Latest news with #HouseBill1432
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
And here lies a recap of key bills that failed to make it to the finish line
Several House bills await further action in the House chamber on Feb. 17, 2024 before moving forward in the 2025 legislative session. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) It started with more than 1,250 bills. And after last week's chamber-swapping deadline, the Indiana General Assembly is down to about 340 pieces of legislation that can move forward into law. From birth control and bats to gambling and marijuana, lawmakers will likely have to try again next year on these measures. Legislation regulating vehicle towing tripped up House Republicans for more than two weeks before it met an early demise. House Bill 1493 would've forced towing companies to create service rate sheets, display them 'conspicuously' and show them to owners present when their vehicles are being towed. It also would've required that any property owner's future contract with a towing company contain removal and storage rates alongside other provisions, and mandated that towing companies give vehicles back within 24 hours of getting partial payment. Other pieces would've regulated emergency towing services, created a statewide towing complaint process, and banned overcharging and paid referrals. The measure made it through committee on a unanimous vote, but languished on the House's daily agenda for eight straight session meetings as House Republican colleagues had filed competing amendments. It wasn't taken up before a critical deadline. Another take on towing regulations, House Bill 1108, failed to get a committee hearing. A proposal legalizing online lottery and casino gambling never made it to the House's floor. Legislative leaders talk post-moratorium gambling expansions, more bills reach halfway point House Bill 1432 easily advanced from a subject-matter committee last month after three hours of discussion, but wasn't heard by a finance-focused committee before a deadline. House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said it was 'pretty tough' to find consensus on the complex legislation. Advocates argued that Hoosiers are already playing illegal versions of these games, so legalization could benefit Indiana businesses and state coffers. Opponents testified that expanding gambling would increase the likelihood more people get hooked and develop addictions. Some provisions would've established a bulked-up program for responsible gambling and gambling addiction help. Attempts to designate a state mammal and state fruit also were not, well, fruitful. Jasper Elementary School students lobbied at the Indiana Statehouse for Republican Rep. Shane Lindauer's House Bill 1618, which would have named the persimmon as Indiana's state fruit. Fourth-graders said the idea stemmed from a persuasive writing assignment. They emphasized in the House government committee that the sweet, autumnal fruit are native to Indiana, great for cooking and full of health benefits. Lawmakers entertained the discussion but never took a vote on the bill. Separately, House Bill 1237, offered by Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Fishers, sought to make Myotis sodalis, also known as the Indiana bat, the official mammal of the Hoosier State. The proposal never received a committee hearing, effectively killing it, too. A repeat attempt to require video surveillance of special education classrooms failed to pass in the first half of session following pushback from schools and teachers. House Bill 1285 was the second such attempt by Rep. Beck Cash, R-Zionsville, to mandate round-the-clock electronic recording equipment in special education classrooms, sensory rooms, seclusion spaces and time-out areas. Parents said the move would help protect kids and keep them informed of behavioral incidents. District administrators weren't opposed, but only if the state helped pay for cameras and other related expenses. Educators, however, were less receptive and maintained that increased staff training — not micromanagement — will better ensure student safety. Lawmakers in the House Education Committee ultimately nixed the video-recording language. What's left in the bill sent to the Senate is a provision to allow parents an opportunity to collect their student's property if the child no longer attends the school, and another to permit parents to record meetings concerning their child's individualized education program. An attempt to expand access to birth control for poor Hoosiers failed after a battle over the definition of birth control. House Bill 1169 started as a simple attempt to establish a fund to provide free birth control to Indiana residents who are eligible for Medicaid. Roughly half of all the births in the state have been paid for by Medicaid since 2017. But a Republican amendment in committee removed IUDs and condoms from the definition of birth control and added information on 'fertility awareness based methods' like menstrual cycle tracking, also known as the rhythm method. The bill passed the House Public Health Committee but didn't receive a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee, which focused on financial ramifications of a bill. It is unlikely the language will return given the state's tight budget situation. Lawmakers scrapped a push to relocate the license for a poor-performing casino early in the session. Full House Resorts has said revenues at Rising Star Casino Resort have plummeted as Ohio and Kentucky relax their gambling laws. Key lawmakers expressed interest in a move over the interim — including the bill's eventual slayer. Public Policy Committee Chair Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, pulled the proposal after listening to about 20 opponents, telling the Indiana Capital