Legislative Calls to Action -- Feb 18, 2026

Contact your Legislator: IGA | Find Your Legislator

For the calendar of the Indiana Legislature go to IGA | Home and click on Calendars and Schedules

Refer to Mad Voters Bill tracker for most up-to-date information. BILL TRACKER | MADVoters

ICE Offices in Carmel

We are calling on the Carmel City Council and Mayor Sue Finkam to hold a public forum and demand full transparency from ICE about its intended operations, coordination with local law enforcement, and safeguards to protect civil rights and public safety. Residents deserve to know what this office will do, how it will interact with Carmel Police, and what measures will be in place to ensure our city remains safe, respectful, and unified. Sign the petition.

Indiana Legislature

Indiana legislation is moving quickly through the legislature toward becoming law. Contact your state legislators about bills that concern you. Bills listed below are organized by category. When a bill is in committee, voice your opinion by calling members of the committee. When a bill reaches the Senate or House floor for a vote, call your legislator. Each bill listed below provides all links needed to contact legislators. Make your voice heard now. The session ends by Feb. 27.

Senate Bill 236 (from 5 Calls) - HIGH PRIORITY

Senate Bill 236 expands Indiana’s definition of “abortion inducing drugs” to include medication like Mifepristone and Misoprostol and would impose new restrictions on their manufacturing, distribution, mailing, transport, delivery, prescription, and provision. The bill represents another step by the state to restrict access to reproductive healthcare and narrow the range of medical options available to women. This bill passed the Indiana Senate by a vote of 35 to 10. It is currently in the House Committee of Public Health. Contact your Representative | State of Indiana House of Representatives

The following bills have passed both chambers:

Immigration - We oppose

The House made numerous changes to this bill from the version passed by the Senate last month, so agreement must be reached on a final version of the bill before the scheduled Feb. 27 adjournment for this year’s legislative session. There is still time to make your voice heard. Contact your senator and your representative.

SB 076 . Immigration matters. Strengthens the enforcement of federal immigration laws. From Indiana Capital Chronicle: Indiana House Republicans pushed through a bill mandating local cooperation with federal immigration crackdowns, brushing aside criticism that the measure would misdirect police resources and was un-Christian. House members voted 61-28 on Thursday in favor of the bill, which also would allow the state attorney general’s office to seek sanctions against businesses found to have hired “unauthorized aliens.” Democratic legislators repeatedly during debate on the bill denounced the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that have led to turmoil in Minneapolis and other cities. They also condemned the legislation’s mandate that all police departments, schools and universities comply with the federal agency’s enforcement activities.

From MadVoters: Mandates that Indiana law enforcement, public schools, universities, and local governments must comply and cooperate with federal immigration authorities and agencies, including ICE, or be sued for $10,000 per violation. Prohibits employers from hiring undocumented people. More specifically, SB 76 increases the risk of wrongful detention and 4th Amendment violations; it requires mandatory compliance with ICE detainers, which increases the risk of unlawful detention, leading to costly litigation. This has happened in other states, and SB 76 sets up Indiana to experience the same problem. SB 76 increases surveillance of immigrant communities; it weaponizes public programs and hospitals by requiring them to report and collect data on non-citizens, which could deter eligible people from seeking essential services. (Source: Hoosier Asian American Power).

https://indyblakej.substack.com/p/sb-76-power-without-guardrails

https://www.wane.com/top-stories/indiana-house-passes-ice-cooperation-bill/amp/

The following bills have passed committee to the Senate or House floor for a vote:

 Affordability - We support

HB 1002. Electric utility affordability. Seeks to enhance customer financial stability, improve utility accountability, and create a structured rate-making process. These changes include mandating budget billing options, offering opt-out mechanisms without penalties, and implementing multi-year rate plans with performance metrics. Contact your senator.

 Criminal justice - We oppose

SJ 1 Amends Indiana’s Constitution to allow judges to deny bail for certain “dangerous” defendants. If it passes the House, it will be on the November ballot for voters to make the final decision. Read more about this resolution and the resolution process at Indiana Capital Chronicle. Contact your representative.

