Statehouse Update: Historic Sunday Sales, Gun Regulations

State lawmakers advanced gun regulation changes, a Senate panel approved a bill to strengthen human trafficking laws, and Sunday alcohol sales are just a step away from becoming legal.

Here’s what you might have missed this week at the Statehouse.

Sunday Sales One Step Away From Legalization

The Indiana Senate took a final vote this week to legalize Sunday alcohol retail sales, sending the bill to the governor.

He’s expected to sign the measure next week, which means Sunday sales will likely be legal beginning March 4.

Two Gun Regulations Passed

Lawmakers advanced two gun regulation measures this week.

One would allow licensed gun owners to carry their firearms at church activities, even if those houses of worship are on school property, where guns are mostly barred.

The other would create a five-year handgun license (expanded from a four-year license), which would allow those permit holders to skip background checks at every gun purchase. The checks would only occur when obtaining and renewing the licenses every five years.

Changes To Human Trafficking Statutes

Legislation unanimously approved in a Senate committee this week makes several changes to Indiana’s human trafficking statutes. It takes out a requirement in law that force must be involved, because bill author Sally Siegrist says that can be difficult to prove.

The measure also requires police to work with the Department of Child Services on custody of child human trafficking victims.

Redistricting Standards Bill Unlikely To Advance

Legislation to create redistricting standards in Indiana law looks unlikely to pass this session. House Elections Committee Chair Milo Smith (R-Columbus) said Wednesday he won’t give the bill a hearing.

The bill creates parameters lawmakers would have to follow when drawing Indiana’s district lines. Redistricting reform advocates support the bill. They also want it to create an independent commission to draw the maps. But it appears they’ll get neither.

Controversial Sex-Ed Bill Sees Changes & Unexpected Debate

The House Education Committee approved a controversial sex education bill Tuesday, and some members say a few key changes could make them more receptive to the legislation.

Senate Bill 65 says schools can’t teach sex ed without the consent of parents – shifting the current opt-out system to an opt-in – but an amendment to the bill limits how many days a parent has to return a sex education consent form for their child.

Then, on the House floor later in the week, Rep. Scott Pelath (D-Michigan City) offered an amendment to shift the entire focus of the bill – specifically, to require active shooter response training for students.

House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) ruled the amendment was out of place and wouldn’t be considered. That triggered a debate on whether school safety is tied to sex education, and the final decision indicated it isn’t.

Committee Rejects Some Changes To Abortion Bill

A House committee rejected attempts Wednesday to scale back some new reporting requirements created by an anti-abortion bill.

The bill would require health care providers to report a long list of complications from abortion, if they occur. Those include anything from blood clots to anxiety. Rep. Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville) wanted to simplify that list to: death, moderate to severe pain, or significant temporary harm.

Another Eberhart proposal would have eliminated one of the bill’s requirements that a doctor who reports abortion complications must include where a woman received an abortion-inducing drug, if applicable.

The committee advanced the full bill, without those changes.

Other Measures Advancing:

• One of the first bills headed to Gov. Holcomb’s desk this session will allow Indiana students to easily carry and apply sunscreen at school.
• A bill passed through committee this week aims to improve communications between schools, courts and the Department of Child Services.
• A panel passed a measure urging lawmakers to study how prepared schools are to work with students on the autism spectrum.