2,000 or less on behalf of a defendant charged only with a misdemeanor; (3) only pays bail for a defendant who is indigent; (4) is represented by a bail agent; and (5) meets certain other requirements. Exempts from the certification requirement a charitable organization that pays bail for not more than two individuals in any 180 day period. Provides that a case management system developed and operated by the office of judicial administration must include a searchable field for certain information of the bail agent or a person authorized by the surety that pays bail for an individual. | |
| Current Status: | 1/11/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
| HB1325 | PROPERTY TAX RELIEF (PRYOR C) Permits counties, cities, and towns (including Marion County) to establish a neighborhood enhancement property tax relief program (program) to provide an assessed value deduction for longtime owner-occupants of homesteads having an assessed value of not more than $200,000 in certain designated areas. Authorizes the redevelopment commission (or the metropolitan development commission in the case of Marion County) to identify the areas for purposes of the program based on specified conditions. Requires the county auditor to notify each owner of property that qualifies for a deduction under a program and provide the owner with an application for the deduction. Requires an owner of property that qualifies for a deduction to apply to the county auditor to receive the deduction. Provides a penalty for wrongly receiving the deduction that is the same as the penalty for wrongly receiving the homestead standard deduction. | |
| Current Status: | 1/11/2022 – Referred to House Ways and Means | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1326 | DISCRIMINATORY LENDING AND APPRAISAL PRACTICES (PRYOR C) Adds the following to the duties of the homeowner protection unit (unit) of the office of the attorney general: (1) Cooperating with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in investigating violations of the federal Fair Housing Act. (2) Investigating and enforcing: (A) existing law prohibiting improperly influencing the preparation of a real estate appraisal; and (B) the bill’s provisions prohibiting discriminatory lending and appraisal practices in connection with residential real estate related transactions. Prohibits a person whose business includes engaging in residential real estate related transactions from doing any of the following: (1) Discriminating against any person in: (A) making available a residential real estate transaction; or (B) establishing the terms and conditions of a residential real estate transaction; on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. (2) Denying a creditworthy applicant a mortgage loan on the basis of any of these characteristics of: (A) the applicant; or (B) residents of the neighborhood in which the real estate is located; if the applicant is otherwise eligible for the mortgage loan. (3) Making an excessively low appraisal of the value of the real estate that is the subject of a mortgage loan (as compared to the purchase price) on the basis of any of these characteristics of: (A) the applicant; or (B) residents of the neighborhood in which the real estate is located. Specifies that these prohibitions do not prohibit a person whose business includes engaging in residential real estate related transactions from: (1) either: (A) denying a mortgage loan; or (B) granting a mortgage loan on more stringent terms and conditions; based on the applicant’s creditworthiness or other economic factors, and without regard to any of the characteristics set forth in the bill; or (2) taking into consideration factors other than the characteristics set forth in the bill in preparing a real estate appraisal. Establishes the fair housing practices fund (fund), to be administered by the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority), for the purpose of: (1) providing down payment assistance, financial assistance for closing costs, and restitution for individuals determined to have been injured by a violation the bill’s provisions prohibiting discriminatory lending and appraisal practices; and (2) providing grants for: (A) community education and outreach efforts; and (B) community reinvestment initiatives; for neighborhoods or communities determined to have been targeted or adversely impacted by a violation of the bill’s provisions prohibiting discriminatory lending and appraisal practices. Provides that the fund consists of: (1) civil penalties collected for violations of the bill’s provisions prohibiting discriminatory lending and appraisal practices; (2) any amounts deposited in the fund as a result of a settlement agreement or final judgment in an action brought for a violation of these provisions; (3) gifts and grants to the fund; and (4) appropriations from the general assembly. Requires the authority to adopt rules to develop certain criteria and procedures necessary to: (1) administer the fund; and (2) provide assistance from the fund. Requires the unit to: (1) amend the form that creditors are required to provide to mortgage loan applicants to include information about how prospective borrowers can report suspected violations of the bill’s provisions prohibiting discriminatory lending and appraisal practices; and (2) accept through the unit’s established: (A) electronic mail address; and (B) toll free telephone number; complaints concerning these suspected violations. Provides that a person that knowingly or intentionally violates the bill’s provisions prohibiting discriminatory lending and appraisal practices: (1) commits an act that is actionable by an aggrieved individual and the attorney general under the deceptive consumer sales act; and (2) is liable for a civil penalty of $200 per violation. Provides that any civil penalty collected shall be deposited in the fund. Requires the real estate appraiser licensure and certification board (board) to, not later than January 1, 2023, submit recommendations to the Indiana real estate commission (commission) concerning the following: (1) Rules requiring as a condition of initial licensure