SB 002. Bail procedures. Provides the mechanism for the constitutional amendment. Expands a judge's authority to deny bail to "substantial risk" suspects who were previously guaranteed the right to release. Could lead to higher pretrial detention rates and further overcrowd county jails without providing additional funding. Risks turning pretrial detention into a form of punishment before a person has been convicted of a crime. See also SJR 1 and SB 3. * Read ACLU's statement. Contact your representative.

SB 003. Constitutional amendment ballot language. Prescribes the ballot language for the proposed constitutional amendment concerning bail: "Currently, under the Constitution of the State of Indiana, a person charged with murder or treason is not entitled to be released on bail if the proof is evident or the presumption strong. Shall the Constitution of the State of Indiana be amended to provide that a person charged with an offense other than murder or treason is not entitled to bail if: (1) the proof is evident or the presumption strong; and (2) the state proves by clear and convincing evidence that no release conditions will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community. Contact your representative.

Education

SB 199 Various education matters. This is a sprawling education package that’s become the House’s vehicle for youth social media regulation. A proposed amendment would add new language to require parental consent for children under 16 to create or maintain accounts; limit practices related to the collection, use and retention of data from Hoosier minors; and curb what many called “addictive algorithms” for accounts used by children 15 and younger.

Earlier versions of SB 199 included a prohibition on social media use for children, but lawmakers ultimately stripped that language on the Senate floor amid legal, enforcement and parental-rights concerns. The bill cleared the committee 7-4, with Democrats opposed. Under the amended bill, social media companies would be required to provide parents or guardians with access to a minor’s account upon request, while also meeting new standards around account controls, data use and transparency...Democrats objected to provisions allowing the state to further restrict or eliminate certain college degree programs deemed “low-earning.” (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

HB 1176. Education matters. Creates additional pathways for converting existing public schools into charter schools. Unlike public schools, charter schools don’t have elected school boards accountable to taxpayers and voters. They are also exempt from some regulations required of public schools and have a well-documented history of fraud and closure. Contact your senator.

 HB 1176. Education matters. Creates additional pathways for converting existing public schools into charter schools. Unlike public schools, charter schools don’t have elected school boards accountable to taxpayers and voters. They are also exempt from some regulations required of public schools and have a well-documented history of fraud and closure. Contact your senator.

Elections - We oppose

SB 012. Prohibition of ranked choice voting. Prohibits the use of ranked choice voting in Indiana elections. This means that voters will not be able to rank candidates by preference, and elections will continue using traditional voting methods. This bill doesn't resolve low voter turnout or improve voter access. Tully [League of women Voters] said the league in Indiana supports ranked choice voting to “reduce the toxicity of negative campaigning, to advance those candidates who have broad support, to keep candidates and campaigns issues-focused.” Contact your representative.

Environment - We oppose

SB 277. Indiana Department of environmental management.  Under SB 277, when faced with evidence of “imminent and substantial endangerment” to human health caused by pollution, the IDEM Commissioner would no longer be required to go to court to stop the pollution. That means, in contrast to the current law, the Commissioner will have the option to do nothing to protect Hoosiers' health livelihoods. In addition to considering whether a state rule is “more stringent than” the applicable federal regulation, the IDEM Commissioner will now be legally required to consider whether that rule would be “burdensome” to the affected industry – but not Hoosiers’ health, livelihoods, or future. In short, SB 277 dismantles Indiana’s system of environmental management and makes enforcement of any remaining environmental protections essentially optional. (Hoosier Environmental Council) Use HEC's online action form to take easy action. Narrowly passed committee to the House floor for a vote. Read more at Indiana Capital Chronicle. Contact your representative.

Health - We support

SB 091 Syringe exchange program extension. Extends Indiana's syringe exchange program until July 1, 2036, which has helped reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis. Without this extension, the program will expire. Passed committee 10-0. Referred to House Public Health Committee, Chairman Rep. Brad Barrett: h56@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9695. Restrictions inserted by the committee into Senate Bill 91 would require a participant to present identification proving residency in the exchange program’s region and limit the program operators to providing one sterile needle for each used one handed in. (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Contact your representative.

SB 90. Consent for pelvic, prostate, and rectal exams. Prohibits health practitioners from performing pelvic, prostate, or rectal examinations on an anesthetized or unconscious patient without consent. Contact your representative.

