The Senate Session will convene at 10 a.m. today in the Senate Chamber. Watch live at: iga.in.gov/legislative/20… #INLegis
Session is delayed until 10:15am #INLegis
Session is delayed until 10:20 a.m. #INLegis
Session is delayed until 10:30 a.m. #INLegis
Today is third reading deadline in the Senate, meaning all Senate bills must be voted on today or they will no longer be viable for consideration. #INLegis
SB 139 authored by @TimLanane is approved unanimously by the Senate. The bill aims to combine volunteers for senior programs and incapacitated adults programs into one program.
@TimLanane SB 207, which would extend the syringe exchange program that is set to expire in July of 2021, is defeated by the Senate with a vote 22-27.
.@SenMarkStoops speaks on SB236 and the need for Indiana to address the discrepancy in its laws that poorly treat Hoosiers who purchase legal marijuana products in other states and consume them before returning to Indiana.
SB 262 is approved with a vote of 47-2. This bill will authorize incentives for attracting film and media productions to the state.
@SenMarkStoops SB 263, which would authorize schools to offer weapons training to teachers who intend to carry firearms in and on school property, is being heard.
@SenMarkStoops .@SenMarkStoops raises issues with the bill. “I have concerns about liability. What happens if there’s a situation where a teacher accidentally shoots a student? What happens if a student gets ahold of the teacher’s weapon? Who is held responsible?”
@SenMarkStoops .@Sen_GregTaylor explains his support for the bill. "I do not support teachers carrying guns in schools, but if they are going to have them, they should be trained.”
@SenMarkStoops @Sen_GregTaylor "I wish we had this much vigor when talking about mental health rather than guns." -@SenatorJDFord
@SenMarkStoops @Sen_GregTaylor @SenatorJDFord SB 291, which would allow those that qualify as law enforcement officers to carry firearms in casinos is being debated now.
“I rise in opposition to this bill. Originally there was language in the bill that prohibited alcohol consumption by those authorized to carry firearms, but that was taken out of the bill." -@TimLanane on SB 291
@TimLanane The bill passes 40-9.
@TimLanane .@SenJeanBreaux speaks against SB 299, a proposal that seeks to encourage women who have abortions to return the remains to be buried or cremated. "This is yet another attempt to raise the barriers to abortion for women who seek to exercise their right.” The bill is approved 40-9
@TimLanane @SenJeanBreaux SB 309, authored by @SenNiezgodski passes with a vote 29-20. Sen. Niezgodski's SB 311 also passes with a vote 40-9.
@TimLanane @SenJeanBreaux @SenNiezgodski SB 342, which would have required employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant women but was amended to a summer study committee, is being discussed.
“If this was about pregnant men, we wouldn’t be standing here. This isn’t an issue that needs to be studied. The bill should have passed the way it was.” -@Sen_GregTaylor
“I'm disappointed in this body. If we truly wanted to study this, we could have listened to the women who came in to testify about the need for reasonable accommodations in the workplace. They were looking to us for leadership and we failed them." -@SenatorJDFord
@SenatorJDFord "This bill does not put into law protections that we, as legislators, should be providing to all women across Indiana. I will not be supporting this legislation." -@SenJeanBreaux
@SenatorJDFord @SenJeanBreaux Bill is approved with a vote 41-8.
@SenatorJDFord @SenJeanBreaux .@SenEddieMelton explains why he will not be voting in favor of SB 365. The bill would negatively affect the City of Gary, which he represents, by way of thousands of dollars in lost taxes.
.@SenMarkStoops speaks on SB369 which would help counties expand city transit systems out into their county jurisdictions.
.@SenMarkStoops speaks on the importance of funding rural transit in Indiana, and how rural funding has decreased in recent years
SB 369 fails 22-27
.@Sen_GregTaylor calls down SB 383 which ensures that IN educational institutions uphold their contracts with women, minority and veteran owned businesses. A priority for the @INBlackCaucus
.@Sen_GregTaylor’s bill SB 383 is approved 40-9.
.@SenEddieMelton calls down his bill SB 416 which temporarily suspends Gary schools’ debt payments to free up $43.5M for rehab and demolition of GCSC school buildings. His bill is unanimously approved.
SB 425 coauthored by @SenNiezgodski is approved 30-19.
@SenNiezgodski SB 435 by @SenEddieMelton passes 47-2.
@SenNiezgodski @SenEddieMelton SB 449, which allows 12 & 13 years old to be waived to adult court for serious offenses is up for discussion.
@SenNiezgodski @SenEddieMelton .@Sen_GregTaylor expresses his concerns with the racial disparities that exist in juvenile court direct files and waivers. Taylor points out that laws that allow minors to be waived to adult court disproportionately impact minorities and believes SB 449 would, as well.
@SenNiezgodski @SenEddieMelton @Sen_GregTaylor "All you're going to do by passing this bill is exacerbate a problem we already have. We have statistics that show that Black males represent less than 10 percent of the community, yet they make up over 70 percent of the population being filed to adult court." -@Sen_GregTaylor
"We already know that there is a disproportionate impact on children of color. If we expand the offenses that could waive children to adult court, it will only worsen that problem." -@SenJeanBreaux
@SenJeanBreaux "With this bill, I fear that we are giving up on the juvenile court system. I know that there are horrendous crimes that need to be treated seriously, but I don't think we should give up on children or the juvenile court system. I'm going to vote against the bill." -@TimLanane
@SenJeanBreaux @TimLanane SB 449 is approved 31-18.
@SenJeanBreaux @TimLanane Senate stands in recess until 9 a.m. February 5.