or certification at least one hour of instruction in cultural competency training, and at least one hour of instruction in implicit bias training. (2) Rules requiring as a condition of renewal for licensure and certification at least one hour of continuing education instruction in cultural competency training, and at least one hour of continuing education instruction in implicit bias training. (3) Policies to foster diversity in the real estate appraisal profession. Requires the commission to adopt the recommended rules not later than July 1, 2023. Provides that the office of the attorney general and the professional licensing agency (agency) may use an existing investigative fund to investigate and enforce: (1) existing law prohibiting improperly influencing the preparation of a real estate appraisal; and (2) the bill’s provisions prohibiting discriminatory lending and appraisal practices. Requires the board to submit, on at least a quarterly basis, a request to the attorney general for certain information concerning complaints filed against real estate appraisers. Requires the agency, on behalf of the board, to publish and update on the board’s web page, on at least a quarterly basis: (1) the aggregate complaint data received by the board in the most recent quarterly report from the attorney general; and (2) to the extent not confidential, the names and business locations of all real estate appraisers who have had complaints filed and prosecuted against them. Beginning in 2024, requires the agency, on behalf of the board, to submit an annual report to the legislative council concerning: (1) the cultural competency and implicit bias training educational requirements adopted by the commission; and (2) the policies to foster diversity in the real estate appraisal profession implemented by the commission, including the board’s assessment of the effectiveness of the policies. | |
| Current Status: | 1/11/2022 – Referred to House Financial Institutions and Insurance | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| HB1354 | REQUIREMENTS FOR SNAP PARTICIPANTS (DEVON D) Provides that the division of family resources (division) shall require custodial parents and noncustodial parents to cooperate with the child support bureau as a condition of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. Requires the division to disqualify from participation in SNAP an individual during any month in which the individual is delinquent in any payment due under a court order for the support of a child of the individual. Requires the division to assign individuals who are subject to the federal work requirements to an employment and training program in order to participate in SNAP. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – House Family, Children and Human Affairs, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1361 | TANF AND CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY (GOODRICH C) Provides, for purposes of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (TANF), that a TANF assistance group that has qualified for and is receiving assistance under TANF does not cease to qualify for assistance under TANF due solely to an increase in the value of the resources of the TANF assistance group so long as the resources of the TANF assistance group are valued at not more than $10,000. Provides that: (1) the value of a child’s primary residence; and (2) $20,000 of total equity value in motor vehicles belonging to members of a child’s family; are exempt from consideration for purposes of determining the child’s eligibility for TANF. Provides that up to $15,000 in income earned by a household member while the household member is a student participating in or pursuing: (1) the household member’s first postsecondary degree; (2) a workforce certificate; (3) a preapprenticeship; or (4) an apprenticeship; may not be considered in determining the amount of assistance for which the household is eligible under the Child Care and Development Fund voucher program. | |
| Current Status: | 1/20/2022 – House Committee recommends passage Yeas: 11; Nays: 0; | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| HB1410 | MANDATORY JOB SEARCH FOR TANF ELIGIBILITY (MORRIS R) Requires the secretary of family and social services (secretary) to adopt rules concerning evidence of job search activities for applicants and recipients under the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Requires the secretary to amend two provisions in the Indiana Administrative Code to conform with those rules. Specifies certain exceptions. | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
| SB2 | VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION AND TUITION SUPPORT (RAATZ J) Provides that, in determining whether at least 50% of the instructional services that a student receives from a school corporation is virtual instruction for purposes of the 2021 fall count of average daily membership (ADM), the department of education (department) shall review the attendance of each student on each school day from the school corporation’s first day of school until the school corporation’s last day of school of the 2021 fall semester. Makes an exception regarding the school days the department reviews for students who transferred to or from a school corporation during the 2021 fall semester. Provides that, if a school corporation’s tuition support amount is adjusted as a result of the application of this provision, the department shall, after December 31, 2021, settle any overpayment or underpayment of state tuition support to a school corporation resulting from the adjustment of tuition support on the schedule determined by the department. | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| SB4 | LOCAL WORKFORCE RECRUITING AND RETENTION (HOLDMAN T) Authorizes a local unit (county, municipality, town, township, or school corporation) to establish a workforce retention and recruitment program (program) and fund (fund) for the purposes of recruiting and retaining individuals who will satisfy the current and future workforce needs of the unit’s employers or provide substantial economic impact to the unit, including providing incentives in the form of grants or loans to qualified workers. Defines “qualified worker” for purposes of the program. Requires a qualified worker who receives a grant or loan from the fund to enter into an incentive agreement. Authorizes the unit to transfer money into the fund from other sources. Provides that the executive of the unit shall administer the fund in coordination with a workforce fund board of managers (workforce fund managers) appointed by the executive of the unit. Requires the workforce fund managers to annually submit a report setting out their activities during the preceding calendar year to the executive of the unit, the fiscal body of the unit, and the department of local government finance. Makes conforming changes. