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A year ago, Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston wanted to annex some counties from Illinois. Now, he’s diving into Indiana’s bid to snatch away the Chicago Bears.

The Republican speaker announced Thursday that he’s taking the unusual step of becoming the lead House sponsor on the bill aimed at luring the planned new stadium for the National Football League team into northwest Indiana.

Huston told reporters he was focusing on discussions about a possible deal for the stadium.

“I’m going to spend the next two days up in Lake County and Porter County having conversations with local elected officials to do everything we can,” Huston said.

The state Senate last week endorsed Senate Bill 27 that would create the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority.

That state body that would have the power to acquire land, issue long-term bonds and finance the construction of a professional football stadium and related facilities.

The bill, however, does not specify how much taxpayer money would go toward the project and which local taxes might be tapped. It also doesn’t include details of what, if anything, the Bears would contribute to the new stadium.

Huston said he didn’t have any meetings set with Bears officials, indicating that Gov. Mike Braun’s staff has “done a fantastic job. It’s been a cooperative effort.”

Hammond mayor calls site evaluation “advanced”

Bears officials have publicly explored relocating to northwest Indiana amid stalled negotiations in Illinois over a proposed stadium development in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights.

Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott told the Indiana Capital Chronicle that he would be meeting with Huston and the speaker would tour a possible stadium site in the city that’s being evaluated by Bears and state officials.

McDermott said Thursday he believed Indiana’s bid for the Bears' relocation is “extremely serious.”

“I think it’s advanced,” he said. “I could confirm that a huge amount of money has been spent by the state of Indiana and by the Chicago Bears.”

McDermott said millions of dollars have been spent by the team and the state so far.

“Environmental research, all kinds of consultants and attorneys and engineers,” he said. “If the Bears are going to make a move of this magnitude, they’ve got to know full well what they’re getting themselves into. They want to make sure that it’s a good situation.”

Braun not detailing negotiations

Braun’s office did not answer questions on Thursday about the status of the negotiations with the Bears.

But the governor told the Indiana Capital Chronicle on Tuesday that he wanted to see a deal reached with the Bears before the end of this year’s legislative session, which is expected to conclude Feb. 27.

“We’re getting down to a point where there’s been enough due diligence, and when it comes to who’s going to pay for what, I think that’s going to be worked out in a model, maybe similar to the Colts, may vary a little bit. It’ll depend on how we flesh that out,” Braun said. “Some of it will need to be done just through negotiations.”

Public financing covered most of the $720 million cost of building Lucas Oil Stadium for the Indianapolis Colts but the team contributed about $100 million. The stadium opened in 2008, with the money coming from a variety of taxes that include food and beverage sales taxes in Indianapolis and its surrounding counties.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said many details are still to be sorted out but called the discussions productive.

“We don’t have any idea if this is going to happen. I don’t have any details to give you,” he said. “We want to put our hand forward and said, we’d love to do business with you. We’d love to have them. And I think, frankly, we’ve got a really, really, really good product here in Indiana and northwest Indiana to to house them that would be more advantageous than Illinois.”

Huston sponsored a bill last year establishing a commission to consider shifting several rural southern Illinois counties into Indiana. Illinois officials have refused to take part, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker dubbing the effort “a stunt.”

Huston said he has great interest in getting a stadium deal done.

“I think it’s an incredible economic opportunity for northwest Indiana and for the state of Indiana,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be moving something forward soon.”

McDermott said the cooperation of the governor’s office and legislative leaders was “impressive” in pursuit of the stadium project.

“I’ve been mayor 23 years and I’ve never seen any project as advanced as this, in as much detail as this, but that makes sense, because we’re talking about a multibillion-dollar investment,” he said. “It’s transformational for my city.”

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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President Donald Trump on Sunday called out two Indiana “RINO Senators,” as well as Gov. Mike Braun, for the state’s failure to move forward with redrawing congressional boundaries.

Braun worked behind the scenes for months to garner legislative support and eventually called a special session for a new map. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray on Friday announced the caucus still doesn’t have the necessary votes and that his chamber would not convene Dec. 1, as planned.

“Very disappointed in Indiana State Senate Republicans, led by RINO Senators Rod Bray and Greg Goode, for not wanting to redistrict their State, allowing the United States Congress to perhaps gain two more Republican seats,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday morning.

“The Democrats have done redistricting for years, often illegally, and all other appropriate Republican States have done it,” he continued. “Because of these two politically correct type ‘gentlemen,’ and a few others, they could be depriving Republicans of a Majority in the House, A VERY BIG DEAL!”

