Indy Standard

As the first half of the 2025 legislative session concludes, Indiana House Republicans have reviewed a significant amount of legislation, including the initial draft of Indiana's upcoming two-year budget. Of the 713 House bills filed, 179 have passed and will now be considered by the Indiana Senate. Any bill not passing at least one chamber is no longer active.

Among those that advanced are three bills introduced by a new legislator. The first, House Bill 1393, mandates that individuals arrested for misdemeanors or felonies be reported to ICE if there is probable cause to believe they are unlawfully present in the country. This bill aims to assist local law enforcement in collaborating with federal authorities.

House Bill 1385 seeks to support recovery coaches by removing barriers preventing them from working in healthcare facilities. These coaches play a crucial role in addiction recovery and mental health services.

House Bill 1554 addresses a gap in habitual traffic violator laws by classifying driving with a permanently revoked license as a Level 6 felony. This change aligns with reforms made to the criminal code in 2015.

Additionally, the legislator coauthored ten other bills on topics like criminal justice reform and pediatric cancer research funding.

In the second half of the session, House-passed bills will move to the Senate for review while Senate-passed bills will be considered by the House. The legislator expressed enthusiasm about continuing work on both their own and Senate-originated legislation.

Residents of House District 68 are encouraged to engage with the legislative process through resources like iga.in.gov for live streams and updates on legislation. Constituents can also subscribe to an e-newsletter via in.gov/h68 for information on key bills and state news.

The legislator reflected positively on their initial experiences at the Statehouse and looks forward to further representing their constituents' interests.