If any of these bills is of interest to you, you may wish to contact your representatives. You can find your legislator’s contact information here.

Issue	Number	Sponsor	Position	Activity
Community Life	SB 23	Senators Simpson and Becker	In Committee - 2nd House	03/28/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Select Committee on Government Reduction
SB 23 Summary - Hoosier commission for communities for a lifetime. Creates the Hoosier commission for communities for a lifetime. When developing a plan for a community to become a community for a lifetime, the commission shall consider criteria like affordable and accessible housing, home care and personal assistance3 services, access to medical care and transportation, and more. Full Text
Brain Injuries	SB 24	Senator Miller	In Committee - 2nd House	03/28/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Public Health
SB 24 Summary - Indiana brain injury study commission. Establishes the Indiana brain injury commission to study brain injuries in Indiana and how they are treated, and services needed by brain injury patients. Full Text
Mental Health	SB 88	Senator Lawson	Signed by the Governor	05/10/2011 - Signed by the Governor
SB 88 Summary - Removes the authority of the division of mental health and addiction (DMHA) to license respite care. Repeals: (1) respite care for persons with mental illness; (2) listing of elements of community residential programs; (3) children's mental health bureau; (4) certain placement provisions for community residential facilities. Full Text
Veterans with disabilities	SB 168	Senator Arnold	In Committee	01/05/2011 - Senator R. Young added as coauthor
SB 168 Summary - State contracting with disabled veterans. Authorizes a state agency to set aside certain contracts for supplies or services to service disabled veteran owned (SDVO) small businesses. Permits the department of administration to designate certain public works projects as an SDVO small business set-aside. A state agency must set a goal for participation by SDVO small businesses of at least 3% of the overall dollar amount expended each state fiscal year by the state agency for purchases. Full Text
Healthcare	SB 170	Senator Buck	In Committee	01/05/2011 - Referred to Committee on Pensions and Labor
SB 170 Summary - Requires a local government unit that employs an individual as a police officer, county police officer, or sheriff who acquires a disability in the line of duty to offer to provide and pay for certain health coverage for the individual and the individual's spouse, surviving spouse, and certain children.’ Full Text
Healthcare	SB 461	Senator Miller	Signed by the Governor	05/10/11 - Signed by the Governor
SB 461 Summary - Conforms sections of Indiana state healthcare law to the requirements of federal healthcare reform law. Full Text
Mental Health	HB 1020	Representative C. Brown	In Senate	02/17/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services
HB 1020 Summary - The Indiana Commission on Mental Health was established to study and evaluate the funding system for mental health services in Indiana, to review and make recommendations regarding the provision of mental health services delivered by community providers and state operated hospitals, and to review and make recommendations regarding any unmet need for public supported mental health services. This bill extends the expiration date for the commission on mental health for an extra five years, from June 30, 2011, to June 30, 2016. Full Text
Nursing Homes	HB 1084	Representative Rhoads	In Committee	01/31/2011 - Representative Reske added as coauthor
HB 1084 Summary - Provides some legal protection for nursing home industry “whistle blowers” - A person who intentionally retaliates or discriminates against a resident or employee of a health facility for: (1) contacting or providing information to any state official or supervisor; or (2) in good faith, contacting or providing information concerning a resident's health or safety to a state official, supervisor, health care professional employed or under contract with the health facility or resident, or spouse or other individual authorized to give health care consent for the resident; commits a Class C misdemeanor. Full Text
Taxes	HB 1086	Representative Pelath	In Committee	01/05/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Ways and Means
HB 1086 Summary - Establishes a $12,480 property tax assessed value deduction on the residence of an individual who has a dependent who: (1) is blind or otherwise disabled; and (2) resides with the individual. Full Text
Veterans with Disabilities	HB 1206	Representative Ubelhor	In Committee	01/10/2011 - Referred to Committee on Roads and Transportation
HB 1206 Summary - Establishes the disabled veteran wish foundation trust license plate and the disabled veteran wish foundation trust fund. Specifies that $25 from the proceeds of the sale of a disabled veteran wish foundation trust license plate shall be distributed to the Disabled Veteran Wish Foundation, Inc. Full Text
Public Transportation	HB 1372	Representative GiaQuinta	In Committee	02/17/2011 - Referred to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 127
HB 1372 Summary - Authorizes these funding sources for public transportation corporations: (1) The county adjusted gross income tax. (2) The county option income tax. (3) The county economic development income tax. (4) The local option income tax imposed for public safety purposes. (5) A referendum tax levy. (6) A $10 municipal green registration fee. Full Text
Public Transportation	HB 1129	Representative Koch	Signed by the Governor	05/10/2011 -Signed by the Governor
HB 1129 Summary - Bans texting while driving. According to the Indiana Transportation Association, the bill would restrict public transit drivers from using a cell phone while the vehicle is moving. Some rural public transit drivers use cell phones instead of radios, and this bill would require them to stop the vehicle to talk.