Hours after Trump named Goode specifically, he reported he was the victim of swatting at his Vigo County home. That is when a prankster calls police and reports a bogus need for emergency services at an address.

“Vigo County sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident under the impression of a domestic violence emergency. The deputies professionally fulfilled their duty,” Goode said in a statement. “While this entire incident is unfortunate and reflective of the volatile nature of our current political environment, I give thanks to God that my family and I are ok.”

The president has been pushing GOP-led states to change their congressional maps to ensure a Republican U.S. House majority in 2026. Some Democratic-controlled states have responded in kind, moving to add more blue seats.

Trump said “no one” is calling out California, which passed a constitutional amendment in the recent election to pick up five seats, and blamed “weak ‘Republicans'” for causing problems — like “crazy Policies and Ideas that are so bad for America.”

Then, Trump turned his attention to Braun, who has been a vocal supporter of his.

“Also, a friend of mine, Governor Mike Braun, perhaps, is not working the way he should to get the necessary Votes. Considering that Mike wouldn’t be Governor without me (Not even close!), is disappointing!” Trump wrote.

He ended his lengthy post by saying any Republican voting against redistricting should face a primary opponent.

“Indiana is a State with strong, smart, and patriotic people. They want us to see our Country WIN, and want to, “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Senators Bray, Goode, and the others to be released to the public later this afternoon, should DO THEIR JOB, AND DO IT NOW! If not, let’s get them out of office, ASAP.”

Thirteen Senate Republicans have announced their support with eight publicly against.

Neither Bray nor Goode — along with 17 other Senate Republicans — have said where they stand on the redistricting proposal.

Bray has repeatedly reported a lack of supportive votes among the 40-member caucus, while Goode recently held a town hall to hear from constituents on redistricting. Not one person spoke in support.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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From the White House to the Statehouse, mid-cycle redistricting took center stage Tuesday as dozens of GOP legislators talked with Trump officials about a variety of topics, including the controversial map do-over.

Meanwhile, Democrat lawmakers called out their colleagues and Hoosiers gathered to protest the maneuver.

One staunch opponent, Rep. Jim Lucas, said his stance softened after hearing from Vice President JD Vance. Previously a “hard no,” Lucas said he isn’t yet a yes but he is worried about the paralyzing effect a Democratic House majority would have on President Donald Trump’s agenda.

“I’m open minded to it,” Lucas summarized. “… we’ve seen what happens when the Democrats have the House. President Trump spent his first four years fighting off attack after attack after attack.”

In particular, he pointed to the potential of nuclear facilities proposed under Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, saying that his constituents were battling increased utility costs.

“If the Trump administration is bogged down fighting Democrat attacks for the next two years after the midterms, then all Hoosiers lose out,” Lucas said.

Much of the conversation with White House officials on Tuesday confirmed that Indiana “is on the right track,” he added, stressing that redistricting wasn’t the only topic.

“The biggest takeaway is how genuinely nice and down to earth everybody in that administration is,” said Lucas, a Republican from Seymour. “There was absolutely zero pressure applied on us. No threats, nothing like that.”

He emphasized that much of the discussion centered on how Indiana leads in comparison to other states, including its ban on using food benefits to purchase soda and candy. He pointed to concerns about the state fiscal impacts of chronic health conditions like obesity and diabetes, especially for the Hoosiers enrolled on Medicaid.

“We’re already doing a lot of those things,” said Lucas about agenda items like school vouchers and immigration. “… It was really nice. A lot of that meeting, they basically praised Indiana for the great job we’re doing.”

House Speaker Todd Huston and Sen. Pro Tem Rodric Bray reportedly had a private meeting with Trump, according to Politico reporters, who said “more than” 55 lawmakers attended. Huston’s daughter, Liz, is an assistant to Trump’s press secretary.

Another Indiana Liz — Sen. Liz Brown of Fort Wayne — had some choice words on redistricting following the meeting, citing curses from prominent national Democrats about redistricting.

“The rhetoric coming out of Democrats’ mouths right now as they call for liberal states to gerrymander in Democrats’ favor is violent and disgusting,” said Brown on Facebook.

“I attended because Hoosiers know our conservative values could be at stake if states like California are allowed to have a louder liberal voice in Congress. I support President Trump in his efforts and I look forward to returning to Indiana and discussing next-steps to ensure our conservative values are fairly represented in D.C.,” she concluded.

