● Rape penalty
Bill number: SB 94
Author: Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield; Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield, is a House sponsor
Summary: A rape charge otherwise barred by the current five-year statute of limitations may be brought to prosecution if the state discovers DNA evidence to charge the offender or if a person confesses to the crime. Bill stems from Jenny Wendt Ewing, a Greenfield native who was raped in 2005 but could not press charges when her assailant confessed in 2014 because the current statute of limitations is five years.
Status: Approved by the Senate, the bill has been referred to the House for consideration
This week: No action
● Property or casualty insurance
Bill number: SB 125
Author: Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield
Summary: Prohibits insurance companies from denying payment on a claim or refusing to issue a new policy with respect to an innocent coinsured member. Stems from incidents in which one spouse maliciously damages property during divorce or separation.
Status: An amendment on the bill assigns it to a summer study committee.
This week: No action.
● Voluntary veterans employment policy
Bill number: SB 298
Authors: Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield, Sen. Amanda Banks, R-Columbia City, and Sen. James Arnold, D-LaPorte
Summary: Provides a voluntary veterans preference policy for hiring, promoting or retaining a veteran in private employment.
Status: Approved unanimously by the Senate, the bill has been sent to the House for consideration.
This week: No action.
● Electric suppliers’ service areas
Bill number: SB 309
Author: Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield; Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield, is a House sponsor.
Summary: Prohibits a city that owns an electric utility from petitioning a state agency to acquire a new service area during an annexation.
Status: Approved by the full Senate, the bill has been sent to the House.
This week: No action.
● Psychiatric crisis intervention
Bill number: SB 485
Author: Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield
Summary: Creates a pilot program in three counties to study services for people with psychiatric conditions and to discover gaps in programs.
Status: Approved by a committee on family and children’s services and is being considered as an addition to the state’s budget.
This week: No action.
● Annexation
Bill number: HB 1268
Author: Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield, is a co-author, along with Reps. Sharon Negele, Timothy Wesco and Cherrish Pryor.
Summary: Places additional notification requirements on cities that are annexing land and eases the remonstrance process for property owners.
Status: Dead.
This week: Language from this bill could be added to Senate Bill 330, another law on annexations, which passed this week 34-16 out of the Senate and next heads to the House for consideration.
● Sunday alcohol sales
Bill number: HB 1624
Author: Rep. Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, is a co-author.
Summary: Legalizes the sale of alcoholic beverage for carryout on Sundays with certain time restrictions.
Status: Dead.
This week: The author of the bill this week declined to bring it to a final vote, acknowledging he didn’t have enough votes for the measure to pass.
● Ethics
Bill number: HB 1002
Author: Rep. Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis
Summary: Requires Indiana lawmakers to file more financial disclosures and prohibits elected officials from using state resources for political purposes. Stems from recent ethical concerns regarding former state Rep. Eric Turner and former Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett.
Status: Approved by the House, the measure will next be considered by the Senate.
This week: No action.
● Redistricting
Bill number: HB 1003
Author: Rep. Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis
Summary: Creates a committee to study how legislators draw district lines and whether the method should be changed. This could affect which geographic areas state and federal lawmakers represent; a redistricting commission may also be established.
Status: Approved by the House, the measure will next be considered by the Senate.
This week: No action.
