Catholic Conference’s priority bills reach halfway point in Indiana General Assembly

The Indiana General Assembly reached its halfway point on Feb. 25, which was the last day for House and Senate bills to pass their respective chambers.

Bills passed by one chamber will “cross over” to the other and go through the process again, beginning with the decision by the committee chair to give bills a hearing.

Here is a snapshot of a few of the bills being followed by the Indiana Catholic Conference:

• Senate Bill 580 passed by a 37-13 vote and now heads to the House. The bill would create harsher penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers. The Catholic Church opposes this legislation because the bill would negatively impact immigrant families and children.
• House Bill 1286 passed by an 89-8 vote and now heads to the Senate. The bill would allow parishioners to participate in parish festivals when they are not working a charitable game or raffle. Current law prohibits participation in festival activities if a person is working the festival. The Church supports this legislation.
• House Bill 1691 passed by a 75-25 vote, and House Bill 1195 passed by a 53-45 vote. Both bills now head to the Senate. The bills correct problems that have occurred with services provided by the Family and Social Services Administration, and improve access for the poor and unemployed to receive benefits. The Church supports this legislation.
• Senate Bill 528 passed by a 35-15 vote and now heads to the House. The bill expands school choice for lower-income families by providing scholarship tax credits. The Church supports this legislation.
• Senate Bill 90 passed by a 39-11 vote and now heads to the House Public Policy Committee. The bill enhances informed consent for abortion by defining when life begins—when sperm and ovum meet. It also states that the fetus may feel pain during an abortion, and adds several other components to Indiana’s informed consent law. The Church supports this legislation.
• Senate Bill 89 passed by a 44-6 vote, and now heads to the House Public Policy Committee. The bill requires better access to follow-up care after an abortion, and holds physicians more accountable for the abortions they perform. The Church supports this legislation. †