At least three lawmakers, including Lucas, said they didn’t use taxpayer dollars to fund the trip. All lawmakers are allowed to claim one trip annually, though communications staff with the Republican caucuses said they didn’t know who might file for that reimbursement.

From the airport

Earlier Tuesday morning, as Republicans potentially caught flights to the nation’s capital, Democrats urged their counterparts to resist Trump’s redistricting push at a “Sayonara, Sellouts” press conference held at the Indianapolis International Airport.

Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, shared that lawmakers would receive roughly $213 per day for a special session, a higher rate than their typical non-session pay. Across all 150 legislators, that would be a nearly $32,000 daily expense for food and housing. That doesn’t include mileage.

Hunley called on her Republican colleagues to forgo not only their travel stipend for the Washington D.C. trip, but also their allowances during a special session.

“It’s time to put your money where your mouth is, not just the taxpayers’ dime,” Hunley said. “At a time when our state budget is already crunched, it is so irresponsible to ask our taxpayers to foot the bill.”

Additionally, outside legal counsel might be needed if the maps are challenged in court. Attorney General Todd Rokita vowed to defend any new maps in a Tuesday release.

The gathered Democrats seemed confident that a lawsuit would be necessary if proposed maps divvy up Marion County’s 7th Congressional District. It’s the state’s most racially and ethnically diverse district, with less than half of residents identifying as white.

“I don’t see that Republicans will be able to get nine Republican districts without carving up the minority votes in the minority districts,” said Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis.

Pryor asserted that District 7 was already drawn in a way to advantage Republicans, who shaped the district to include the upper two-thirds of Marion County, rather than the bottom two-thirds, in 2021. She said that was done to shore up Republican support in the 5th District north of Indianapolis, which was turning purple prior to the change.

Democrats openly wondered if Hoosier Republicans felt financial pressure, noting that Indiana is the third-most reliant state on federal funding. They also referenced newly released polling indicating that most Hoosiers oppose mid-decade redistricting.

But Pryor didn’t think it would be enough.

“I think we will go into a special session; I think that Republicans will fall in line; and I think that we will have to have a lawsuit,” Pryor said. “… (but) I hope that they have backbone, and I hope that they can come up with the courage to say no to Donald Trump.”

At the Statehouse

Hundreds of irate Hoosiers rallied behind the Indiana Statehouse Tuesday evening, booing Indiana’s Republican U.S. representatives — all seven professed their support last Monday — and cheering for the smattering of GOP state lawmakers who’ve come out in opposition.

“We want to thank the elected officials who are actually standing up to incredible pressure from D.C. to change these maps mid-decade,” Indiana Conservation Voters Executive Director Megan Robertson said, to cheers from the crowd.

“We’ve had about 10, 11 Republicans come out publicly, too, saying they don’t want it, so we need to thank them — and keep that backbone! Be strong!” She continued. “They’re doing what’s right, and we need them to know that we’ve got their backs.”

Speakers repeatedly denounced the effort as “cheating.”

The president and his supporters “know that they can’t run on merit because their ideas are terrible,” MADVoters Indiana Executive Director Amy Courtney said. “… If you can’t win on merit, what do you do? Well, if you’re Donald Trump or his sycophant, (Gov.) Mike Braun, or any of the MAGA Republicans, apparently, the answer is, you cheat!”

Courtney called on attendees to “resist,” adding, “Don’t give them the privilege of your apathy. Don’t tune out. Take action today to use your voice and demand fair elections, because there can be no cheaters in a democracy.”

The Rev. David Greene, president of the Concerned Clergy of Greater Indianapolis, noted the effort may target Indiana’s only Black member of Congress — Democratic Rep. André Carson — and the votes of those he represents.

“We must call it what it is: modern day voter suppression,” Greene said. “It’s being done with software instead of segregation. It’s being done with district lines instead of a poll tax. … Sixty years ago, the Voting Rights Act was signed because people marched; they bled and died for the right to be counted. Now, in 2025, some want to reverse that progress.”

He, like other speakers and attendees, blamed out-of-state influences.

“Gov. Braun, let me speak clearly and directly to you,” Greene said. “This is not Texas. This is not Florida. This is Indiana. We don’t need Washington insiders telling us how to draw our lines or silence our neighbors.”

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

The post Indiana Republicans go to Washington D.C., critics rebuff redistricting push appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Hundreds of irate property owners gathered at the Indiana Statehouse on St. Patrick’s Day to pressure lawmakers into adopting Gov. Mike Braun’s plan for tax cuts, led by popular conservative radio personalities Rob Kendall, Casey Daniels and Jason Hammer.

