July 30, 2022

Live updates: Indiana Senate approves abortion and inflation relief legislation

WFYI News
Abortion rights supporters gather in the Indiana Statehouse as the Indiana Senate debates legislation that would ban most abortion in the state. - Elizabeth Gabriel/WFYI

Abortion rights supporters gather in the Indiana Statehouse as the Indiana Senate debates legislation that would ban most abortion in the state.

Elizabeth Gabriel/WFYI

Saturday, July 30

3:50 p.m. Senate quickly approves inflation relief legislation

The Senate quickly voted on its inflation relief legislation with a 40 to 4 vote. The proposal suspends sales tax on utility bills for six months, caps the state sales tax on gasoline, reduces the gas tax by one cent per gallon. It also pays for cost overruns on state construction projects and paying down pension debt. It's estimated the bill will save the average household about $120 over six months.

The legislation now heads to the House. Earlier this week that chamber passed an inflation relief proposal that varies greatly from the Senate version.

3:20 p.m., Senate turns attention to inflation relief

With the abortion legislation on its way to the House, the Senate turns its attention to inflation relief. The legislation, Senate Bill 3 (ss), suspends sales tax on utility bills for six months, caps the state sales tax on gasoline, reduces the gas tax by one cent per gallon. It also pays for cost overruns on state construction projects and paying down pension debt. It's estimated the bill iwill save the average household about $120 over six months.

The Senate inflation relief proposal differs from the plan proposed by the House and Gov. Eric Holcomb, which would send a $225 check to eligible Hoosiers.

​

2:50 p.m., Senate approves legislation that would ban most abortions

The Senate has voted to approve SB1 (ss) by a single vote, 26-20. After the vote, abortion rights supporters chanted “shame on you.”

The legislation tightens abortion restrictions in Indiana. In cases of rape of incest, abortion could only be performed if the pregnancy is less than eight weeks “post-fertilization.” If the pregnant person is younger than 16 years old, then they can access abortion in the cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks after fertilization.

The legislation will now moves to the House where lawmakers will take public testimony, consider amendments and vote before sending it back to the Senate.

Of the 20 no votes, 10 were Republicans. Their reasons ranged from those feeling the legislation was too lenient to those feeling it was an overreach of government.

Tensions were high as lawmakers made their way out of the Senate chamber past abortion rights supporters.

2:45 p.m., Debate ends, vote is next

2:30 p.m., Debate on abortion legislation continues in Senate

The debate on SB1 (ss) continues in the Senate. Hours into the session only one lawmaker has spoken in favor of the bill. All others have spoken against it. During public testimony earlier this week no one spoke in favor of the legislation.

Some Republicans are speaking out against the the proposal that would ban most abortions in the state. Sen. Vaneta Becker (R-Evansville) said she's voting against the bill because it violates Republican principles. "Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for lawmakers," Becker said.

1:15 p.m., Lawmakers continue to debate, speak on abortion legidslation

Lawmakers have been speaking on SB1 (ss) for more than an hour, laying out their cases for and against banning most abortions in the state. Democrats have criticized the ban. Sen. J.D. Ford (D-Indianapolis) called it an "attack on religious freedom." And said it's insulting and cruel to survivors of sexual violence to force them to fill out an affidavit and get it notarized to access abortion care.

Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange) said she sees the bill as a starting point. If it becomes law and it's not what the people of Indiana want, lawmakers can change it in January.

"It was not set in stone in Roe v. Wade and it isn't set in stone in SB1," Glick said.

Some Republicans have said they will vote against the legislation, but for different reasons.

11:56 a.m. Democratic senators question bill’s sponsor over abortion ban

Sen. Sue Glick (R-LaGrange) presented the bill to the chamber. Democrats started by questioning her about the proposal.

11:30 a.m. Debate on the Senate abortion ban proposal is underway

The Senate begins its session with debate on Senate Bill 1 (ss), which would ban nearly all abortions in the state. Chants, cheers and boos from hundreds of abortion rights supporters outside the chamber can be heard as the lawmakers get started.

11:11 a.m. Lawmakers make their way to Senate chamber to debate iabortion ban an inflation relief proposals

Lawmakers are making their way to the Senate chamber. The start of the session was delayed aby about 10 minutes. The Senate is expected to debate passage of two bills: its inflation relief proposal and SB1 (ss), the abortion ban. To advance, the bills need a "constitutional majority"  or 26 votes, to pass. If passed the bills move to the House where lawmakers will take public testimony, consider changes and vote.

Lawmakers are making their way to the Senate chamber. The Senate is expected to debate passage of two bills: its inflation relief proposal and SB1 (ss), the abortion ban. To advance, the bills need a "constitutional majority" or 26 votes, to pass. If passed the move to the House where lawmakers will take public testimony, consider changes to the legislation and vote.

9:50 a.m., People begin to gather outside the Senate chamber

About 60 people have gathered inside the Statehouse before lawmakers are scheduled to return to the Senate chamber. Most appear to be opposed to legislation up for a vote today. Another group of abortion rights supporters has gathered outside the Statehouse.

9:05 a.m., Indiana Senate expected to vote on abortion legislation, protesters begin to gather at the Statehouse

The Indiana Senate is back to work today and expected to vote on Senate Bill 1 (ss), which bans most abortions in the state. The rare Saturday vote follows a marathon session on Thursday where 18 Republicans joined Democrats to reject an effort that would’ve deleted rape and incest exceptions from its proposed abortion ban.

On Tuesday, Senate Republicans amended the legislation to tighten the rape and incest exception. The bill now says an abortion could only be performed if the pregnancy is less than eight weeks “post-fertilization.” If the pregnant person is younger than 16 years old, then they can access abortion in the cases of rape and incest up to 12 weeks after fertilization.

Protesters, organized by the ACLU of Indiana and other pro-choice organizations, are beginning to gather at the Statehouse. The vote is expected to take place at 11 a.m.

Follow Elizabeth Gabriel for updates from outside the Senate chamber and Brandon Smith for updates from inside the chamber. And you can find all of our coverage of the special session here. 

WATCH: Live video feed from the Indiana Senate Chamber 

Tags:special sessionIndiana SenateabortionIndiana abortion law
Support independent journalism today. You rely on WFYI to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Donate to power our nonprofit reporting today. Give now.

 

Related News

Legislative leaders say 2024 session more substantive than planned, but much more to come in 2025
Public Affairs / March 8, 2024

Legislative leaders say 2024 session more substantive than planned, but much more to come in 2025

Prior to 2024, Republican legislative leaders called for a return to a normal session, with an agenda focused on small tweaks to existing policies. Where it ended up was with bills far more substantive than many had imagined.
Read More
Economic Enhancement District for Mile Square will not be repealed
Public Affairs / February 20, 2024

Economic Enhancement District for Mile Square will not be repealed

Indianapolis’ planned economic enhancement district, or EED, will not be repealed. A bill put the funding tool at risk but an amendment saves the district - with some caveats.
Read More
Bill effectively killing Indianapolis Blue Line gets hearing in House committee
Public Affairs / February 20, 2024

Bill effectively killing Indianapolis Blue Line gets hearing in House committee

A House committee heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that puts a moratorium on dedicated lanes. IndyGo officials say the bill will kill the proposed Blue Line, the city’s third bus rapid transit system.
Read More