Other - We support

HB 1307. Department of child services ombudsman. Mandates improved oversight for DCS via an ombudsman office to investigate complaints. Final vote expected 2/16. Contact your senator.

HB 1065. Ban on gratuities for public officials. Bans bribes and rewards over $100 to public officials for performing a service. Contact your senator.

HB 1036. Children in need services. Requires DCS to conduct an in-person assessment before closing an investigation involving a child who the department has reason to believe is a child in need of services (CHINS). That is, a situation where a minor faces abuse, neglect, abandonment, or poses a danger to themselves, and their parents can’t or won’t provide necessary care like food, shelter, medical help, or supervision. Contact your senator.

SB 015. Foster youth. Requires DCS to create a Foster Youth Bill of Rights statement. Contact your representative.

SB 140. Doxxing. Criminalizes doxxing. The right to privacy and freedom from intimidation are foundational for democracy. Contact your representative.

The following bills are still in committee: 

Contact committee chairs and members

Next Week (February 16-19) is the last week for crossover committee hearings, when Senate bills can receive a hearing in the House, and House bills can receive a Senate hearing. While many bills have passed this step, those that have not by 2/19 will be considered “dead.”

Affordability - We oppose

SB 1. Human services matters. This bill is a priority proposal for the chamber’s Republican caucus, would end Indiana’s expanded eligibility for SNAP, which allows those with slightly more assets to participate than under the federal baseline. That would push an estimated 3,000 households off the program, according to a fiscal analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency. Significantly tightens eligibility and administrative requirements for SNAP and Medicaid. Terminating "expanded categorical eligibility" (BBCE) means Indiana will revert to stricter federal income and asset limits, estimated to lead to significant benefit cuts or terminations for millions, including working families and seniors. Expands mandatory work or training requirements to age 64. Requires verification of immigration status and reporting of non-verified individuals. Moving from annual to semiannual (every 6 months) eligibility renewals increases the risk of "procedural" disenrollment, where eligible people lose coverage due to missed paperwork, as well as increases administrative burden and administrative costs. Other provisions would set legal status requirements for SNAP participants — but count all of the income and assets of ineligible immigrants toward their household’s eligibility determination and benefit allotment. Referred to House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Rep. Jeff Thompson: h28@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9651. Hearing scheduled 2/16, no public testimony. Contact your representative.

HB 1001. We're monitoring. Housing matters. Seeks to increase housing supply, particularly affordable housing, by streamlining approval processes and reducing local regulatory barriers. Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Contact your senator.

Childcare Assistance - We support

HB 1177 Child care assistance. Expands the Indiana's Employer Child Care Expenditure Credit to incentivize more businesses to provide child care benefits. Allows redevelopment commissions to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) revenue to provide financial assistance for the construction or expansion of child care facilities. This turns child care into a piece of local infrastructure, similar to roads or utilities, to attract businesses to specific districts. Referred to the Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee where it is scheduled for a hearing 2/17.

Education - We oppose

SB 88: Various education matters. Prior to being amended, SB 88 mandated that public school curriculum include instruction on the 10 Commandments, and restrictions on discussions about racism, sexism, and classism. This section has since been removed, but concerns remain: the bill mandates that schools include instruction on the importance of waiting until marriage to have children as part of being a "good citizen." This is out of scope for a public school, and risks shaming students for their personal circumstances. The bills also mandates that colleges accept the Classic Learning Test (which emphasizes conservative content and Christian texts), in addition to the SAT and ACT. The CLT is used mostly by religious-affiliated private schools. It's clear this bill is intended to elevate conservative, Christian perspectives within the public education sphere. It's also worth noting that language within this bill is basically copy-paste from the Heritage Foundation, and did not originate from Hoosiers' real concerns. Referred to the House Education Committee where a hearing was held, but no vote is yet scheduled.

