Indiana General Assembly
| Indiana General Assembly | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | January 8, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Suzanne Crouch (R) |
| House Speaker: | Todd Huston (R) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Chris Garten (R) House: Matthew Lehman (R) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Greg Taylor (Indiana) (D) House: Phil GiaQuinta (D) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 50 (Senate), 100 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art 4, Indiana Constitution |
| Salary: | $29,749/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Indiana Legislature has control |
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana State Senate. The state legislature meets in the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.
Indiana has a Republican trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Elections
2024
Elections for the Indiana State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is May 7, 2024. The filing deadline is February 9, 2024.
Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is May 7, 2024. The filing deadline is February 9, 2024.
2022
Elections for the Indiana State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 3, 2022. The filing deadline was February 4, 2022.
Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 3, 2022. The filing deadline was February 4, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office of Indiana State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was February 7, 2020.
Elections for the office of Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for June 2, 2020. The filing deadline was February 7, 2020.
2018
Elections for the Indiana State Senate took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on May 8, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The major party candidate filing deadline was February 9, 2018. The independent and third-party candidate filing deadline was July 2, 2018.[1]
Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2018. An open primary election took place on May 8, 2018. The general election was held on November 6, 2018. The major party candidate filing deadline was February 9, 2018. The independent and third-party candidate filing deadline was July 2, 2018.[2]
2016
Elections for the Indiana State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 3, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 5, 2016.
Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 3, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 5, 2016.
2014
Elections for the Indiana State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2014.
Elections for the Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of Indiana State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 8, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was February 24, 2012.
Elections for the office of Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 8, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was February 24, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Indiana State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 4, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 19, 2010, for Republicans and Democrats and June 30 for independents and other candidates.
Elections for the office of Indiana House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 4, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 19, 2010, for Republicans and Democrats and June 30, 2010, for independents and other candidates.
Sessions
Article 4 of the Indiana Constitution establishes when the General Assembly is to be in session. Section 9 of Article 4 states that the General Assembly will begin its regular session on the Tuesday following the second Monday in January of each year. However, Section 9 allows the starting date for the session to be changed by law. The session must adjourn by April 29 in odd-numbered years and March 14 in even-numbered years.[3]
Section 9 also gives the Governor of Indiana the power to call special sessions of the General Assembly.
Bills may be pre-filed in the Senate thirty days prior to the start of the session.[4] House filing begins on the opening day of the session.[5]
2024
- See also: 2024 Indiana legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on January 8, 2024, and adjourn on March 14, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 9, 2023, and adjourn on April 28, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2022, and adjourn on March 8, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 4, 2021, and adjourn on November 15, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 6, 2020, and adjourn on March 11, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. No modifications to state legislative activity in Indiana were made. 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2019, through April 24, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from January 2, 2018, through March 16, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from January 3, 2017, through April 22, 2017. 2016
In 2016, the General Assembly was in session from January 5 through March 10. Major issues in 2016Major issues in the 2016 legislative session included infrastructure improvements, decreasing the reliance on standardized testing in schools, and civil protections for LGBT people.[6][7] 2015
In 2015, the General Assembly was in session from January 6 through April 29. Major issues in 2015Major issues during the 2015 legislative session included an increase in education funding, funding for roads and bridges, Sunday alcohol sales, and funding 2014's criminal code overhaul.[8] 2014
In 2014, the General Assembly was in session from January 6 through March 14. Major issues in 2014Major issues during the 2014 legislative session included a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, elimination of the state tax on business equipment, and education reforms, including whether Indiana should continue participating in Common Core. 2013
In 2013, the General Assembly was in session from January 7 to April 29. Major issues in 2013Major issues during the 2013 legislative session included education funding, utility bills, riverboat gambling, and regulation of how much pseudoephedrine individuals can buy annually.[9] 2012
In 2012, the General Assembly was in session from January 4 through March 14. Major issues in 2012Main issues included right-to-work legislation, a statewide smoking ban, a tax raise to finance a mass transit system, and elimination of the state's inheritance tax.[10] The issue at the heart of the session was right-to-work legislation that Republicans long said would be their top priority in 2012. The legislation sought to ban companies and unions from negotiating a contract that requires non-union members to pay union dues. Republicans argued that the move would bring jobs to the state while Democrats said that it would lead to lower wages.[11] 2011
In 2011, the General Assembly was in session from January 5 through April 29. Session highlightsIn the 2011 session, the Indiana legislature reduced the corporate income tax from 8.5 to 6.5 percent, spread over four years.[12] Clerical errorOn June 30, the state's largest agency, the Family and Social Services Administration, was accidentally eliminated due to a major clerical error during the drafting of legislation related to the agency. The administration helps more than a million people access Medicaid and food stamps in Indiana.[13] According to the AP, "Senate Bill 331 was intended to repeal a provision already in law that would have automatically eliminated (the Family and Social Services Administration) - called a sunset. The sunset language was set for June 30. The bill that repealed the sunset provision went into effect July 1, so technically, FSSA was eliminated minutes before the bill intended to save it went into effect."[13] The mistake was noticed days after the new law went into effect and caught many welfare recipients and legislative leaders off guard. Governor Mitch Daniels (R) signed an executive order on Thursday, July 7, to correct the mistake.[13] 2010
In 2010, the General Assembly was in session from January 5 to March 12. |
Role in state budget
- See also: Indiana state budget and finances
Indiana on 
|
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[14]
- In early Summer of the year preceding the beginning of the new biennium, budget instructions are sent to state agencies.
