Staff Report

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gov. Eric Holcomb in an emergency powers dispute over legislation that would allow the General Assembly to call its own special session.

In a ruling handed down Friday, June 3, the court said House Enrolled Act 1123 was unconstitutional.

“Under our Constitution, the General Assembly simply cannot do what the challenged law permits absent a constitutional amendment,” the ruling said.

Lawmakers approved the bill in 2021. Holcomb vetoed it, calling into question its constitutionality, and taking the issue to the court. The governor maintained that Indiana’s Constitution allows only the governor to call a special session.

On Friday, Holcomb issued the following statement afterward:

“From the beginning, this case presented important procedural, statutory and Constitutional questions that only the courts could answer. Today, the Indiana Supreme Court has provided clarity and finality on these important issues. I appreciate the patience and humility Speaker Huston and Senator Bray have shown throughout the entire process, of which I always sought to match. With this critical matter resolved, we’ll continue focusing on building a prosperous state full of opportunity for all.”