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – Senate Bills on Third Reading | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| SB6 | BAIL FOR VIOLENT ARRESTEES (YOUNG M) Defines “violent crime”, “violent arrestee”, “repeat violent arrestee”, and “minimum bail amount”, and requires: (1) a court to review the probable cause affidavit or arrest warrant before releasing a violent arrestee or repeat violent arrestee on bail; (2) bail to be set for a violent arrestee or repeat violent arrestee following a hearing in open court; and (3) a repeat violent arrestee released on bail to pay 100% of the minimum bail amount by cash deposit. Prohibits a third party who is not a close relative of a repeat violent arrestee from posting bail for the repeat violent arrestee. Requires mandatory bail revocation for a violent arrestee who commits a felony while released. Provides for victim notification of bail hearings. Requires nonmonetary release for non-violent arrestees under certain circumstances. Makes conforming amendments. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – Senate Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB7 | MARION COUNTY CRIME REDUCTION PILOT (SANDLIN J) Establishes the Marion County crime reduction board (board) as part of the Marion County crime reduction pilot project. Allows the board to approve interoperability agreements between law enforcement agencies to expand the jurisdiction, duties, and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies operating in downtown Indianapolis. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – Senate Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB8 | NONPROFIT BAIL FUNDING (FREEMAN A) Allows a charitable organization to pay bail on behalf of a defendant if the organization meets certain criteria. Exempts from the certification requirement a charitable organization that pays bail for not more than two individuals in any 180 day period. Provides that if money or bonds have been set, bail by surety may be substituted for the money or bonds at any time before a breach, unless the court required money bail be posted. Prohibits the state and a political subdivision from: (1) posting bail for any person; or (2) providing a grant to any entity that provides funding for any person. Requires a court to apply the bail to certain court costs. Prohibits an entity that has received a grant from the state or a political subdivision from posting bail for any person or providing a grant, directly or indirectly, to an entity that posts bail for any person. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – Senate Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB9 | ELECTRONIC MONITORING STANDARDS (WALKER K) Establishes standards, including staffing minimums and notification time frames, for persons and entities responsible for monitoring individuals required to wear a monitoring device as a condition of probation, parole, pretrial release, or community corrections. Provides immunity for acts or omissions performed in connection with implementing monitoring standards. Provides that a defendant commits escape if the defendant disables or interferes with the operation of an electronic monitoring device. Makes escape committed by a juvenile status offender a status offense under certain circumstances. Makes conforming amendments. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – Senate Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| SB10 | MARION COUNTY VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PILOT (CRIDER M) Permits establishment of the: (1) Marion County violent crime reduction pilot project; and (2) Marion County violent crime reduction pilot project fund; to identify violent crime reduction districts in Marion County and to provide grants for overtime, violent crime reduction programs, and additional law enforcement services in the violent crime reduction districts. Defines “violent crime reduction district”. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – Senate Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB19 | SENTENCE ENHANCEMENT FOR USE OF FIREARM (GASKILL M) Adds an investigator for the inspector general to the definition of “police officer” for purposes of the statute providing a sentence enhancement for individuals who point or discharge a firearm at a police officer while committing certain crimes. | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB62 | SALE OF TAX SALE PROPERTIES TO NONPROFITS (YOUNG M) Permits a county treasurer to offer for sale a tract or item of real property on the county auditor’s tax sale list that is: (1) not a person’s principal place of residence; and (2) is unsold after two or more public sales; to an eligible nonprofit entity prior to a regularly scheduled tax sale. Provides that not more than 10% of the real property on the tax sale list may be sold to eligible nonprofit entities. Requires an eligible nonprofit entity to file certain information with the county executive not later than 45 days prior to the tax sale in order to participate in an early sale. In a county other than Lake County, reduces the period for providing notice to the property owner or person holding an interest in the property after the property is sold due to delinquent taxes or special assessments. