January 9th: Here's what happened this week at the Indiana Statehouse
Indiana’s legislative session began on Jan. 4 and will end in late-April. As this is a budget session, lawmakers will set the state’s two-year budget within the next few months. Women4Change will advocate this session with our legislative priorities in mind, including Women’s Economic Stability; Women’s Health, Maternal & Infant Mortality, Sexual Harassment, Assault and Consent; and Fair Voting & Voter Access.
Lawmakers set out to introduce legislation related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Legislators expedited two bills that would ensure school funding, regardless of the school’s mode of instruction due to the ongoing pandemic.
Today, January 8, is the deadline for Senators to file new bills.
Wednesday, January 13 is the deadline for Representatives to file new bills.
Click here for an in-depth look into our 2021 legislative priorities.
Read below for a selection of the bills we will be following during this session. We have divided them according to our legislative priorities.
Because the deadline to introduce bills in the House is Wednesday, we will be able to share the comprehensive list of bills we will follow in our next legislative blog. Check back here next Friday!
What bills are we monitoring?
House Bill 1136: Paid family and medical leave program
Establishes a paid family and medical leave program that provide payments for employees who take family and medical leave.
House Bill 1011: Equal pay; wage disclosure protection
Establishes that it is an unlawful employment practice to pay wages that discriminate based on sex for substantially similar work, and to discipline an employee for inquiring or discussing about an employee’s wages.
Women’s Health, Maternal & Infant Mortality
What bills are we monitoring?
House Bill 1100: Health improvement study and plan
Calls for the Department of Health to create a five year plan that studies the health and behavioral health of Indiana residents.
House Bill 1155: Postpartum Medicaid coverage
Provides Medicaid coverage for an eligible pregnant woman for the duration of the pregnancy and for the one year postpartum period that begins on the last day of the pregnancy. Current law only requires Medicaid coverage for 60 days.
Sexual Harassment, Assault & Consent
What bills are we monitoring?
House Bill 1176: Elements of rape
Outlines the definition of rape. Determines that engaging in sexual activity when the other person has expressed lack of consent, through words or conduct, is considered rape.
House Bill 1200: Human trafficking
Increases the penalty for human trafficking if the victim is a minor.
Removes requirement that payment for human trafficking goes to a third party.
Calls for law enforcement agencies to report human trafficking investigations to the attorney general within 30 days after an investigation begins.
Senate Bill 0079: Domestic battery enhancement
Calls to increase the penalty for domestic battery when the offender has a prior conviction for strangulation against the same family or household member.
Senate Bill 0081: Training for investigators of sexual assault cases
Establishes standardized procedures for training and investigating sexual assault cases involving adult victims.
Senate Bill 76: Human trafficking
Increases the penalty if the victim was a minor. Provides that money or property paid in human trafficking may be paid to a human trafficking victim or a third party.
What bills are we monitoring?
Senate Bill 58: Vote centers
Calls for at least one vote center in each municipality located in the county.
Senate Bill 103: Redistricting standards
Establishes new standards for redistricting congressional and state legislative districts.
Determines that no district may be created to unduly favor any person or political party.
Check back here next Friday for updates on the legislative session!