Chronicle he didn't plan to allow a vote. Anti-relocation witnesses feared gambling addictions and other risks to their small community's family values. CONTACT US True to his word, neither Senate Bill 293 nor the language it contained went any further. But legislation to 'identify the top three regions in the state' for a license relocation is moving. Senate Bill 43 would require regulators to present their findings to the State Budget Committee by October. The last time Indiana moved a casino license, a former lawmaker ended up behind bars for his role in an attempted quid pro quo. Every bill carrying 'marijuana' in its title died by session's halfway point – even a trio intended to ban marijuana-related advertisements within Indiana. Measures establishing medical marijuana programs — one led by a House Republican, the other by a Senate Democrat — didn't get committee hearings and died. Neither did House Bill 1145, which would've decriminalized possession of two ounces or less of marijuana. Indiana has long resisted any attempts to loosen laws on the drug, with Republican legislative leaders in December expressing concern about addiction, crime and more. Overwhelming opposition from county officials additionally killed a Republican bill that would have shifted authority over large-scale utility infrastructure projects from local governments to the state. Of greatest concern to House Bill 1628's opponents were provisions to strip local governments of their ability to approve or deny construction of power plants, water systems, gas pipelines and transmission that span across multiple counties — instead giving the state more decision-making control over the zoning and approval processes for those proposals. Bill author Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, called it a response to ongoing resistance of local governments to greenlight solar, wind and other renewables projects that are increasingly necessary to support the state's growing energy demands. Equally important, he contended, is a transition from coal to more reliable and cost effective power sources that can sustain the influx of data centers and other economic development endeavors ventures coming to Indiana. Critics, however, decried the proposal as 'overreach,' and argued that it unfairly — maybe even 'unconstitutionally' — weakens local dominion. The bill received multiple hours of discussion in the House utilities committee, but it was never put to a vote and failed to advance to the full chamber. A Republican-authored bill to abolish the death penalty in Indiana also died after not getting a committee hearing. Rep. Bob Morris, R-Fort Wayne, shared intentions earlier this month to scale back his House Bill 1030 to address the efficacy of execution drugs before they can be used, and to alter rules around who can administer life-ending drugs and witness executions. Death row inmate Joseph Corcoran executed for quadruple murder Ideas to narrow the proposal — and give it a better chance at advancing through the legislative process — were unsuccessful, though. Despite bipartisan support, Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, did not put the bill on her committee's agenda. Republican House Speaker Todd Huston, of Fishers, said 'he would not anticipate' a death penalty bill to move in the 2025 session. Senate Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, called Morris' bill 'interesting,' but said his caucus had not discussed the issue. Morris can still try to find a home for language but no similar vehicles are moving. Lawmakers have passed numerous bills aimed at controlling health care costs but one died under its own weight. House Bill 1502 would have limited how much the state employee health plan would pay for services in comparison to Medicare reimbursement rates. The legislation would have saved the state $88.5 million per fiscal year for hospital services. It was opposed by stakeholders in the health care industry. Several amendments were filed on the bill on second reading, including to exempt some or all county hospitals. The House author didn't call the bill down on its final eligible day, meaning it is now dead. But the language could be inserted into other related bills during the remainder of the session. A move to ban pill-based abortions, and to require women to file an affidavit of rape to meet one of the state's few exceptions, got no traction. Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, filed Senate Bill 171 but it did not receive a hearing and died. It is unlikely the language would be moved elsewhere because Republican leaders in the House and Senate have said they're content with the current status of Indiana's abortion laws. The legislation would have outlawed the use of abortion pills even in abortions that meet the state's narrow exemptions. And it would have required a woman who seeks an abortion under the state's rape or incest exceptions to provide the doctor with an affidavit under penalties of perjury attesting to the rape or incest. This requirement was defeated in 2022 during an amendment fight. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
iGaming proposal for lottery and casinos dead for the session
