February 14th: Here’s what happened at the Indiana Statehouse this week

This was the fifth full week of the Indiana General Assembly. 

Only three of the bills Women4Change has been tracking this session are moving forward in the legislature. 

  • Senate Bill 342, Pregnancy accommodations

    • SB 342 passed with an amendment that called for a study committee on the fiscal impact of pregnancy accommodations on Indiana businesses. The bill was assigned to the Rules committee, wherein legislators do not usually meet to hear bills. The House Speaker could assign the bill to a different committee that does meet to hear bills. Those legislators could, in theory, decide to use the original language of the bill. W4C did support and advocate for that version of the bill. 

    • W4C does not support the current version of the bill, as it no longer calls for any legitimate changes in how employers treat their pregnant workers. The original bill had bipartisan support, including support from Governor Holcomb’s office.  

  • Senate Bill 299, Fetal Remains

    • SB 299 was assigned to the Public Health committee Thursday. W4C does not support this bill. 

  • Senate Bill 246, Sexual assault victims' rights 

    • SB 246 was assigned to the Courts and Criminal Code committee Monday. W4C supports this bill. 

Women4Change hosted a Valentine’s Day Letter-Writing Campaign this morning. Attendees wrote to their legislators about the need for in-depth consent legislation in Indiana. 

Put these events on your calendar!

Owen County Chamber of Commerce Legislative Breakfast: tomorrow, Saturday February 15th at 7:30am

  • Owen Valley Christian Fellowship, 338 IN-43, Spencer, IN 47460, USA

South Bend Regional Chamber Third House Meeting: Friday, February 21st at noon

  • The History Museum, 808 W. Washington Street, South Bend, IN 46601

Click here for our 2020 bill tracker. 

W4C