INDIANAPOLIS — With the end of Indiana’s legislative session just days away, lawmakers are working at breakneck speed to get bills to Gov. Holcomb’s desk.
Tuesday marked the last day the Indiana Senate could pass any remaining House bills under consideration. After hours of back-and-forth (and the occasionally heated moment), the Senate passed all 19 House bills on the docket.
After the same bill failed to receive a Senate hearing last year, the Indiana Senate unanimously passed HB 1002, a bill that prohibits antisemitism on college campuses.
“When October 7th happened, that is abhorrent and should never happen,” State Sen. Aaron Freeman (R-Indianapolis), the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, said. ”Politics is about what’s possible, and this is what is possible—it is a very strong definition of antisemitism.”
But other bills didn’t pass so smoothly. One bill, HB 1093, caused ire among Senate democrats because it loosens child labor restrictions.
”We’ll continue to run at the bottom of the country when it comes to educational attainment,” Indiana Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor said.
”That is irresponsible and dystopian, if I can be frank, to respond to our workforce shortage this way,” State Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis) said.
However, several Senate Republicans argued that the bill is not a way to address the state’s labor shortage.
”Please do not for a second think that this is about the evil employers trying to manipulate and take advantage of kids, this is about opportunities for kids,” State Sen. Mike Gaskill (R-Pendleton) said.
The bill passed 39-9.
While that vote was along party lines, the same couldn’t be said for HB 1426, a bill requiring hospitals to stock contraceptive implants for post-partum use. The amended bill removed a provision that would have required hospitals to stock IUDs as well, something several democrats said could have helped at-risk women.
”An IUD is one of the only options for these women, and this bill does not give these women options,” State Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) said.
Some Republicans said they were hesitant to move forward with the Medicaid-related legislation given the state’s current Medicaid shortfall.
”I think that we have been very prudent so far in taking a pause and waiting until the budget session,” State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) said.
However, the bill’s Senate sponsor said the move would actually save the state more Medicaid dollars in the long run.
”If we could help 100 women avoid an unintended pregnancy, the $2 million in Medicaid funds saved could go a long way,” State Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange) said.
The bill passed 30-18.
Because the Senate amended each of these bills, they will be sent to House Conference Committees for further review. All final reports are expected to be done by the end of this week.