- By September 1, agencies submit their budget requests to the governor.
- Hearings are held with the public from November to April.
- The governor submits his or her budget to the state legislature in January.
- The legislature typically adopts a budget in April, effective for the fiscal biennium beginning in July. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
There are no constitutional or statutory provisions mandating that the governor submit or sign a balanced budget. Budget deficits may be carried over to the next biennium.[14]
Indiana is one of seven states in which the governor cannot exercise line item veto authority.[14]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Indiana
In Indiana, the state legislature is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. The legislature must approve a redistricting plan by the close of the first legislative session occurring after completion of the United States Census. The governor may veto the lines drawn by the state legislature.[15][16]
In the event that both chambers of the state legislature do not approve a congressional redistricting plan, a backup commission must draw the lines. The commission comprises the following members:[16]
- Speaker of the House
- President Pro Tempore of the Senate
- Chair of the Elections Committee, Indiana State Senate
- Chair of the Elections and Apportionment Committee, Indiana House of Representatives
- A gubernatorial appointment
The Indiana Constitution mandates that state legislative districts be contiguous. There are no such requirements for congressional district lines.[15]
2020
The Indiana General Assembly approved new state legislative district maps on October 1, 2021, and Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) signed the new district boundaries into law on October 4, 2021. The Indiana Senate Republican caucus released its first draft of state Senate districts on September 20, 2021, and the Indiana House Republican caucus released its first proposed state House district maps on September 14, 2021. The Indiana state Senate approved final legislative district boundaries by a vote of 36-12, with all votes to approve by Republicans. Eleven Senate Democrats joined State Sen. Ron Grooms (R) in voting against the maps. The Indiana House of Representatives approved final district maps by a vote of 64-25. All votes in favor were by Republicans with 22 Democrats and three Republicans voting against.[17][18]
After the General Assembly approved the maps, House Speaker Todd Huston said, "We're incredibly grateful for the work of Representative Greg Steuerwald and Senator Eric Koch who tirelessly and thoughtfully led the way on drawing these maps. Redistricting is a complex and important process that impacts all Hoosiers. We're thankful for the hundreds of constituents who shared their feedback along the way, and I'm confident we delivered fair maps that ensure every Hoosier vote counts."[19]
The full legislative history of Indiana's redistricting proposals, including House and Senate committee reports and proposed amendments, can be found here at the Indiana General Assembly's website. These maps took effect for Indiana's 2022 legislative elections.[20]
2010
Census figures for Indiana were released on December 21, 2010, showing the state's population grew 6.6 percent to almost 6.5 million. The redistricting process began the week of April 11, 2011. On April 20, both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly approved redistricting plans.[21] The Senate concurred with the House plan by a 37-12 vote on April 27, 2011.[22] Governor Mitch Daniels signed Indiana's redistricting plan on Tuesday, May 10, 2011.[23]
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $29,749/year | $196/day. Vouchered. |
Swearing in dates
Indiana legislators assume office the day after their general election.[24]
Senate
The Indiana State Senate consists of 50 members elected to four-year terms without term limits.
As of the 2020 Census, Indiana state senators represented an average of 135,806 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 130,032 residents.
The Lieutenant Governor presides over the senate while it is in session and casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 9 | |
| Republican Party | 40 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 50 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Indiana State Senate in 1978. In 2022, they won a 40-10 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Indiana Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Indiana State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 22 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 10 |
| Republicans | 28 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 36 | 37 | 40 | 41 | 40 | 39 | 40 |
Before 1992
The Indiana State Senate switched partisan control 11 times from 1900 to 2022.
House of Representatives
The Indiana House of Representatives consists of 100 members elected to two-year terms without term limits.
As of the 2020 Census, Indiana state representatives represented an average of 67,903 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 65,016 residents.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 30 | |
| Republican Party | 70 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 100 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Indiana House of Representatives in 2010. In 2022, they won a 70-30 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Indiana House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Indiana House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 55 | 44 | 50* | 53 | 53 | 51 | 48 | 51 | 52 | 40 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 33 | 29 | 30 |
| Republicans | 45 | 56 | 50 | 47 | 47 | 49 | 52 | 49 | 48 | 60 | 69 | 71 | 70 | 67 | 71 | 70 |
*Democrat John Gregg served as speaker of the house because the governor's race was won by Frank O'Bannon (D) and a 1989 law said the party that won the governor's race was to elect the speaker of a tied chamber.
