Indiana General Assembly Bill Tracker
Each week, the Daily Reporter will check in on what local lawmakers are doing by tracking the process by which bills advance or die in the Indiana Statehouse. Here is a list of key bills penned by legislators who represent Hancock County and where those bills stand in the Indiana General Assembly, from first reading to signature by the governor. You can also track these proposed laws online by visiting ww.iga.in.gov and click on “Legislation.”
-Compiled by Maribeth Vaughn
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 was 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 co-insured member. Stems from incidents in which one spouse maliciously damages property during divorce or separation.
Status: Assigned to a Senate committee on insurance and financial institutions.
This week: An amendment on the bill was passed, so it will be sent to a summer study committee.
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 now heads to the House for consideration.
This week: No action.
Electric suppliers’ service areas
Bill number: SB 309
Author: Sen. Mike Crider, R-Greenfield
Summary: Prohibits a city that owns an electric utility from petitioning to a state agency to acquire a new service area during an annexation.
Status: Approved by the full Senate, the bill will next be considered by the House.
This week: The bill was approved 42-7 on final reading in the Senate.
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.
Tax increment financing
Bill number: HB 1018
Author: Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield
Summary: Requires Tax Increment Finance districts established after June 30, 2015 to be funded differently, so more property tax money goes to units of government.
Status: Assigned to the House committee on ways and means.
This week: No action. Cherry says the bill probably won’t pass, but language from his bill could be added to another piece of legislation.
Annexation
Bill number: HB 1268
Author: Rep. Bob Cherry, R-Greenfield, is a co-author, alongside 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: In a committee on government and regulatory reform.
This week: No action. Cherry said this bill probably won’t move, but language from it may be added to another piece of legislation, House Bill 1561, which passed this week on second reading, or Senate Bill 330, which passed this week out of a Senate committee. Ultimately, the differences in the bills will likely be worked out at the end of the session in conference.
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: Approved by a committee on public policy, the bill will next be heard by the full House.
This week: The House defeated two amendments on the measure. It will likely be considered for final reading next week.
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: The bill passed unanimously out of the House.
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: The bill passed unanimously out of the House.