A move to legalize online gaming won't move forward this session. (Getty Images) A push to legalize online lottery and casino games won't move forward this legislative session, House Speaker Todd Huston confirmed Thursday. House Bill 1432 passed easily out of the House Public Policy Committee earlier this year but didn't get a hearing in the Ways and Means Committee, which would've taken a closer look at the financial aspects of the proposal. Huston called it a complex bill with a 'lot of different moving parts.' He continued, 'And I think, you know, just trying to find something there was some consensus on, felt like it was a pretty tough spot to be.' The legislation would have allowed Indiana's licensed casinos to offer interactive electronic gaming alongside the Hoosier Lottery. Supporters said Hoosiers are already gambling online so it makes sense to regulate and tax it. Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport, authored the bill and estimated that the digital lottery and casino games, coupled with sports wagering tax hikes, could bring the state of Indiana more than $300 million annually in new revenue. Huston complimented Manning on his stewardship but said the bill would impact members of the gaming industry differently. At least one casino opposed the move. 'There's all sorts of moving parts about how it impacts certain communities, what it does to the overall gaming environment in Indiana. I think all those things just make it complex to work through,' Huston said. Some were concerned that online options would cannibalize in-person gaming or lottery sales. The legislation also would have established a new program for responsible gambling and gambling addiction — with new fines on casinos to fund it. Where Indiana's past efforts have focused heavily on awareness campaigns, the new program could've also funded treatment and research. The Hoosier Lottery, a quasi-public organization, backed online lottery legalization. Indiana would have joined 14 other states with digital lottery games, including Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. The lottery said it was needed to grow revenue and player base into the future. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Want to wager on poker on your phone? Indiana House committee advances online gaming bill
Indiana lawmakers on Tuesday took the first step toward legalizing interactive online gambling here in the state, advancing a bill that would allow people to play online poker and other casino games virtually, without stepping foot into a casino. House Bill 1432, which was approved by the House Public Policy Committee, could generate hundreds of millions of dollars in additional tax revenue for the state while regulating an activity that Hoosiers already participate in, albeit illegally, proponents said. The bill, which would be the largest expansion of gaming in the state since at least 2019, passed by a 9-2 vote. "Hoosiers are already playing casino games online - just Google it," said Logansport Republican Rep. Ethan Manning, chairman of the House Public Policy Committee. "This is happening already. Let's authorize it, let's regulate it, let's make it appropriate, and obviously we see huge potential for tax revenue as well." The bill expands upon legalized sports betting, which the state approved in 2019. Along with legalizing virtual casino and poker games, it would also enable the Hoosier Lottery to implement a digital lottery program, where people could play online draw games and other instant games on their phones, generating up to $94 million in profits by 2028. The bill would have a large economic impact on the state, with legislative fiscal analysts suggesting interactive gaming could generate between about $500 million and $1 billion annually in gross revenue. It could result in tax revenues between $119 million and $253 million annually, according to that analysis, though net revenue could be lower if there are decreases at brick-and-mortar casinos, which is expected. A lobbyist for Churchill Downs, for example, which owns a new $290 million casino resort in Terre Haute, opposed the bill fearing that it would lead to reduced brick-and-mortar casino revenues and jobs. The state would start out taxing interactive online gaming at 26%, but eventually impose a graduated tax rate depending on the annual gross revenue of the licensee. Most tax revenue generated would support the state's general fund. There are several other key provisions in the online gambling bill, including an increased investment from casinos in supporting treatment for gambling addictions, and doubling the annual state revenue flowing to non-host communities from $33 million to $66 million. Sign up for our politics newsletter Online gambling would be available for Hoosiers starting in September if the bill clears all of its legislative hurdles and is signed by Gov. Mike Braun. But that's not a sure thing: previous efforts to legalize online gambling were abandoned in the past. Then concerns about corruption after former state Rep. Sean Eberhart pleaded guilty to a federal corruption charge for influencing casino legislation meant a pause in gambling legislation in the 2024 session. The online gambling bill is largely supported by the casino industry, as it would lead to increased revenues for companies that eventually seek such licenses. "It represents a new way to reach out to an audience that does not necessarily today patronize our properties," said Matt Bell, a lobbyist for Indiana's casinos. "This is about growing our market." However, an influential lobbyist representing the casino industry, John Hammond of Penn National Gaming, which owns the Ameristar casino in East Chicago and the Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, spoke against the bill. Hammond said he couldn't support the bill currently due to Penn National's opposition to another gaming bill the House Public Policy Committee approved unanimously earlier Tuesday morning. That bill, House Bill 1433, would let American Legion, VFW halls, taverns and bars carry certain electronic games. "We do not support this bill because e-pull tabs is still a live grenade in the process," Hammond said. "It's still out there, passed out of this committee moments ago, 13-0. That's our biggest concern." HB 1433, Hammond said, has the "potential to cannibalize the revenues" generated by casinos. Other lobbyists for the casino industry also testified against that bill. While