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB70 | OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE (CRIDER M) Provides that a person commits obstruction of justice if the person persuades a witness in a legal proceeding to: (1) withhold or delay producing evidence that the witness is legally required to produce; (2) avoid a subpoena or court order; (3) not appear at a proceeding to which the witness has been summoned; or (4) give a false or materially misleading statement. Establishes a uniform definition of “communicates” for the criminal code. Makes other changes and conforming amendments. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB82 | FAFSA REQUIREMENT (LEISING J)Requires all students, except for students at certain nonpublic schools, in their senior year to complete and submit the FAFSA unless: (1) a parent of a student or a student, if the student is an emancipated minor, signs a waiver that the student understands what the FAFSA is and declines to complete it; or (2) the principal or school counselor of the student’s high school waives the requirement due to extenuating circumstances. Requires that the: (1) model notice prepared by the commission for higher education; and (2) notice that each school corporation is required to send regarding the FAFSA; include information regarding the requirements and exceptions for completing the FAFSA. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB83 | MEETINGS OF SCHOOL BOARDS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS (LEISING J) Requires the governing body of a school corporation or charter school (governing body) to allow public comment at meetings, including meetings using electronic means of communication. Provides that, if a state or local disaster emergency is declared, a governing body may conduct an electronic meeting only if one or more of the schools of the school corporation or the charter school is closed at the time of the meeting and the school closure is related to the disaster emergency. | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| SB84 | SUICIDE AND DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH REPORTING (LEISING J) Provides that the state department of health (department) shall annually prepare a report concerning all suicide and overdose fatalities in Indiana that occurred during the preceding calendar year. Requires the report to include: (1) the number of fatalities that occurred in each county; (2) the number of fatalities that occurred during each month; (3) the age, sex, and race of each fatality victim; and (4) the method of suicide or overdose, including the type of weapon and each substance used. Provides that the first report must also include information from the 2020 calendar year. Requires the department to submit the report and an executive summary of the report to the general assembly and the governor. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB89 | HIGHER EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS (ROGERS L) Provides that the commission’s annual schedule of awards must provide award amounts on the basis of a federal needs calculation. Amends language concerning teacher stipends to teacher scholarships. Provides that the total amount of scholarships or other financial aid received by an individual may not exceed certain total expenses. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB91 | ACCREDITATION OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS (ROGERS L) Allows a teacher preparation program to report the program’s admission practices, in accordance with the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP) standards, for teacher preparation programs accredited by the AAQEP. Requires the department of education to approve at least two accreditors that: (1) accredit teacher preparation programs; and (2) are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; to accredit teacher preparation programs for use in Indiana. | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| SB94 | SENTENCE MODIFICATION (BOHACEK M) Establishes a procedure to allow certain inmates in the department of correction (department) an additional opportunity to request sentence modification from the sentencing court if the department has recommended sentence modification. Requires that an inmate who receives sentence modification be placed under supervision of: (1) a community transition program; (2) a court; (3) community corrections program; or (4) a supervised reentry program. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB115 | SCHOOL EMPLOYEE MISCONDUCT (FREEMAN A) Provides that a policy adopted by a school corporation, charter school, or nonpublic school with at least one employee addressing expanded criminal history checks or expanded child protection index checks (background checks) must prohibit the hiring of, continuing the employment of, contracting with, or continuing to contract with a person who has been convicted of an offense requiring license revocation, unless the conviction has been reversed, vacated, or set aside on appeal. (Current law provides that such a policy addressing background checks must prohibit the hiring of a person who has been convicted of an offense requiring license revocation, unless the conviction has been reversed, vacated, or set aside on appeal.) Provides that: (1) a school corporation; (2) charter school; or (3) an entity: (A) with which a school corporation or charter school contracts for services; and (B) that has employees who are likely to have direct, ongoing contact with children within the scope of the employees’ employment; shall consider whether information obtained from the background checks concerning an individual’s conviction for certain offenses constitutes grounds to not employ, not contract with, or to terminate the employment of or contract with the individual. Provides that, in the event that an entity obtains information that an individual employed by the entity who works at a particular school corporation or charter school has been convicted of certain offenses, the entity shall immediately notify the school corporation or charter school of the employee’s conviction. Makes changes to the list of offenses for which the department of education shall permanently revoke a teacher’s license. Makes conforming changes. