Lobbyists and other stakeholders gather around a screen to watch live committee proceedings on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Leslie Bonilla Muñiz
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Multi-national corporations, home-grown companies, industry groups, advocacy organizations, local government, lobbying firms and others collectively spent nearly $30 million attempting to influence Hoosier lawmakers, their family members and legislative employees last year.

The health care and energy industries figured prominently in that spending, according to the latest data from the Indiana Lobby Registration Commission.

Experienced lawmakers from both parties said lobbyists bring valuable information. Sometimes they even use their expertise to write legislation or contribute fixes.

But they had varying takes on accepting lobbyist-funded dinners and gifts — and on how well Indiana regulates money’s influence on legislation.

Lobbying In Indiana

Indiana Code defines lobbying as communicating, by any means, with a “legislative person” with the goal of influencing legislative action. Paying others to do it counts. Spend at least $500 dollars influencing and you’ll have to file as a lobbyist with the commission.

Lobbyists in a lengthy committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Indiana General Assembly lawmakers are “legislative persons“; so are candidates, IGA officers, legislative branch employees, and “close” relatives of all four. The IGA’s paid consultants and legislative branch agency officials also fit the definition.

Lobbyists file annual registration statements and semi-annual activity reports. Reports for gifts and $100-plus purchases are due within 15 business days. Registration changes and termination reports are due within 15 calendar days.

The commission declined an interview. It recorded more than 1,000 employer lobbyists and 949 compensated lobbyists in its 2024 logs, but there’s overlap between the monikers.

Those in the employer category hire others to do their lobbying, and those in the compensated category get paid to do it. Entities that do both — like firms hired to lobby on behalf of clients, but that employ individual lobbyists — register in both categories.

Multiple lawmakers said they use lobbyists for information.

Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said the more information lawmakers can collect, the better. But, Pierce continued, it’s key to remember the perspectives and biases lobbyists’ clients may hold.

Young, who was first elected to the Statehouse in 1986, indicated lobbyist information is generally accurate because trust is fragile.

Wining And Dining

Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington. Photo by Monroe Bush for Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Employers reported spending more than $26 million on lobbying across 2024, according to commission data updated in late January. Compensated lobbyists — adjusted to avoid double-counting — reported an additional $3.4 million.

The $29.5 million total surpasses expenditures reported every year since 2019, except for the nearly $32 million spent in 2023.

The 20 highest-spending employer lobbyists each reported expenditures greater than $160,000.

The Indiana State Medical Association topped employer lobbyist spending at $382,000, followed by Indiana University Health — the state’s largest health care system — at almost $262,000.

Big-spending energy employer lobbyists included Duke Energy Indiana, the Indiana Energy Association and the Clean Grid Alliance.

Two tobacco companies — RAI Services Co. and Philip Morris USA — plus gambling company Caesars Entertainment also made the list.

Compensated lobbyists logged less spending after making deductions to avoid double-counting the same expenditures.

Expenditures include compensation, fees, entertainment, gifts and more.

Source: Indiana Lobby Registration Commission.

Several lawmakers said they typically don’t take tickets or dinner invitations.

Young said he buys his own tickets to events, but rarely goes to dinners. That’s because he reads every single piece of legislation filed; lawmakers filed almost 1,200 this year in addition to several dozen empty vehicle bills.

Rep. Bob Behning, a fellow Indianapolis Republican, said he too goes home each night — something lawmakers from further afield can’t do.

‘Not Like That Anymore’

When asked how interactions with lobbyists have changed over time, Behning described how, as a fledgling lawmaker, he was “threatened by violence” if he didn’t support a specific measure.

Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, stands as his caucus introduces its priorities on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle.

The threats were about telecommunications legislation.

Young began his legislative career “scared of lobbyists” after hearing horror stories involving them, and initially wanted to put up a sign — “no lobbyists accepted” — over his Statehouse office cubicle.

After a while, Young continued, he realized lobbyists are “just doing their jobs. It’s not like that anymore.” But bad behavior troubles him.

Lawmakers logged other changes throughout the years.

Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, noted that it’s not just public school interests lobbying on education bills anymore. They’ve been joined by “school choice” representatives. Klinker, a former teacher, has served since 1982.

Pierce, meanwhile, said the Great Recession and industry consolidation — particularly in telecommunications — mean fewer smaller businesses either exist or can afford to send lobbyists.

Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville, said the number of female lobbyists has grown. She began her elected Statehouse career in 1981.

Lobbying regulations have also changed with the years — splitting opinions.

Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, inside the Indiana Statehouse Senate chamber. Photo by Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Becker, however, thought there were more dinners than before. But the requirements, she said, were “probably a little punitive” to lawmakers representing faraway communities. Becker’s falls about three hours from the Statehouse.

Young — who’s among those from the capital city — emphasized the public’s right to information.

Indiana doesn’t go far enough, in Pierce’s view.

He said the “real influence” comes during campaign season. Many groups also operate 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations, which can engage in lobbying related to social welfare goals. Their donors and donations are confidential.

“There’s a lot of money sloshing around the political process that the public and even members of the Legislature can’t see, right?” Pierce continued. The state could add disclosure requirements, but in his view, the Statehouse’s Republican supermajorities have little appetite for such changes.

Senior Reporters Casey Smith and Whitney Downard contributed reporting.