Speakers had to yell to be heard over the crowd, who called out legislators by name — including Senate Majority Leader Rodric Bray and Rep. Jeff Thompson — and threatened noncompliant politicians with a primary challenger in their next election.

“At the end of this hour, I don’t know what we can do (or) what we can change, but we can call out the weasels that do not have your interests in their interest,” challenged Hammer, who led several call-and-response chants. “If you’re a law-abiding taxpayer and you’re pissed off, on the count of three, make as much noise as you can!”

Hammer co-hosts the Hammer and Nigel Show on radio station WIBC while Kendall and Daniels headline Kendall and Casey, also on WIBC. All three pushed the property tax rally ahead of the Monday event.

Speakers adopted language from national Republican leaders like President Donald Trump and his key adviser Elon Musk, calling for the slashing of government through a DOGE-like entity.

Radio duo Kendall and Daniels explicitly called on lawmakers to adopt Braun’s tax plan, which has been criticized for the deep cuts schools would see alongside smaller — but significant — decreases for counties, cities and townships. Some officials testified earlier this month that they would have to abort plans to expand their fire departments or reduce law enforcement services due to anticipated cuts.

“I’m asking this state government to get back on track and run itself efficiently. It’s not like we’re asking locals and school districts to do anything more,” Braun told the crowd. “Government should be the most powerful at the local level, but they cannot be growing their enterprises faster than the economy grows.”

Braun has criticized schools for their spending, as seen in his property tax plan that would save homeowners a collective $1.3 billion but cost schools $536 million.

A former Dubois County school board member, Braun recalled an instance where the district considered replacing a $16,000 bench because of some peeling paint. Instead, another board member bought paint and hired a correction crew to paint it for $800.

“We’ll land this plane in a good place that gives real relief and keeps our governments healthy,” said Braun. “But if it isn’t for this (rally), they’re going to keep trying to push for nothing. And nothing isn’t good enough.”

More from the property tax rally

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who frequently tweeted about the rally ahead of Monday, said that he made the unusual decision to publicly campaign for his seat because “we are being taxed way too much.”

“I’ve heard countless stories from people today and throughout the last two years where their property taxes have increased over 50%, 60% and even 100% in one case,” Beckwith said at the property tax rally. “That is egregious and we need to stop it and we’re going to stop it.”

A trio of Republican house lawmakers called for the complete elimination of the state’s property tax system, echoing sentiments on signs distributed at the rally that read “Property tax is theft.”

“This is a radical idea for some, but what’s so radical about … getting rid of something unconstitutional?” Rep. Craig Haggard, R-Mooresville, said. “You were never meant by the forefathers to pay rent to the federal government, to the state government or to anybody else.”

Rep. Andrew Ireland, who represents a sliver of Marion County, specifically called out spending in Indianapolis on public transit, drag queen story hours at the library and public health investments, likened some of the pushback to changing the diaper of his newborn.

“… when these local leaders come to this building and they tell us, ‘There is nothing to cut. The sky is going to fall if you cut anything.’ It sure smells a lot like that green dirty diaper,” Ireland said.

One elected official from Marshall County said that the system was “so broken that I can’t cut your taxes locally.”

“The system should encourage responsible spending. It should fund the services that people care about but, today, it fails on both counts,” continued Jesse Bohannon, a county commissioner. “ “It punishes budget cutting and encourages aggressive spending. It encourages local governments to hoard money.”

He called for the “billions of dollars locked up” to be refunded to everyday taxpayers, saying government growth has outpaced inflation.

Background on property taxes

Three separate property tax plans have been introduced thus far at the Statehouse from Braun, Senate Republicans and Rep. Jeff Thompson, the House’s key budget architect and chair of the Ways and Means Committee.

Each takes a different approach to property taxes, balancing relief for homeowners with the budget needs of local units of government.

While Braun’s proposal offered the most tax relief, it also sharply reduced school budgets. Thompson’s pitch, on the other hand, had limited savings for homeowners and the smallest cuts for government services.

Braun floated the possibility that he would veto the Senate plan last month. Property tax rally attendees also urged Braun to call for a special session if lawmakers failed to deliver relief.

What will stay in the final version of the property tax bill remains to be seen, but both Republican legislative leaders appear to have gotten their marching orders from Braun on the end goal.

“I think Gov. Braun wants to get to a place where we can say that your property taxes will be lower next year in 2026 than they are in 2025,” Bray told reporters Thursday. “I think that’s a victory for Governor Braun, it’s a victory for us, it’s a victory for homeowners across the state of Indiana. That would be the first and foremost goal.”