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB121 | SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM VIOLATION ENFORCEMENT (NIEMEYER R) Provides that a registered owner of a motor vehicle commits an infraction if the owner’s vehicle is used to violate the school bus stop arm law. Provides a defense for a registered owner who provides certain information to law enforcement and fully cooperates with law enforcement, if: (1) the vehicle was stolen; (2) the registered owner routinely engages in the business of renting the vehicle; (3) the registered owner provided the vehicle for the use of an employee; or (4) the registered owner provides documentary evidence that the owner was out of state at the time the violation was committed. Specifies that: (1) the bureau of motor vehicles may not assess points for the infraction; and (2) an adjudication for the infraction does not create a presumption of liability in a civil action. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB143 | SELF-DEFENSE (BALDWIN S) Specifies that “reasonable force” includes the pointing of a loaded or unloaded firearm for purposes of self-defense and arrest statutes. | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB144 | SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS (BALDWIN S) Provides that a candidate for election to the governing body of a school corporation may not be any of the following: (1) A teacher employed by the school corporation. (2) A member, an employee, or a contractor of a labor organization with which the school corporation engages in collective bargaining. Provides that candidates for election to the governing body of a school corporation may request that the candidate’s affiliation with a major political party be indicated with the candidate’s name on the general election ballot. Provides that, beginning with the 2022 general election, all members of the governing body of a school corporation must be elected, eliminating the appointment of members of the governing body. Changes population parameters to reflect the population count determined under the 2020 decennial census. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to Senate Education and Career Development | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB148 | PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS (KOCH E) Permits a prosecuting attorney to purchase a crime insurance policy instead of executing a surety bond. Permits the department of child services or a prosecuting attorney to file a paternity action in certain cases. Allows a prosecuting attorney to request and use funds that are derived from a deferral program or pretrial diversion program for expenses of the office of the prosecuting attorney. Renames the drug prosecution fund as the substance abuse prosecution fund. Requires a prosecuting attorney to investigate information received about the commission of certain criminal offenses. Allows a prosecuting attorney to issue or request a subpoena, search warrant, or other process necessary to aid an investigation. Broadens the types of expenses a county auditor shall pay the prosecuting attorney in connection with a criminal case. Allows a prosecuting attorney to appoint employees with the approval of the county council. Allows the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana to call two conferences each year and specifies who may attend the conferences. Requires that expenses incurred by a deputy prosecuting attorney or an employee of a prosecuting attorney for attending a conference held by the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana be paid by the county general fund. Requires the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana to conduct certain training. Allows a prosecuting attorney to seek and receive grants and funding from any source to assist in the discharge of duties of the office of the prosecuting attorney with the consent of the county council. Provides a prosecuting attorney with defense and indemnification in a disciplinary action for conduct that occurred within the scope of employment. | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB151 | SCHOLARSHIP FOR MINORITY STUDENTS IN HEALTH CARE (BREAUX J) Establishes the scholarship for minority students pursuing health care careers (scholarship) and the minority students pursuing health care careers fund (fund). Provides that the commission for higher education (commission) administers the scholarship program and the fund. Prescribes qualifications necessary to: (1) receive an initial scholarship; and (2) qualify for renewal of the scholarship. Provides that the amount of the scholarship awarded for an academic year is the lesser of: (1) the balance of the scholarship recipient’s total cost of attendance for the academic year after the application of any other financial assistance for which the scholarship recipient qualifies; or (2) $4,000. Requires a scholarship recipient to enter into a written agreement with the commission to: (1) use the scholarship solely to fund a course of study resulting in a degree or certificate that enables the individual to practice as a health care professional in Indiana; (2) apply for a position as a health care professional in Indiana following the individual’s licensure or certification as a health care professional; and (3) if hired, practice as a health care professional in Indiana for at least three years. Requires a scholarship recipient to repay the scholarship if the scholarship recipient fails to: (1) complete the scholarship recipient’s program of study; or (2) complete the terms of the scholarship recipient’s agreement with the commission. Annually appropriates to the fund from the state general fund an amount sufficient to carry out the purposes of the scholarship program. Requires the commission to report to the general assembly not later than December 1, 2026, regarding the effect of the scholarship program. | |
| Current Status: | 1/6/2022 – Referred to Senate Education and Career Development | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB154 | MEDICAID ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BREAUX J) Adds a member to the Medicaid advisory committee who represents an organization that serves underserved or minority communities. | |