it wouldn't legalize electronic games like slot machines, the bill instead allows charitable groups, bars and taverns to have electronic pull-tab games, which one advocate said are essentially "a modern version of the traditional games" using paper pull tabs that are already allowed. Rep. Cory Criswell, R-Middletown, said the casino industry's opposition to WFH halls carrying electronic pull tab games was "mind-boggling." The casino industry is highly lucrative, Criswell said, whereas small taverns and American Legion halls would likely see much more modest profits from an expansion to electronic pull-tab games. "It just frustrates me that (the) casino industry could come up and testify, (that) any casino could come up and testify against this, because of the e-pull tabs," Criswell said. "That's what really gets under my skin." Earlier in the committee meeting, Criswell said the casino industry's opposition to an expansion in charity gaming was "all about money." Meanwhile, HB 1433 was strongly supported by members of the veteran community. Mark Gullion, of the American Legion, expressed "unwavering support" for the legislation. "Hoosier veterans have long benefited from paper pull tabs at our posts (which) ... generate revenue to support the charities and causes that are close to our hearts," Gullion said. Currently, of the 730 American Legion posts throughout the state, most of which have some form of gaming, Gullion said. Ron Patterson of the Fortville American Legion, said, for instance, that revenue from charity games has helped the organization support things such as repairing the electricity in a veteran's home and giving a pizza and ice cream party to fourth graders who are learning about the American flag. "We're giving money back to our community," Patterson said. "We're helping our veterans." A potential expansion of gambling in Indiana led to some expressing concern about its social impacts on the state. That fear led Rep. Matt Lehman, R-Byrne, to vote against the online gambling bill in committee. He was concerned about seventh and eighth graders being exposed to gambling. "I get that we want to make this easier, accessible for the 45-year-old guy who's got the means to do this," Lehman said. "I'm concerned on where we're going when we're allowing more and more access. Maybe it's a bridge too far for me." Others expressed concerns about gambling addictions increasing. HB 1432 establishes a new "problem gambling services program" to promote responsible gaming, which would be funded by 13 Indiana casinos, totaling $3.25 million. An additional $500,000 would be paid to the fund by the Hoosier Lottery. Casino operators may have to pay more annually if costs are depleted from the program, up to $2 million per year. It would support treatment and recovery resources and services for people struggling with gambling addictions. Stephanie Anderson, chief operating officer for Mental Health America of Indiana, said about 3% of Hoosiers are problem gamblers, and said increased access to gambling leads to increases in problem gambling. "The language in HB 1432 would enable the necessary resources for comprehensive treatment approaches to address the growth in problem gambling," Anderson said. Both HB 1432 and HB 1433 could be voted on by the full House chamber as early as next week. Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@ This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Want to play poker on your phone? Indiana bill would allow wagers
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Online lottery, gambling expansion clears first hurdle
Screenshot of Kentucky Lottery eInstant games. Legal lottery and casino games could come to your smartphone as soon as September. A proposal authorizing interactive gambling — known as iGaming — advanced Tuesday throught the House Public Policy Committee on a 9-2 vote, following more than three hours of discussion. 'What is the future of gaming policy in Indiana?' Author Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport, asked, while introducing his legislation. 'How can we leverage the assets we already have, take advantage of new opportunities, benefit the most people and also, at the same time, protect some of our most vulnerable?' Indiana could earn millions more off legalized i-gaming than previously estimated, report says Manning estimated that the digital lottery and casinos games, coupled with sports wagering tax hikes, could bring the state of Indiana more than $300 million in new revenue. An official estimate, via an updated fiscal analysis, is on its way after the committee agreed to five substantial amendments. Indiana would join 14 other states with digital lottery games, including Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. House Bill 1432 would tax iGaming licensees at 26% until July 2026. Then, it would impose graduated rates ranging from 22%-30%, depending on the licensee's income. Only casinos and horse tracks would be eligible to get the licenses. As amended, the proposal would let the Indiana Gaming Commission begin accepting iGaming license applications upon its passage. iGaming itself would go live on Sept. 1, 2025. The legislation also establishes a new program for responsible gambling and gambling addictions. Where Indiana's past efforts have focused heavily on awareness campaigns, the new program could also fund treatment and research. Licensees would pay for its work through annual fees of $250,000. If the fund empties out, the commission could invoice licensees monthly, based on market share. Each licensee's aggregate contributions to the fund would be capped at $2 million annually. Lawmakers have long wanted to legalize iGaming. Recent attempts were stymied by corruption convictions involving former legislators. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
