3/31/2023 Session Update
By: Anna White
This week, let’s start with the good news. HB 1568, Prescription for Hormonal Contraceptives, passed its committee hearing on Wednesday! It was reassigned to the Appropriations Committee for a second public hearing and committee vote. As a refresher, this bill allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense patch and oral hormonal contraceptives, giving people another point of access for family-planning healthcare.
Now it’s time for the bad news.
First up is House Bill 1334, which was passed, amended, and ordered engrossed during its second reading on Tuesday. Next, the Senate will hold a third reading. If it passes that, the bill will be sent back to the House for one last vote to approve the Senate’s amendment. If it passes again, it’s on its way to the Governor. It’s startling how quickly this bill has made its way through the legislative process, because it seeks to make voting by mail more difficult for Hoosiers by requiring registered voters to provide certain numbers or a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID to request an absentee ballot. These new requirements were created under the guise of election fraud prevention, but in reality, they are designed to create more barriers to absentee voting.
Senate Bill 480 is another unjust bill that continued to make its way through the legislative process this week. On Monday, SB 480, which bans medical gender transitioning for those under the age of eighteen, passed its third hearing in the House, meaning it’s on its way to Governor Holcomb’s desk. If he signs it, the bill will become law. On Saturday morning, ACLU Indiana will hold a rally at the statehouse to protest SB 480 and other slate of hate laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community this session. It’s one of the final opportunities to show your support for the community and urge lawmakers to stop the attacks on queer youth. So if you’re free, grab a couple of friends and head to the statehouse this weekend. The doors open at 10:00.
That’s a wrap on this week’s updates.
Bill Tracker
SB 252: Allows for LARCS to be transferred between Medicaid recipients. The aim of this bill is to eliminate medical waste for LARCs that were prescribed for one patient but never actually used (IUDs and arm implants). Missouri, which has less Medicaid recipients than Indiana, has saved $1.8 million from a similar bill.
First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services on 01/11
Adopted and passed by Health Provider Services Committee on 02/02
Second reading; ordered engrossed on 02/06
Third reading; passed unanimously on 02/07
Referred to the House on 02/09
02/28: First Reading: Referred to Committee on Public Health
SB 376: Provides Medicaid eligibility for certain individuals who have immigrated and are lawfully residing in the United States and meet other Medicaid eligibility requirements. Specifies eligibility for the children’s health insurance program (CHIP) for lawfully residing individuals under 19 years of age.
First Reading: referred to Committee on Family and Children Services on 01/19
Passed and Adopted by Committee on 02/06; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations
Passed & Adopted by Committee on Appropriations 02/23
Second Reading: ordered engrossed 02.28
Third Reading: Passed 02/28
Referred to House: 03/01
SB 480: Gender transition procedures for minors; Prohibits a physician or other practitioner from (1) knowingly providing gender transition procedures to an individual who is less than 18 years of age, and (2) aiding or abetting another physician or practitioner in the provision of gender transition procedures to a minor. Establishes civil enforcement actions.
First Reading; referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services on 01/19
Passed and Adopted in Committee 02/23
Second Reading, amended, ordered engrossed on 02/27
Third Reading, passed on 02/28
Referred to House 03/01
First Reading, referred to Committee on Public Health 03/06
Passed and Adopted by Committee on 03/21
Second Reading: Ordered Engrossed on 03/23
Third Reading: Passed on 03/27
HB 1009: Court-Ordered Pregnancy and Childbirth Expenses: Specifies what a court shall order a father to pay for pregnancy and childbirth expenses.
First Reading, assigned to committee on 01/12
Passed & Amended by committee on 02/09
Second Reading, ordered engrossed on 02/13
Third Reading: Passed on 02/14
Referred to Senate on 02/15
First Reading, Referred to Committee on Judiciary on 02/27
Amended and passed by Senate Judiciary Committee on 03/8
Second Reading Amended, Ordered Engrossed on 03/14
Placed back on Second Reading on 03/16
HB 1116: Various Election Matters: Allows counties that have not yet redistricted to do so after the 2023 primaries, upending an election cycle and promoting “gaming the system” instead of fair maps. Also introduces a new voter fraud statute stipulating that anyone who is convicted of a vote fraud felony is deprived of their right to vote for the next ten years following the date of conviction.
First Reading, referred to committee on elections and proportionment on 01/10
Passed and adopted by elections and proportionment, referred to Committee on Ways & Means on 01/26
Passed and adopted by Ways & Means on 02/08
Second Reading, ordered engrossed on 02/16
Third Reading: passed on 02/20
Referred to Senate on 02/21
02/28: First Reading; referred to Committee on Elections
03/20: Passed and adopted by Committee on Elections, reassigned to Committee on Tax & Fiscal Policy
HB 1334: Absentee Voting: Provides that an agency of the state or a political subdivision may not provide an individual with an application for an absentee ballot unless requested by the individual or member of the individual’s family. Provides that an absentee ballot must include: (1) certain identification numbers, or (2) a photocopy of: (A) the applicant’s Indiana’s driver’s license , (B) the applicant’s Indiana identification card number for nondrivers, or (C) other specified proof of identification.
First Reading: Referred to Committee on Elections and Apportionment on 01/12
Amended and Passed by Committee on 02/16
Second Reading: Amended, Ordered Engrossed on 02/21
Third Reading: Passed 02/22
Referred to Senate on 02/23
In Committee 03/06, TBC
In Committee 03/20: Passed and Adopted
Second Hearing; Passed & Amended; Ordered Engrossed on 03/28
HB 1568: Allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense oral and patch hormonal contraceptives. Provides that pharmacists who oppose contraceptives on moral or religious grounds are exempt from prescribing them.
First Reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services on 01/19
The Committee hearing for this bill began on 02/07 but did not close with a decision until the hearing continued on 02/14.
It passed its hearing on 02/14, but with an amendment that prohibited pharmacists from prescribing abortion-inducing drugs.
Second Reading: Amended, ordered engrossed 02/16
Third Reading : Passed, 02/20
Referred to the Senate on 02/21
02/16: Second reading: ordered engrossed
02/21: Third Reading, passed, referred to Senate
03/01: First Reading, referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services
First reading, referred to committee on elections 03/06
In Committee 03/22, vote held
Passed & Adopted by Committee on 03/29
HB 1608: Human Sexuality Instruction: Bans human sexuality instruction in Kindergarten through Third Grade; bans teachers from using names, titles, or pronouns inconsistent with a student’s biological sex unless the student’s parents file a request at the beginning of the school year stating otherwise, or if the student is an emancipated minor or 18 years of age. Ensures that staff cannot get in trouble for using only names, pronouns, and titles consistent with a student’s biological sex.
Status: First Reading: referred to Committee on Education 01/19
Passed & Adopted by Committee on 02/20
Second Reading: Ordered Engrossed on 02/22
Third Reading: Passed on 02/23
Referred to Senate on 02/24
First Reading, referred to Committee on Education & Career Development on 03/06
Passed & Adopted by committee on 03/22