Two bills sponsored by State Representative Danny Lopez (R-Carmel) have passed the Indiana House of Representatives and are now moving to the Senate for further consideration. The legislation aims to support foster youth and address hate littering in Indiana.
Senate Bill 15, which received unanimous approval in the House, establishes a ‘Foster Youth Bill of Rights.’ This measure is designed to clarify the rights and responsibilities of children in foster care and ensure that this information is accessible and current.
“Every child in the foster care system deserves a voice, a clear understanding of their rights and access to the resources they need to thrive,” Lopez said. “This legislation empowers Hoosier foster children to succeed now and in the future.”
The second bill, Senate Bill 160, targets threatening behavior by increasing penalties for crimes intended to intimidate others. It includes provisions making it an aggravating factor if someone wears a mask while committing a crime. The bill also addresses hate littering by making it a Class A misdemeanor to leave trash on another person’s property with intent to cause fear.
“Our communities should be safe and free from intimidation,” Lopez said. “This legislation strengthens penalties for those who commit crimes while concealing their identity and cracks down on hate littering, sending a clear message that threats and intimidation will not be tolerated. I’m proud to sponsor this bill and I’m grateful for my colleagues’ support.”
Both bills must return to the Senate for final approval before potentially becoming law after review by the governor.
Speaker Todd Huston leads the Indiana House of Representatives with priorities including financial stewardship, educational opportunities, public safety measures, and community-focused policies. His background includes service on education boards, expansion of school choice programs such as Indiana’s Choice Scholarship program, advocacy for tax relief measures, local governance experience, academic training from Indiana University with a degree in political science, and residence in Fishers with his family. More details about Speaker Huston’s leadership can be found at https://www.indianahouserepublicans.com/members/leadership/todd-huston/?back=members.
For more information about these bills or other legislative matters this session, visit iga.in.gov.
