Bad Bills 

SB245: Long term small loans

Author: Sen. Travis Holdman (R)

Status: Died in the Senate Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Description: This bill would allow the predatory pay-day lenders to offer long-term, high-interest loans to borrowers, most of whom are low-income and struggling to get by. We should be exploring ways to improve the lives of low-income Hoosiers in financial crisis, not allowing predatory lenders to make the lives of low-income Hoosiers more difficult and placing them in deeper financial crisis with obscenely high interest. This “loan shark” bill was recently covered by the Indy Star. 

Good Bills 

HB1471: IN211 program 

Authors: Rep. Sally Siegrist (R), Rep. Holli Sullivan (R), Rep. Dave Heine (R), Rep. Earl Harris (D)

Sponsors: Sen. Randall Head (R), Sen. Mike Bohacek (R), Sen. Mark Stoops (D), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D)

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Holcomb

Votes:

• 02/01/17: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee amended HB1471 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 11-0.
• 02/07/17: The House passed HB1471 by a vote of 96-0.
• 03/23/17: The Senate Utilities Committee amended HB1471 by consent, then passed it by a vote of 8-0.
• 03/27/17: HB1471 was reassigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• 03/30/17: The Senate Appropriations Committee amended HB1471 by consent, then passed it by a vote of 12-0.
• 04/04/17: The Senate passed HB1471 by a vote of 47-1.
• 04/06/17: Motion to concur in Senate amendments filed.
• 04/07/17: The House concurred in Senate amendments by a vote of 95-0.
• 04/24/17: Signed into law by the Governor.

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: The bill would transfer the administration of the 211 Connect 2 Help dialing code from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA). 211 assists clients with many needs which stretch beyond utility bill assistance, such as food, housing, legal, and other financial needs faced by low-income Hoosiers. IHCDA is the appropriate agency to oversee this fund which supports this critical service. 

SB69: Study of drug pricing and access

Author: Sen. Jean Breaux (D)

Status: Died in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: This bill would create a study committee to study prescription drug pricing and access to specialty prescription drugs, and submit recommendations to the legislative council. Prescription drugs are becoming more and more unaffordable, and therefore, fewer Hoosiers have access to the medication they need. The State of Indiana should begin looking at ways they can make medications more affordable and accessible to all Hoosiers. 

SB277: Healthy food initiative pilot program

Authors: Sen. Randall Head (R), Sen. Jon Ford (R), John Ruckelshaus (R), Sen. James Merritt (R), Sen. Rodric Bray (R), Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D), Sen. Jean Breaux (D)

Sponsors: Rep. Julie Olthoff (R), Rep. Steven Davisson (R), Rep. Robin Shackleford (D), Rep. Philip GuiQuinta (D)

Status: Died in the House Ways and Means Committee

Votes & Actions:

• 02/06/17:  The Senate Commerce and Technology Committee amended SB277 by consent, then passed it by a vote of 5-1.
• 02/06/17: SB277 was reassigned to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• 02/09/17: SB277 was adopted without recommendation by the Senate Rules and Legislative Procedure Committee.
• 02/14/17: The Senate passed an amendment to SB277 by voice vote.
• 02/23/17: The Senate passed SB277 by a vote of 42-7.

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: This bill would create programs to assist new businesses, existing businesses, and other legal entities to offer fresh or unprocessed foods within an underserved geographic area, otherwise known as food deserts. Fresh and healthy foods should be accessible and available to all Hoosiers, regardless of their financial means or where they live. We are also watching two similar bills: HB1060 & HB1425.

Watching

SB23: Use of consumer reports for employment purposes

SB85: Funding school transportation and public transit

SB301: Coercive federal funds in the budget

HB1002: Transportation infrastructure funding

HB1060: Healthy food financing program

HB1287: CHOICE and community living pilot programs

HB 1327: Grants for green industry jobs

HB1353: Review of Administrative Rules 

HB 1425: Fresh food initiative

updated: Friday, 1/26/18