Indiana lawmakers will consider a number of controversial issues in study committees this year – including hate crimes and the Department of Child Services.

Despite a pro-business history, the General Assembly's large Republican majorities didn't rally around proposals some say might have boosted the chances of luring Amazon's second headquarters.

Indiana will remain one of five states without a hate crimes law after the Senate Republican caucus opted not to take a vote on the bill this session.

Debate on a hate crimes bill was emotional and, at times, heated Tuesday as a Senate committee kicked off conversation on the issue.

So far, in this legislative session, two bills would include bias as a consideration for sentencing. Similar legislation has failed to pass, each year, for nearly a decade.

Previous attempts to pass legislation that increases the penalties for hate crimes have failed at the statehouse. But Senate Democrats listed it as one of their priorities again this year and House Speaker Brian Bosma endorsed the idea of such legislation in the wake of white supremacist violence over the summer.

Bosma says judges can already consider a criminal’s motivation during sentencing. But he says the state needs a specific hate crimes bill.

Indiana is one of five states without a hate crimes law. That will continue for at least another year.

The bill would allow the courts to impose harsher sentences for crimes motivated by hate.

Senator Greg Taylor says recent incidents – including vandalized churches – underline the need for such a bill, which he’ll author this session.