Paper pull tabs are a fan favorite for charitable gaming events, but veterans service organizations have long sought an electronic option. Photo by Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Casey Smith and Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s Senate on Tuesday approved legislation allowing electronic pull tabs for charity gambling, in a 37-13 vote that split party caucuses.

Charitable, civic, veteran and other groups can earn money off bingo, raffles, and more — like paper pull tabs. Senate Bill 209 would let them use electronic versions of pull tabs, which could come on freestanding cabinet-style devices, tabletop versions and tablets.

Republicans and Democrats spoke against the legislation.

Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne argued that gambling integrity is heavily enforced at casinos but not charitable organizations.

Brown alleged that “figurehead” charities are running multiple gambling organizations to operate more days of the week than is allowed, and recalled a charity casino in her district that regulators have accused of racketeering, according to WANE.

Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, complained that organizations are sending small fractions of the money raised to charitable purposes. He added, “We should all be concerned about that.”

The legislation also had staunch defense.

Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, said other counties shouldn’t be penalized because of bad actors in one county.

A proposal blocking student identification cards use in voting also passed muster, in a 39-11 vote.

Under current law these ID’s, with expiration dates, are valid to confirm a person’s identity. The voter already has to meet registration requirements separately.

Senate Bill 10 also has provisions removing a longstanding requirement that Bureau of Motor Vehicle employees ask customers about registering to vote, increasing county voter list maintenance to twice a year and asking other states to join Indiana’s election data-sharing party of one.

“This bill is about controlling who gets to vote, not protecting elections,” argued Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis. He noted the state already conducts voter roll cleanup and the “duplicative” requirements for counties could confuse voters receiving multiple mailed notices.

Ford and other Democrats said the legislation would drive down student turnout.

Author Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton asserted the legislation would further secure elections.

Senate GOP priority legislation adding regulatory oversight to big water transfers and long-haul water pipelines additionally earned approval. Senate Bill 4 — a reaction to controversial water plans for the Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace Innovation District — moved on a unanimous, 48-0 vote.

So did a priority bill for Gov. Mike Braun: Senate Bill 146, raising minimum public teacher pay from $40,000 to $45,000 and bumping the minimum percentage of tuition support that schools must spend on teacher pay. It passed unanimously, in a 50-0 vote.

All will head to the House for consideration.

Senators also combined two contentious bills cracking down on diversity, equity and inclusion in schools and state government. Senate Bill 289 now contains amended language from Senate Bill 235, and will be eligible for a vote beginning Wednesday, Feb. 5.

House fights over immigration notice measure, pulls no-fault divorce bill

In the Indiana House on Tuesday, lawmakers gave their stamp of approval to a bill that could require Indiana law enforcement to give federal authorities notice when they arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally.

The chamber voted 67-26 — mostly along party lines — to send House Bill 1393 to the Senate.

Rep. Garrett Bascom, R-Lawrenceburg, sits in the House chamber on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. His bill introduces arrest-related immigration status notification requirements. Photo by Indiana House Republicans.

Bill author Rep. Garrett Bascom, R-Lawrenceburg, maintained his legislation “does not authorize an officer to go up and start questioning anybody off the street,” and only intends to “standardize” collaboration between local, state and federal law enforcement.

A slew of Democrats who spoke out against the bill disagreed.

According to the bill, if a law enforcement officer arrests someone on misdemeanor or felony charges, and has probable cause to believe the arrestee doesn’t have legal permission to be in the country, the officer or their agency would have to notify the county sheriff during intake. The sheriff would then report the information to federal authorities, like the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.

Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, emphasized that there are already “processes and guidelines” in place for law enforcement to share information.

The House also voted to withdraw a controversial bill that would ban no-fault divorces.

House Bill 1684 had been tied to Project 2025 though Rep. Tim Wesco, R-Osceola, said he filed it after sitting in divorce court for a day.

House Speaker Todd Huston explained that the House has a 10-bill limit and Wesco filed 11 bills. As a result, the divorce bill was to be withdrawn since it was improperly filed.

The legislation would have required proof of the “irretrievable breakdown” as grounds for divorce if a couple had one or more children.

The House additionally reversed course and gutted a bill that would have moved municipal elections to presidential election years.

House Bill 1633 was amended to delete the entire bill and instead assign the secretary of state to study the topic.

Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn, said there is a problem with voter turnout for municipal elections but there isn’t consensus on what to do.

The secretary of state is to analyze cost savings of various options as well as the impact on turnout. He is required to have three public meetings around the state and report recommendations by November 2025.

Another Senate bill moving municipal elections is still moving through that chamber.