House Speaker Todd Huston echoed that aim.

“The goal’s to try and have the ’26 property tax bill be less than the ’25 property tax bill. We’ll see if we can get there,” he told reporters.

When asked, Huston also said he was concerned about rent — noting that some of the increase is in property taxes.

Democrats were more critical.

“We need to provide some relief to Hoosiers … and then we make sure that we listen to our local governments who are saying, ‘Please, we rely on our property taxes to be able to pay for our police, fire, our schools,’” Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder said on Thursday. “And balancing those two are difficult, but we need to make sure that in the end, we get it right.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle Reporter Leslie Bonilla Muñiz contributed to this story.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

The post Radio personalities headline property tax rally at Indiana Statehouse appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Whitney Downard
and Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

Despite being a top priority for new Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, Republican leaders in the General Assembly seem to be taking a more cautious approach to new state tax relief in budget discussions.

“I really appreciate the governor kind of leaning in and and, you know, he wants to do more with less. He wants to make sure Hoosiers keep more of their money,” said House Speaker Todd Huston.

But he pointed to an existing income tax phase-down already in law as a priority and noted some agencies — such as the Department of Child Services — that will need additional funding. The state’s income tax will continue to fall over the next two years, hitting a low of 2.9% in 2027.

Another bill would extend the gradually falling rate so long as the state’s economic conditions hold steady.

“We’re going to be cautious. I mean really, really cautious … there’s a lot of uncertainties right now,” said Huston, R-Fishers. “It’s challenging and probably a little less frills, more vanilla.”

In contrast to the flush budgets during COVID-19, when federal funds and high spending buoyed state revenues, the next two-year cycle will be much leaner — with discussions centered around warring priorities. With less than one month as the state’s top leader, Braun has vowed to usher in a new era of austerity, curbing agency spending while simultaneously granting widespread tax relief.

In addition to a property tax proposal that could save Hoosiers more than $1 billion collectively, his budget includes several income tax relief proposals:

• Inflation-adjusted income tax deductions
• Eliminating the tax on retirement income
• Stopping the tax on tips
• A farming tax credit
• Instituting sales tax holidays for school supplies and outdoor equipment.

The cuts would reduce state tax revenue by $696 million over the two years of the budget. To pay for that, Braun reduced various categories of state agency spending.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Rodric Bray called Braun’s budget “aspirational,” and said he appreciated the leadership.

“There are challenges. DCS continues to be a challenge,” said the Martinsville Republican.

Bray said the DCS budget had to be augmented to finish out this fiscal year and that might have to continue in the next two years.

“And so those types of things are going to make it hard to accommodate those tax cuts. We’d love to be able to do it, but there are some challenges with that,” he said.

Huston, who has played a role in crafting four previous budgets, said this budget was the “most challenging.” While the first year has some moderate revenue growth, the second budget year has almost no additional dollars coming into state coffers — even as Medicaid and other expenses continue to grow.

Additionally, the new Trump administration in Washington D.C. is adding uncertainty, as large portions of the state’s budget depends on dollars flowing from federal coffers. Changes to Medicaid or education funding, for example, would have a large impact on how the state delivers on its promised services.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Friday's release of the Indiana Supreme Court’s abortion decision triggered a flurry of reactions from each side of the debate.

Justices ruled, in an unusual split decision, that the Indiana Constitution doesn’t protect a woman’s right to an abortion except in cases involving the life or health of the mother. The decision vacates a statewide injunction that blocked the near-total abortion ban. An injunction in a separately moving case doesn’t apply universally, meaning that Hoosiers seeking the reproductive health care procedure will need to travel elsewhere.

Below are the reactions from various entities on the court’s abortion decision.

Ban’s proponents celebrate victory

Senate Republican caucus leader Rodric Bray, of Martinsville, said the ruling fulfilled the goals of the General Assembly, which passed the near-total ban in a two-week special session last summer.

“We set out to pass a bill in the special session that would protect life and support mothers and babies, and that’s what we did. It was always our intent to draft a bill that could withstand a constitutional challenge, and I am grateful to see Indiana’s Supreme Court recognize that the General Assembly has the constitutional authority to protect unborn life in the womb,” Bray said in a statement.

Indiana’s state legislature was the first to pass a new law banning the procedure following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and strike down federal protections for abortions.

Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, tweeted “As a mother of 7, I will always advocate for policies that provide all people, beginning with babies in the womb, the opportunity to live a full life. I’m pleased that the Indiana Supreme Court recognized the constitutionality of the law we passed last summer. Our protection of the most vulnerable defines who we are as a society.”

GOP U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, who is running for governor in 2024, simply tweeted “Life wins in Indiana.”

Indiana Right to Life President and CEO Mike Fichter said “Indiana’s unborn babies are the victors in today’s ruling. SEA 1 was the realization of the people’s will — millions of compassionate and loving Hoosiers who believe unborn babies must be protected from abortion. And Indiana is a light among states now, as we were the first state post Roe v. Wade to come together immediately and pass legislation to significantly restrict abortion.

“Today’s ruling sends a message to the rest of the nation that when we stand together with love and compassion in protecting unborn babies and supporting pregnant mothers, we save lives, improve lives and support a national culture that values life.”

Ban’s opponents mourn loss

But others painted the abortion decision as a “sad day” for Hoosiers, vowing to pursue other legal options. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana said it would seek a rehearing for the plaintiffs — as allowed by law but rarely granted — and that the ban wouldn’t take effect until Aug. 1 at the earliest.

Hoosier Women Forward Chair Elise Shrock said the ruling puts “the health and safety of Hoosiers at risk … With every ruling that strikes at the rights of Hoosiers, Hoosier Women Forward recommits to our mission to put more Democratic women in seats of power and create a state where Hoosiers have the liberty to thrive.”

The group is a political and civic leadership training program designed to empower Democratic women to become more active participants in politics and leaders in their communities.

Good Trouble Indiana, a coalition of Hoosier healthcare and public health stakeholders, said “Today the Indiana State Supreme Court ruled that there is no state privacy right to abortion access for the people of Indiana. This ruling is disappointing and takes medical decisions away from patients and puts them in the hands of the legislature and the courts.”

House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, vowed that his caucus would “continue to fight for the fundamental right of women and girls to control their own destinies,” adding that the decision should be left to women and their doctors, not politicians.

“The Indiana Republican abortion ban won’t stop abortions, it will simply ban access to safe abortions. Hoosiers don’t want this future for Hoosier women and girls,” GiaQuinta said.

Party Democrats pointed to polling indicating that a majority of Hoosiers support exceptions for an abortion ban.

“…Democratic legislators will continue proposals to reverse this ban, work to expand access to contraceptives, and fight against Republican attempts to criminalize doctors and women. We stand united with the majority of Hoosiers who want all women in our state to have equal rights — and the right to choose,” said Mike Schmuhl, the Indiana Democratic Party Chair, in a statement.

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INDIANAPOLIS –Some Hoosier lawmakers want to set new limits on which criminals have the right to bail.

A resolution passed the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law committee Tuesday. Much of the support for it came from Republicans. It states that “a person who poses a substantial risk to the public is not entitled to release on bail.”

As it stands now, Indiana’s constitution only denies bail to those accused of murder or treason. It requires judges to offer bail in all other situations. The resolution was written by Senators Eric Koch, Rodric Bray, and Aaron Freeman.

“There are actually 31 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government where defendants of certain crimes do not have an express right to bail. We are in the minority,” said Koch (R-Bedford).

The Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council wants it to become law.

“All we’re doing is adding a few words. If the court determines that this is an individual who is potentially a substantial risk to the public, we’ll have the same type of hearing we normally have,” said Courtney Curtis, the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council Executive Director.

Opponents of the proposal raised concerns about what they call the resolution’s subjectivity and vagueness about who a judge may consider a public safety risk.

Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, the leader of the Senate Democratic caucus, said he worried the legislation would be used against minorities.

“My hesitation is … when laws change and there are subjective opinions that are allowed to restrict a person’s freedom, for some reason, the people that look like me end up being on the short end of the stick,” said Taylor.

Other critics of the resolution like Ericka Sanders, who started the Indianapolis nonprofit You Yes You Project, said it could paint people who have smaller crimes in a bad light and lump them in with more violent criminals. That project does a lot of work with incarcerated men.

“The fathers in You Yes You, this would affect all of them simply based on the grounds of that they all have a criminal background,” said Sanders.

The resolution’s supporters said they don’t foresee any misuse among the judicial system.

“There’s not a judge in Indiana who’s going to hold somebody without bail on a (low-level) misdemeanor,” said Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis.

To become law, it would have to go through two General Assemblies and a voter referendum before being amended into the state’s Constitution. The soonest voters would consider the proposal would be November 2026.

Next, the resolution will be reviewed by the full Senate.

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