FSSA	HB 1047	Representative Crouch	Signed by the Governor	05/10/2011 - Signed by the Governor
HB 1047 Summary - This bill would require the Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) to study the process used to audit the various organizations that provide services to people with disabilities, and look for ways to streamline the process. Essentially, the study would be designed to find ways to reduce overhead and paperwork and save DDRS funds. Full Text
FSSA	HB 1001	Representative Espich	Law Enacted	05/10/2011 - Signed by the Governor
HB 1001 Summary - This is the budget bill for the state. Among many other things, it includes the Family and Social Services Administration's (FSSA) recommended $9.4 million cut to CHOICE home care program, and allows FSSA to use CHOICE appropriation for Medicaid match instead of CHOICE home care services. Full Text
Street Accessibility	HB 1018	Representative C. Brown	In Committee	02/17/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Public Policy
HB 1018 Summary - Complete streets guidelines. Requires the Indiana department of transportation (INDOT) to adopt guidelines for INDOT projects regarding street design that enables safe, comfortable, and convenient access for all users (complete streets guidelines). Guidelines must take into consideration the ages and abilities of all potential users of roadways, and safety, accessibility, and livability. Full Text
Public Transportation	HB 1366	Representative Soliday	In Committee	03/03/2011 - Senator Rogers added as third sponsor
HB 1366 Summary - Requires a regional transportation authority of which Lake County is a member to be named the northwest Indiana bus commission (NIBC). Requires the executive director of the NIBC to have at least seven years experience in public transportation at a senior executive level. Gives NBIC the ability to use bonds issued by the northwest Indiana regional development authority as a funding source. Full Text
Public Transportation	HB 1371	Representative Soliday	Law Enacted	03/22/2011 - Signed by the Governor
HB 1371 Summary - Joint committee on transportation infrastructure. Establishes the joint study committee on transportation and infrastructure assessment and solutions. Among other tasks, the committee would assess the state’s current public transportation infrastructure and identify potential funding sources for public transportation projects. Full Text
Public Transportation	SB 232	Senator Merritt	In Committee	01/06/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation & Veterans Affairs
SB 232 Summary - Provides that distributions from the public mass transportation fund for promoting and developing public mass transportation in a county containing a consolidated city must be distributed to the consolidated city and not to a public transportation corporation located within the county. Full Text
Public Transportation	SB 238	Senator Kruse	In Committee	02/07/2011 - Senator Broden added as coauthor
SB 238 Summary - Indicates that the maximum permissible levy of a public transportation corporation (public transportation funding) increases when the municipality in which it is located annexes additional territory. Full Text
Public Transportation	SB 339	Senators Banks and Kruse	In Committee	01/11/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy
SB 339 Summary - Provides that if a county or a municipality becomes a member of a regional development authority (other than the northwest Indiana regional development authority) between June 30, 2011, and July 1, 2013, the amount of money that must be transferred annually by the county or municipality is equal to the amount that would be distributed to the county or the municipality from a county economic development income tax rate of 0.025%. Full Text
Texting While Driving	SB 18	Senator Holdman	In Committee - 2nd House	03/28/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Roads and Transportation
SB 18 Summary - Texting/emailing while driving - Provides that it is a Class C infraction for a person to use a telecommunications device to type, transmit, or read a text message or electronic mail message while operating a moving motor vehicle. Does not apply to medical service vehicles such as ambulances, or medical service drivers. Full Text
Annexation	SB 69	Senator Gard	Passed- First House	02/17/2011 - Senator Zakas added as coauthor
SB 69 Summary - Provides, with certain exceptions, that when a municipality initiates an annexation, the municipality must file a petition with the court containing the signatures of: (1) at least 60% of the landowners in the territory proposed to be annexed; or (2) the owners of more than 75% in assessed valuation of the land in the annexed territory. Provides that, if the court finds that the petition has a sufficient number of signatures, a hearing must be conducted to review the annexation and fiscal plan. Allows a person to intervene as a party at the hearing to review the annexation and fiscal plan if: (1) the person is an owner of property in the territory; (2) the person and no other owner of the property have signed the petition filed by the municipality; and (3) the person appeared at the hearing conducted by the municipality on the annexation ordinance or submitted a remonstrance or other document into the record of the hearing. Eliminates a procedure that requires the court to order an annexation not to take place if certain circumstances are shown. Removes provisions allowing a municipality to obtain waivers of a landowner's right to remonstrate against an annexation. Provides that in all circumstances an annexation becomes effective when the ordinance or judgment is filed by the municipal clerk. Allows all municipalities to annex noncontiguous territory for the purpose of: (1) an industrial park; (2) a shopping center or mall; or (3) an economic development area. (Current law allows only certain municipalities to annex noncontiguous territory for purposes of an industrial park.). Repeals provisions concerning: (1) waivers of remonstrance against an annexation; (2) filing a remonstrance against an annexation; and (3) settlement agreements in lieu of annexation. Full Text
General Transportation Issues	SB 473	Senators Wyss and Rogers	Signed by the Governor	05/10/2011 - Signed by the Governor
SB 473 Summary - General Transportation Issues - Removes certain provisions requiring legislative approval or review by the budget committee for public private agreements, toll roads, and tollways. Retains provisions requiring legislative approval for certain projects concerning the construction of Interstate Highway 69 and the designation of a toll road on a part of an interstate highway south of Indianapolis. Provides that the owner of a motor vehicle that passes through a toll collection facility without payment of the proper toll commits a moving violation, a Class C infraction. Authorizes the bureau of motor vehicles (BMV) to withhold the registration of a vehicle used in the commission of a moving violation until the owner pays any applicable fines and fees. Requires the Indiana department of transportation (department) or Indiana finance authority to adopt rules to establish deadlines to issue citations for, and payment of fines imposed for, moving violations. Requires the department to establish a procedure to notify the BMV of unpaid fines for moving violations. Requires the BMV to remit the amount of any moving violation fines paid to the BMV to the entity that imposed the fines. Full Text
Smoking Ban	HB 1018	Representative C. Brown	In Committee	02/17/2011 - First reading: referred to Committee on Public Policy
HB 1018 Summary - This bill would prohibit smoking: (1) in public places; (2) in enclosed areas of a place of employment; (3) in certain state vehicles; and (4) within 12 feet of a public entrance to a public place or an enclosed area of a place of employment. Health facilities, including the Indiana Veterans Home, may choose to provide separate designated smoking areas. Full Text