| Current Status: | 1/4/2022 – Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB155 | HUMAN TRAFFICKING (CRIDER M) (BREAUX J) Modifies the definition of “protected person” for purposes of the admission of a statement or videotape of an individual who is less than 14 years of age at the time of the offense but less than 18 years of age at the time of trial. Removes the requirement that money paid for a human trafficking victim or for an act performed by a human trafficking victim be paid to a third party. Increases the penalty for human trafficking to a Level 4 felony. Specifies that consent by the human trafficking victim is not a defense to a prosecution. Requires law enforcement agencies to report human trafficking investigations to the attorney general within 30 days after an investigation begins. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB165 | NONCOMPLIANT PROSECUTOR (YOUNG M) (BREAUX J) Permits the attorney general to request the appointment of a special prosecuting attorney if a prosecuting attorney is categorically refusing to prosecute certain crimes, and establishes a procedure for the appointment of a person to serve as a special prosecuting attorney to prosecute cases that the county prosecuting attorney is refusing to prosecute. | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB167 | DUCATION MATTERS (BALDWIN S) Defines a “qualified school”. Requires each qualified school to post educational activities and curricular materials on the school’s Internet web site. Provides that public records that are available on a qualified school’s Internet web site shall be excepted from public record requests for individuals that have access to the school’s Internet web site at the discretion of the qualified school. Requires the school corporation or qualified school to add functionality that allows parents of students in the school corporation to opt in to or opt out of certain educational activities and curricular materials under certain conditions. Provides that the governing body of a school corporation shall create a curricular materials advisory committee (committee) comprised of parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. Requires the committee to submit recommendations regarding curricular materials and educational activities to the governing body of a school corporation. Provides parameters for the composition of the committee, the appointment of committee members, and the appointment of a committee chairperson. Requires the governing body to create educational activities and curricular materials review, discussion, and recommendation procedures for the committee. Provides that the committee shall meet a certain number of times annually. Provides that a state agency, state educational institution, school corporation, or qualified school or an employee of the state agency, state educational institution, school corporation, or qualified school acting in an official capacity may not include or promote certain concepts as part of a course of instruction or in a curriculum or direct or otherwise compel a school employee or student to adhere to certain tenets relating to the individual’s sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation. Provides that a state agency, school corporation, qualified school, or state educational institution or an employee of the state agency, school corporation, qualified school, or state educational institution acting in an official capacity may not require an employee of the school corporation, qualified school, or state educational institution to engage in training, orientation, or therapy that presents any form of racial or sex stereotyping or blame on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or political affiliation. Provides that a student shall not be required to participate in a personal analysis, an evaluation, or a survey that reveals or attempts to affect the student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings without parental consent. Provides that, if a school corporation or qualified school uses a third party vendor in providing a personal analysis, evaluation, or survey that reveals, identifies, collects, maintains or attempts to affect a student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings, the third party vendor and the school corporation or qualified school may not collect or maintain the responses to or results of the analysis, evaluation, or survey in a manner that would identify the responses or results of an individual student. Provides that before a school corporation or qualified school may provide or administer certain mental, social-emotional, or psychological services to a student, the school must provide the parent of the student or the student, if the student is an adult or an emancipated minor, with a written request for consent to provide or administer certain mental, social-emotional, or psychological services. Makes changes to the definition of “sexually explicit” for the purpose of trade regulation. Removes schools and certain public libraries from the list of entities eligible for a specified defense to criminal prosecutions alleging: (1) the dissemination of material harmful to minors; or (2) a performance harmful to minors. Adds colleges and universities to the entities eligible for a specified defense to criminal prosecutions alleging: (1) the dissemination of material harmful to minors; or (2) a performance harmful to minors. | |
| Current Status: | 1/13/2022 – added as coauthor Senator Kruse | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB184 | RESIDENTIAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (HOLDMAN T) Removes the requirement that the governing body of a school corporation affected by a residential housing development program (program) approve the program by resolution before the program may take effect. | |
