Mid-Session Update

The 2021 Indiana General Assembly Legislative Session has just passed its halfway point. This session is a budget session, so not only do Indiana legislators vote on bills and discuss current legislative issues, but they will also determine Indiana’s 2-year budget before the end of the session. Most of the bills Women4Change is tracking have yet to be sent to committee, but nonetheless, we have still seen progress at the Statehouse.

Below are mid-session updates on a selection of bills, divided by issue area, that we are following. 

Fair Voting and Voting Access: 

  • The Indiana House of Representatives voted to pass HB 1365, Various election matters. HB 1365 outlines new voting and vote count policies in order to encourage fair and free elections. The bill has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Elections. 

  • The Indiana House of Representatives voted to pass HB 1479, Early Voting.  HB 1479 allows circuit court clerks to establish a satellite office for voters to drop off absentee ballots, allowing for more time to cast early votes. The bill has since been referred to the Senate Committee on Elections.

Sexual Harassment, Assult and Consent:

  • The Indiana Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 81, Training for investigators of sexual assault cases. SB 81 establishes standardized procedures for training and investigating sexual assault cases involving adult victims.The bill had bipartisan support and has since been referred to the House. 

  • The Indiana House of Represenatives voted to pass House Bill 1176, Elements of rape. HB 1176 criminalizes sexual assault in cases where the perpetrator knowingly deceives the survivor about their identity. The bill has since been referred to the Senate and is now undergoing review by the Senate Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law. 

  • The Indiana House of Representatives voted to pass House Bill 1200, Human trafficking. HB 1200 provides extra protections for underage victims of human trafficking. The bill had bipartisan support and has since been referred to the Senate. 

  • The Indiana Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 79, Domestic battery enhancement. SB 79 increases the penalty for domestic battery if the offender has previously been convicted of violence against the same person. The bill had bipartisan support and has since been referred to the House. 

Civics Education: 

  • The Indiana House voted to pass House Bill 1384, Civics education. HB 1384 bill requires the state board of education to create a standardized civics education plan by 2022. The bill has bipartisan support and has since been referred to the Senate. 

Women’s Advancement: 

  • The Indiana Senate voted to pass Senate Bill 6, State house monument to suffragettes. The bill has bipartisan support and has since been referred to the House Committee on Government and Regulatory Reform. 

W4C hopes to see the continued support of these bills as they make their way through committees and appear on House and Senate floors. We so appreciate our Action Advocates who have advocated for several of the above bills. 

W4C will continue to advocate for Hoosier women as legislators embark on the second half of the legislative session.

W4C