SB 200. Public school matters. Mandates that schools must allow "youth patriotic organizations" (currently limited to certain organizations as determined by the federal government, like FFA and the Boy and Girl Scouts) to provide information to students on school grounds at least two times per school year. If a school refuses this access, an organization may submit a grievance to the Indiana Department of Education. Schools found in violation of these access requirements may face a reduction in funding or other consequence. Here is why we're concerned: If federal law changes to classify Turning Point as one of these eligible "youth patriotic" organizations, schools will effectively have their hands tied and be forced to work with them. Referred to House Committee on Education,

Chairman Rep. Bob Behning: h91@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9753. Hearing was scheduled; no vote yet taken.

HB 1099. Foreign adversaries. Prohibits state universities from admitting Chinese, Russian, Iranian, or North Korean students into certain engineering, technology, or medical programs. Prohibits citizens or residents of China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea from purchasing, inheriting, or otherwise acquiring land or property in Indiana; and limits them to renting for no more than 12 months. Prohibits technology contracts between Chinese, Russian, Iranian, or North Korean businesses and state or local governments. This is xenophobia that will harm educational and economic outcomes for Indiana. Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation. hearing scheduled 2/17.

HB 1423. Indianapolis public school corporation. Greatly reduces decision-making power of IPS’s elected school board and transfers it with an all-appointed board (heavily influenced by pro-charter interests). Not only is this taxation without representation, but it adds another costly layer of bureaucracy. Passed its first committee and reassigned to Appropriations. From Indiana Coalition for Public Education: Public education is in an existential crisis– and HB1423 could be the tipping point. If public schools are the cornerstone of our democracy, then removing the public from them threatens democracy itself...HB1423 strips power from an elected school board (Indianapolis Public Schools) and transfers it to a brand-new entity– a corporation governed by an all-appointed board. If this can happen in Indianapolis, it can happen anywhere in Indiana.

SB 239. Various education matters. Creates additional pathways for converting existing public schools into charter schools. Unlike public schools, charter schools don't have elected school boards accountable to taxpayers and voters. They are also exempt from some regulations required of public schools and have a well-documented history of fraud and closure. See also HB 1176. Referred to the House Education Committee.

Health - We support

HB 1335. Nonprofit hospitals. Increases the oversight and accountability for nonprofit hospitals in Indiana. Requires nonprofit hospitals to provide community benefits that exceed the value of their tax exemptions. Mandates that hospitals proactively inform patients about financial assistance and charity care programs. Referred to Senate Health and Provider Services Committee, Chairman Sen. Ed Charbonneau: s5@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9494. Contact your senator. Heard in committee, but no vote taken.

SB 225. Hospital matters. Increases oversight of hospital business practices and protects patients from aggressive debt collection. Requires hospitals to provide advance notice of closure (120 days for entire hospital, 90 days for a service, like OBGYN department). Referred to House Public Health Committee. Hearing scheduled for 2/16.

Libraries - We oppose

SB 008. Library budgets. SB 8 turns the final budget approval for public libraries over to the local government rather than the library board if (1) the library is a majority-appointed board (which is most of them), and (2) the library board's proposed budget is 2% higher than the previous budget. This is known as a binding review. Currently, binding reviews are done if the proposed budget is 4% or greater, so SB 8 proposes to cut that in half. SB 8 could lead to a loss of financial independence, funding reductions, and political/partisan volatility. Referred to Senate Ways and Means Committee.

* Statement from Eckhart Public Library

Jeffersonville Township Public Library statement: https://jefflibrary.org/2026/02/03/an-open-letter-from-jtpl-library-director-david-seckman/

Other - We oppose

SB 182. Gender issues. Erases legal recognition of trans, intersex, and non-binary Hoosiers by establishing "sex" and "gender" as synonymous terms throughout the Indiana Code, defining them solely by biological characteristics (chromosomes and anatomy) present at birth. Prohibits changes to an individual's gender on their birth certificate. Trans, non-binary, and intersex people do exist, and human sexuality and biology is far more complex than 2 genders. Referred to House Public Health Committee, Chairman Rep. Brad Barrett: h56@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9695. No hearing yet scheduled.