| Current Status: | 1/24/2022 – Senate Bills on Second Reading | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| SB236 | ELIGIBILITY FOR SENIOR PROPERTY TAX DEDUCTION (QADDOURA F) Increases the adjusted gross income threshold for an individual at least 65 years of age to obtain a deduction from the assessed value of the individual’s real property from $30,000 to $40,000. Increases the threshold for an individual at least 65 years of age filing a joint return from $40,000 to $50,000. Increases the maximum assessed value of the real property from $200,000 to $300,000 to be eligible for the deduction. Provides that an individual is not entitled to a refund for the deduction for any previous year in which the assessed value of the individual’s real property would have qualified for the deduction for that year due to a subsequent increase in the assessed value threshold. | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB279 | ELECTION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS (WALKER G) Provides that the governing body of a school corporation may change the school corporation’s organizational plan to provide that candidates for election to the governing body are elected in a nonpartisan election or as all other elected offices are elected. Amends current statutes relating to nomination of candidates for school board offices to reflect this option. Repeals other superseded statutes. Makes conforming changes. Changes population parameters to reflect the population count determined under the 2020 decennial census. | |
| Current Status: | 1/10/2022 – Referred to Senate Education and Career Development | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB281 | NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES (BUCK J) Provides that, if none of the candidates for nomination for United States Senate by a political party required to hold a primary election receive a majority of the votes in the primary election, the political party shall choose its nominee for the office at the state party convention from among the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes at the primary election. | |
| Current Status: | 1/10/2022 – Referred to Senate Elections | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB290 | VARIOUS EDUCATION MATTERS (BUCK J) Requires the department of education (department) to establish a career coaching pilot program to award grants to school corporations to establish career coaching programs for students of the school corporation. Beginning July 1, 2022, requires the department to annually submit a report to the general assembly in an electronic format that provides certain information concerning high school graduation waiver rates and graduation pathways and to post the report on the department’s Internet web site. Provides that, if the total amount of state tuition support that a school corporation receives or will receive during a school year decreases under the student instructional day reduction of tuition support provision by an amount that is equal to or more than $250,000 from the amount the school corporation would otherwise be eligible to receive during the school year, the budget committee shall review the amount of and the reason for the decrease before the implementation of the decrease. Provides that, if an adjustment by the state board of education (state board) of the count of enrolled eligible pupils for one or more school corporations would increase or decrease the total distribution of state tuition support in an amount that is equal to or more than $250,000, the adjustment must be reviewed by the budget committee before the state board may adjust the enrollment count. Provides that, if the state board determines that extreme patterns of certain conditions on the count day or the subsequent adjustment date cause the enrollment to be unrepresentative of the enrollment of one or more school corporations by a count of eligible pupils that would increase or decrease the total distribution of state tuition support in an amount that is equal to or more than $250,000 as a result of changing the count day, the state board may designate another day for determining the enrollment of the one or more school corporations after review by the budget committee. (Current law allows the state board to designate another day for determining a school corporation’s enrollment if the state board determines that extreme patterns of certain conditions on the count day or the subsequent adjustment date cause the enrollment to be unrepresentative of the school corporation’s enrollment.) Provides that the state board shall assign to a school or school corporation (including adult high schools) a “null” or “no letter grade” for the 2021-2022 school year. | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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| SB327 | TANF ELIGIBILITY (FORD J) Sets the income eligibility requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program at a specified percentage of the federal income poverty level. Requires the division of family resources (division) to amend the state TANF plan or take any other action necessary to implement the income requirements. Increases certain payment amounts under the TANF program. Requires the payments to be annually adjusted using the Social Security cost of living adjustment rate, but provides that the total adjustment in a year must be reduced to the extent the adjustment would result in the transfer to the Child Care and Development Fund grant program being less than the maximum allowable transfer under federal law. Authorizes emergency rulemaking concerning the payments. Repeals language regarding: (1) payments for a child born more than 10 months after a family qualifies for assistance; (2) the adoption of rules authorizing certain vouchers; (3) eligibility for child support enforcement services; (4) encouraging a family that receives assistance to receive family planning counseling; and (5) requiring the division to apply a percentage reduction to the total needs of TANF applicants and recipients in computing TANF benefits. Makes conforming changes. | |