Before 1992
The Indiana House of Representatives changed partisan control 15 times from 1900 to 2022.
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Indiana are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? A majority of members in both chambers.
| A simple majority of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 51 of the 100 members in the Indiana House of Representatives and 26 of the 50 members in the Indiana State Senate. Indiana is one of six states that requires a majority vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| Vetoes can be overridden when the next regular session convenes, even if an election has occurred.[25][26] |
Authority: Article 5, Section 14 of the Indiana Constitution.
| "If the Governor returns the bill under clause (A), the House in which the bill originated shall enter the Governor's objections at large upon its journals and proceed to reconsider and vote upon whether to approve the bill. The bill must be reconsidered and voted upon within the time set out in clause (C). If, after such reconsideration and vote, a majority of all the members elected to that House shall approve the bill, it shall be sent, with the Governor's objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered and voted upon, and, if approved by a majority of all the members elected to that House, it shall be a law." |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Indiana State Senate: Throughout every year from 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Indiana State Senate. The Indiana State Senate is one of 13 state senates that was Republican for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. During the final three years of the study, Indiana was under Republican trifectas.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Indiana State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Republican Party was the majority in the Indiana State House of Representatives for seven years while the Democrats were the majority for 13 years. During the final three years of the study, Indiana was under Republican trifectas.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study period, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Indiana, the Indiana State Senate, and the Indiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Indiana state government and the state's State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Indiana had a long period of divided government between 1992 and 2004 until the arrival of a Republican trifecta in 2005. Indiana reverted back to divided government between 2007 and 2010 before reverting yet again to a Republican trifecta in 2011. The state has never had a Democratic trifecta. Indiana’s highest SQLI ranking came in 1995 (12th) under divided government, while the state’s lowest SQLI ranking came in 2009 (34th), also under divided government. The state’s greatest leap in the ranking occurred between 1994 and 1995, where Indiana rose seven spots. Its greatest decline in the ranking occurred between 2003 and 2004, where the state dropped seven spots.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: N/A
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 29.25
- SQLI average with divided government: 20.82
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Indiana Constitution can be amended:
The Indiana Constitution provides for a legislative process to amend the constitution.
Legislature
A simple majority vote is required during two successive legislative sessions for the Indiana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 51 votes in the Indiana House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Indiana State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: Indiana 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | Indiana State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2018 Indiana Election Calendar," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "2018 Indiana Election Calendar," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "IN Legislature FAQ," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "Senate Rule 44," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "Rules of the House of Representatives - House Rule PART VIII.B," accessed February 9, 2021
- ↑ WAVE, "Road funding tops session for Indiana legislature," January 5, 2016
- ↑ The Associated Press, "Indiana lawmakers kicking off 2016 session today," January 5, 2016
- ↑ indianapublicmedia.org, "4 Issues To Watch In The Upcoming State Legislative Session," January 3, 2015
- ↑ indianaeconomicdigest.net, "Legislators sort key issues of the General Assembly's 2013 session," April 28, 2013
- ↑ Indianapolis Star, "Lawmakers face rematch with 'thousand-pound gorilla,'" January 3, 2012
- ↑ Indianapolis Star, "Rare joint hearing accelerates 'right to work' bill," January 6, 2012
- ↑ Stateline.org, "States balance budgets with cuts, not taxes," June 15, 2011(Archived)
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Pew Charitable Trusts, "Clerical error eliminates Indiana's largest state agency," July 11, 2011
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 All About Redistricting, "Indiana," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Brennan Center for Justice, "Indiana," accessed April 6, 2015
- ↑ Indiana House of Representatives Republican Caucus, "GOP statements on initial drafts of Indiana House and Congressional district maps," September 14, 2021
- ↑ IndyStar, "Gov. Holcomb signs Indiana's redistricting maps into law," October 4, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Senate Republicans, "General Assembly approves new congressional, state legislative districts 10.1.21," October 1, 2021
- ↑ Indiana Senate Republicans, "General Assembly approves new congressional, state legislative districts," Oct. 1, 2021
- ↑ Eagle Country Online, "Democrats Unhappy With Redistricting Maps," April 21, 2011
- ↑ Fox News Latino, "Indiana Assembly Approves New Electoral Map," April 28, 2011
- ↑ Forbes, "Ind. gov signs 80 bills into law, including budget," May 11, 2011 (dead link)
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "Indiana Constitution, Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 5, 2021
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "The Veto Process," accessed June 22, 2017
- ↑ Indianapolis Business Journal, "Indiana Senate votes to override two Pence vetoes," February 14, 2017
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