SB 275. FSSA fiscal matters. Addresses various fiscal matters related to the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Medicaid program. By lowering the income level as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), fewer Medicare beneficiaries will qualify for Medicaid. This reduces the number of low-income seniors and disabled Hoosiers who can receive secondary coverage through Medicaid to help pay for costs Medicare does not cover (such as long-term care or certain co-pays). Gives FSSA the authority to lower the rates paid to home health service providers, which could undermine efforts to ensure safe, quality care for those needing facility or home-based services. Requires the state to provide six months of public notice before reducing health facility service reimbursements, down from the previous one-year requirement. This means health facilities (like nursing homes) have half the time to adjust their budgets. Ultimately, the bill will impact healthcare for elderly and disabled Hoosiers, as home health is already dealing with high turnover due to low wages and unstable conditions. It may also increase medical debt for some families because they may be forced out of home health services and into hospitals/ERs, nursing homes, etc that are incredibly expensive and will overburden staff/infrastructure intended for other patients & families. Referred to House Ways and Means Committee

Chairman Rep. Jeff Thompson: h28@iga.in.gov, 317-232-9651. It has received a hearing but not a vote.

SB 285. Housing Matters. SB 285 criminalizes homelessness, making it significantly harder for unhoused individuals to secure future employment or permanent housing. If found guilty of sleeping on city or state property, individuals could receive a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500. Diverts some state funds from permanent housing toward substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and short-term shelter solutions - the preferred solution wouldn't be taking from one but to fund both. Prohibits local governments from enacting policies that "prohibit or discourage" the enforcement of public camping or sidewalk obstruction ordinances, overruling local control. Opposed by the Sheriff's Association. Has been referred to the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code. Has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

Veterans - We oppose

HB 1343. Military or veteran affairs. HB 1343. Military or veteran affairs. While much of this broad bill is outside the scope of MADVoters, we do oppose section 5, which would grant police powers to the National Guard. These expanded police powers raise concerns about the militarization of police and encroachment on civil liberties. Passed its first committee and was reassigned to Appropriations. Read more at Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Federal Legislation

SAVE Act

Last year, we fought back against the first of Trump’s many attempts to suppress our votes. It started when he signed an executive order in a dangerous attempt to target people based on their race, income, and zip code. It was one of many attempts to restrict who gets a voice in our democracy, making it harder for millions to cast a ballot and be heard. Instead of voters choosing their leaders, it paves the way for MAGA extremists to decide who gets to participate in the first place. We knew this was just one of many authoritarian power grabs we would have to fight. 

That fight continued with H.R. 22, a dangerous proposal known to many as the “Safeguard American Voter Eligibility” (SAVE) Act. This bill was introduced by Trump allies in Congress and would legally mandate documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. This bill passed the House with a 220-208 vote. Four Democrats voted in favor: Case-HI, Cuellar-TX, Golden-ME, and Gluesenkamp Perez-WA.

The original bill was stalled in the Senate since last spring, but now Republicans are back to trying to stop millions from participating in the midterm elections. They have introduced two new versions of their notorious SAVE Act, and we need to get loud and reject this anti-democratic push NOW.

What Even Are These Bills?

These bills would require every voter to show proof of citizenship, like a passport or original birth certificate, when registering to vote in federal elections. That might sound simple, but the reality is that millions of eligible voters don’t have these documents readily available. Because these bills would require showing this proof in person, it would eliminate online and mail-in voter registration. This wouldn’t improve election security—it would just make it significantly harder for everyday Americans to vote.

This would disproportionately impact:

• Married women who have changed their last names, many of whom don’t have birth certificates matching their legal name

• Transgender and non-binary people who face barriers legally changing their names

• Naturalized citizens could face additional barriers and intimidation

• Rural Americans who would no longer have access to online and mail-in voting

• Military members, tribal citizens, and working-class Americans, who may not have easy access to these documents

We’ve seen the damage of similar laws in states like Kansas and Arizona, where thousands of eligible voters were blocked from registering. Those without citizenship status are already barred from voting in federal elections, and states have secure systems in place to verify voter eligibility—this bill is unnecessary.

The two new bills: SAVE America Act (HR 7296) and Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act (HR 7300), are just two of the same bills under a different name. These three bills are all direct threats to our freedom to vote, and we cannot let Republicans get away with this.

What Can You Do?

Push back loudly on any version of voter suppression legislation, be it the original, 2.0, or 3.0.

They want to distract us by creating constant crises and attempting to silence our voices, but we have the power of our movement, and we will not back down.