| Current Status: | 1/11/2022 – Referred to Senate Family and Children Services | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB339 | CCDF COPAYMENTS WAIVER (BREAUX J) Requires, during the federally declared public health emergency concerning COVID-19, the division of family resources to continue to temporarily waive a family’s copayment for participation in the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) voucher program and make the payments to the child care program provider in the same manner as the division was waiving the copayment and making the payments to providers on January 1, 2022. | |
| Current Status: | 1/10/2022 – Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB345 | BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRAINING GRANTS (QADDOURA F) Establishes a first responder crisis intervention account (account) within the statewide 9-8-8 trust fund for the purpose of awarding grants to public safety agencies that provide first responder emergency services to be used by the agencies for specified crisis intervention programs, data collection, and training purposes. Provides that the division of mental health and addiction shall administer the account. Caps the grant amount to a public safety agency at $50,000 per state fiscal year. Requires the auditor of state to transfer to the account $2,000,000 of the $50,000,000 of federal stimulus funds that were appropriated to the family and social services administration for mental health grants in the current state budget bill. | |
| Current Status: | 1/25/2022 – Senate Homeland Security and Transportation, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing) | |
| Position: | Support | |
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| SB352 | SUPERVISED CONSUMER LOANS (ZAY A) Amends the Uniform Consumer Credit Code to provide that the authorized loan finance charge for a consumer loan, other than a supervised loan, that is entered into after June 30, 2022, may not exceed 36% (versus 25% for a consumer loan that is entered into before July 1, 2022) per year on the unpaid balances of the principal. Amends the definition of “supervised loan” to mean a consumer loan that: (1) is entered into before July 1, 2022, and with respect to which the rate of the loan finance charge exceeds the authorized 25% annual rate for consumer loans under current law; or (2) is entered into after June 30, 2022, and is made in accordance with the requirements for supervised loans set forth in the bill. Sets forth requirements and limitations with respect to the following for supervised loans made after June 30, 2022: (1) Authorized fees and charges. (2) The maximum principal amount. (3) The minimum and maximum lengths of the loan term. (4) Information and disclosures to be included in the loan contract. (5) A borrower’s right to rescind a supervised loan transaction. Provides that when a borrower enters into a supervised loan, the lender shall provide the borrower with a pamphlet approved by the department of financial institutions (department) that describes: (1) the availability of debt management and credit counseling services; (2) the borrower’s rights and responsibilities; and (3) the availability of the 211 telephone dialing code for human services information and referrals. Sets forth prohibited acts and practices in connection with a supervised loan. Provides that a lender may not take a security interest in real or personal property in connection with a supervised loan, other than a security interest in a personal check of the borrower. Specifies the applicability of the bill’s provisions to supervised loans made by persons exempt from: (1) the bill’s finance charge limitations; and (2) licensure by the department. Requires a lender that makes at least one supervised loan in Indiana during a calendar year to remit to the department: (1) an annual fee of $250; and (2) an additional fee of $250 per Indiana branch location (after the first location). Establishes the consumer financial education fund (fund), and provides that the annual fees collected from lenders making supervised loans are to be deposited in the fund. Provides that the fund is to be: (1) administered by the department; and (2) used by the department for paying expenses relating to consumer financial education. Requires a person that enters into at least one supervised loan transaction in Indiana in any calendar year to file with the department a report concerning the person’s business and operations with respect to that calendar year. Requires the director of the department to prescribe: (1) the time and manner for filing the report; and (2) the information to be included in the report. Requires the department to publish and make available to the public, at least annually, an analysis of the information provided in the reports filed with the department. Sets forth the information that must be included in the department’s analysis. Makes conforming amendments to existing references to supervised loans throughout the Indiana Code. | |
| Position: | Oppose | |
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| SB370 | COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS (BUCHANAN B) Creates a procedure to establish a community infrastructure improvement district (district). Specifies that the procedure added by the bill allowing for the establishment of a district does not authorize the unit to establish a district that overlaps with an economic improvement district. Requires a petition for the establishment of a district to include a rate and methodology report. Specifies the contents of the report. Specifies the basis upon which benefits accruing to parcels of real property within a district may be apportioned among those parcels. Requires a determination that the aggregate assessments within a district do not exceed 30% of the projected assessed value of property within the district before a legislative body may adopt an ordinance to establish a district. Requires a community infrastructure improvement board (board) to assist the county treasurer in order to make certain specified determinations and designations regarding annual assessments within a district. Adds specific provisions that apply to the board’s issuance of revenue bonds. | |
| Position: | Monitor | |
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