4/21/2023 Session Update

By: Anna White

Can you believe the legislative session is almost over? Late April seemed so far away back in January - and yet here we are! We have some interesting updates for you, and we’ve added a couple of bills we haven’t reported on much so far. Read on to find out!

Bill Action

First up, we have SB 252, which was originally a bill that allowed LARCs (Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives) to be transferred between Medicaid recipients. In other words, it was a medical waste bill that would save Indiana millions of dollars in unused LARCs. But recently, while in the House, it was combined with another bill regarding the Doula Reimbursement Advisory Board. It changes the name of the board, adds additional issues for the board to consider, and adds a member appointed by the executive director of the professional licensing agency. The Senate voted to dissent with House amendments as soon as it was returned. That means this bill is going into a Conference Committee so the House and Senate can deliberate and make agreements. The conference has yet to be scheduled, but it should occur sometime next week. 

Next, House Bill 1228, Child Seduction, is a bill that we haven’t reported on in the blog much. However, it’s likely to be sent to Governor Holcomb’s desk in the following weeks, and we think it should be on your radar. This bill cracks down on sexual abuse in youth sports leagues and holds sports organizations responsible for the actions of the coaches and supervisors they hire. This intervention is much needed, especially in girls’ sports leagues and organizations. According to Women’s Liberation Front, roughly half of the female athletes quit sports by the time they turn seventeen, in large part because of sexual violence and feeling unsafe. Most of the time, the perpetrators are coaches, who build trust with athletes and eventually overstep major boundaries. Girls - and all children - deserve to feel safe when they play. This bill is a step in the right direction to make sure that young athletes have the coaches and support staff they deserve. 

Up next is Senate Bill 158, Domestic Violence Laws, which was signed into law on Thursday. This bill asserts that people arrested for certain crimes committed against a family or household member cannot be released on bail for 24 hours following their arrest. The explicit purpose of this measure is to allow a longer “cool down” period to prevent further violence. Indiana has one of the shortest holding periods for domestic violence-related arrests, requiring only an 8-hour holding period, which is not enough for abuse victims to get an order of protection or find somewhere else to live.  

The bill also raises invasion of privacy to a level 6 felony if the person committing the crime has a prior unrelated criminal stalking conviction. Finally, certain crimes are elevated to a serious violent felonies because of unlawful possession of a firearm.   

Inactive Bills

We saw a lot of bills become officially inactive during the crossover phase. Now that it’s the end of the session, we’re seeing it happen again. Here are a few recently-active bills that are now inactive. 

  • We’ll start with HB 1116, which would have banned convicted felons who attempted to influence election workers from voting for 10 years. Public defenders criticized the bill for reintroducing voter disenfranchisement to Indiana’s law books. 

  • Second is SB 376, which would have made lawfully residing immigrants eligible for Medicaid. Unfortunately, this bill stopped moving after crossover and is now officially inactive. 

  • Lastly, SB 392, a bill that would have subsidized university housing for single mothers that were full-time students, is officially dead. 

That’s it for this week’s updates. We’re still keeping an eye on HB 1568, Prescriptions for Hormonal Contraceptives, which was referred back to the House with no amendments last week. We expect to see some movement soon - its next big step is Gov. Holcomb’s desk. This is also true for HB 1334, Absentee Voting, and HB 1608 - also known as Indiana’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill. Check back in with us next week!

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. Changes the name of the doula reimbursement advisory board to the doula and pregnancy support professions advisory board (advisory board). Adds additional issues for the advisory board to consider and adds a member appointed by the executive director of the professional licensing agency. Allows a long acting reversible contraceptive that is prescribed to and obtained for a Medicaid recipient to be transferred to another Medicaid recipient if certain requirements are met. 

    • 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

    • First Reading: Referred to Committee on Public Health on 02/28

    • Passed & Adopted by Committee on 04/11

    • Second Reading: Amended & Ordered engrossed on 04/13

    • Third Reading: Passed on 4/17

    • Returned to the Senate with amendments on 04/18

    • Motion to dissent filed on 04/18

    • Senate dissented from House Amendments on 04/18

    • Senate & House conferees and advisors appointed on 04/18

  • 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

    • Reread second time, amended, ordered engrossed on 03/20

    • Third Reading: Passed on 03/21

    • Returned to the House with Amendments on 03/22

    • Motion to concur filed on 04/04

    • House concurred with Senate amendments on 04/11

  • HB 1228: Child Seduction. Provides that "solicit", for purposes of the crime of child solicitation, includes luring and enticing. Defines "coach", "workplace supervisor", and "youth sports organization", and provides that the coach of a youth sports organization or a workplace supervisor commits child seduction if the person engages in sexual activity with a child less than 18 years of age and certain other conditions are met. Reduces the age difference from five years to four years for child seduction committed by a law enforcement officer. Makes conforming amendments.

    • First Reading, referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code: 01/10

    • Passed & Adopted in Committee on 02/16

    • Second Reading: Ordered Engrossed on 02/20

    • Third Reading: Passed on 02/21

    • Referred to the Senate on 02/22

    • First Reading: Referred to Committee on Corrections and Criminal Law on 03/01

    • Passed & Adopted by Committee on 03/14

    • Second Reading: Amended, ordered engrossed on 03/20

    • Third Reading: Passed on 03/21

    • Returned to the House with amendments on 03/22

    • Motion to concur filed on 03/28

    • House concurred in Senate amendments on 04/11

  • 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 Amended

    • Second Reading: Passed, amended, and ordered engrossed on 03/28

    • Third Reading: Passed on 04/03

    • Returned to the House with amendments on 04/04

    • Motion to concur filed 04/10

    • House concurred with Senate amendments on 04/11

  • 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

    • Second reading: ordered engrossed on 02/16

    • Third Reading, passed, referred to Senate on 02/21

    • First Reading, referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services on 03/01

    • In Health & Provider Services Committee on 03/22, vote held

    • Passed in Health & Provider Services Committee on 03/29, referred to Appropriations Committee

    • Passed Appropriations Committee on 04/06

    • Second Reading: Ordered Engrossed on 04/10

    • 04/12: Returned to the House without Amendments

  • HB 1608: Human Sexuality Instruction: Bans human sexuality instruction in Kindergarten through Third Grade; requires school staff to notify parents if a student begins using names, titles, or pronouns inconsistent with their biological sex. 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

    • Second Reading: Amended, ordered engrossed on 04/06

    • Third Reading: Passed on 04/10

    • Returned to the House with amendments on 04/11

Upcoming Events

  • On Monday, we will join Hoosiers at MADVoters' silent protest at the Statehouse at 11:30 am. We will form a human chain around the Statehouse, emphasizing the negative bills passed during this legislative session that restrict our rights and silence our voices. Learn more here.

  • On Tuesday, we are excited to cosponsor the virtual Legal & Legislative Update at 7:30 pm. We encourage all to attend and learn about mifepristone, the legal implications of the dual court rulings, and the impact of recent legal and legislative decisions on our communities. Register here.

  • On Thursday, we invite you to us at the Indiana Interchurch Center to engage in meaningful conversations, share your thoughts and ideas, and learn how you can get involved as a Women4Change Action Advocate and volunteer. RSVP here.

W4C