Civically, Indiana

Answering the how and why of Indiana's state government and elections.

Civically, Indiana is a project to help lower the barrier to entry for Hoosiers to engage with their state government and elections – so we're answering some of the how and why. And that includes building tools and resources, answering questions through reporting and explaining all the nuanced parts of the legislative session.

Indiana's part-time legislature is in session from early January to the end of April during budget-writing sessions, and until mid-March in short sessions.

Stories highlighted in blue are tools and resources for interacting with state government.

Several dozen protesters lay on the brick roads in downtown Indianapolis as part of a 'die in.' In the foreground, the main subject of the image is a Black protester, on their hands and knees, shirtless, with their head hung. Directly behind them is Indianapolis's Monument Circle.

What makes an effective protest? Researcher offers advice

Statehouse, legislature, protest, demonstration, First Amendment, 1st Amendment, peaceful protest, organizers
An illustrated recycling bin has a piece of paper resting against it. Underneath, the text reads, Your bill has died of dysentery. In the lower left hand corner is text that reads, Just kidding.

Can you survive Indiana's legislative session?: The game

game, legislative session, bills, bill writing, measures, legislation, Statehouse, trail, Oregon trail, tools
The Indiana House Chamber, as seen from the balcony in the rear of the chamber. A large chandelier hangs over the room, in front of a large mural on the far wall.

Perception of bipartisanship in Indiana legislature often doesn't match reality

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, partisanship, bipartisanship, collaboration, cross-party, crossparty, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Dems, controversial, laws, Indiana, politics, political
A person smokes a joint.

What is stopping cannabis legalization in Indiana?

Statehouse, legislature, legislation, legislative session, bills, proposals, measures, marijuana, cannabis, weed, legalization, decriminalization, medical, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, conservatives, liberals
A person feeds a ballot into the ballot return on Election Day.

Why doesn't Indiana have citizen-led ballot initiatives?

Legislature, ballot initiatives, citizen-led ballot initiatives, ballot measures, abortion, marijuana, Constitutional amendment
The Indiana Statehouse from Market Street in the winter.

How do I follow Indiana's legislative session? Here's your guide to demystify the process

Legislative session, bill writing, bills, measures, legislation, how-to, guide, step-by-step, process, Statehouse, tools
A photo of the Indiana Statehouse in the winter.

How do you contact your state legislator in Indiana? Student advocates walk through the process

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, partisanship, bipartisanship, collaboration, cross-party, crossparty, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Dems, Democrats, controversial, laws, Indiana, politics, political, advocacy, advocates, activists, activism, civic engagement, lawmakers, outreach, testimony, testify
A student stands at a podium on the floor of the Indiana Senate. They have bright red hair and wear a My Chemical Romance t-shirt.

Want lawmakers to know how you feel about a bill? Consider speaking at a committee hearing

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, partisanship, bipartisanship, collaboration, controversy, controversial, committees, hearing, laws, Indiana, politics, political, advocacy, advocates, activists, activism, civic engagement, lawmakers, outreach, testimony, testify
Three lawmakers sit at a table as Kerwin Olson (seen from behind) speaks in opposition to a bill. The lawmakers' name tags are on the table in front of them, along with microphones.

Committees have a lot of power at the Indiana Statehouse: Here's what you need to know

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, partisanship, bipartisanship, collaboration, controversy, controversial, committees, hearing, laws, Indiana, politics, political, advocacy, advocates, activists, activism, civic engagement, lawmakers, outreach, testimony, testify, chairs, chairman, chairwoman, chairperson, chairpeople
Preview of the printable PDF

How to navigate the legislative session: Printable one-sheet

PDF, print, printable, guide, one sheet, how-to, tools

A metal sign reads, State Budget Agency 121. Braille is visible under the numbers

Where does Indiana state budget funding come from?

Budget, state budget, taxes, money
A metal sign reads, State Budget Agency 121. Braille is visible under the numbers

Where does the money go in Indiana's state budget?

Budget, state budget, taxes, money
The Indiana House Chamber, as seen from rostrum for the House Speaker.

What roles do the Senate president pro tempore, speaker of the House play in Indiana?

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, partisanship, bipartisanship, collaboration, Senate president, House Speaker, Speaker of the House, Senate president pro temp, pro tempore, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Dems, laws, Indiana, politics, political
The Indiana Senate chamber, with no one in it.

What are the powers, duties of Indiana's lieutenant governor?

Statehouse, legislature, Democrats, Republicans, GOP, conservatives, liberals, lieutenant governor, powers, Senate
A preview of the graphic that lists all the elected executive positions in Indiana's government.

What exactly is each position in Indiana's elected executive government responsible for?

Governor, lieutenant governor, lt. gov., attorney general, state auditor, state comptroller, state treasurer, treasurer of state, auditor of state, comptroller of state, secretary of state, executive government, government, elections, elected positions, tools
Protesters gather in front of Governor Eric Holcomb's office, laying on the floor and standing with signs that read 'Costly, ineffective, inhumane' and 'HB 1359 makes opioid crisis worse. Veto'

Why do 'unpopular' bills sometimes pass through the legislature? Some experts point to partisanship

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, unpopular, protest, partisanship, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Dems, controversial, laws, Indiana, politics, political
A blue and pink sign that says 'Title IX protects trans girls.'

National issues can pave the way for 'unpopular' bills passing through the legislature, experts say

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, unpopular, protest, partisanship, Republican, GOP, Democratic, Dems, controversial, laws, Indiana, politics, political, national, zeitgest, special interest groups, lobbying, lobbyist, out-of-state influence, progressive, conservative
A Now Leasing sign is posted in a lawn in front of an apartment complex.

Advocates: Bad policy caused Indiana's housing crisis

Health care, healthcare, housing, renters, tenants, housing insecurity, homelessness, crisis, policy, landlords
A sign posted in a glass door of a restaurant that reads, We are NOT Fully Staffed!

Why hasn't Indiana raised its minimum wage?

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, politics, political, minimum wage, wages, stagnation, cost-of-living, labor market, employment, employers, employees, fight for 15, $15, $7.25
The exterior of the Indiana Statehouse at night. The night sky is a dark black color.

Voter advocates say Hoosiers 'short-changed' by legislative resignations

Voting, voter, vote, election, legislature, representatives, senators, resignation, resign, caucus, cacused, GOP, Republican, Democrat, Dems
The northwestern exterior of the Indiana Statehouse, at dusk.

Why do incumbents have such a big advantage in elections?

Legislature, legislation, bills, measures, politics, political, incumbent, incumbency, advantage, ballots, elections, redistricting
The exterior of the Indiana State Comptroller's office in the Indiana Statehouse. A plaque on the wall outside the double doors reads 'State Comptroller 240.' 240 is the room number.

How to pronounce comptroller, according to the Indiana state comptroller's office

Statehouse, executive government, comptroller, controller, auditor, name change, chief financial office, Indiana Comptroller of State
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb is surrounded by lawmakers as he writes his signature at a ceremonial bill signing event.

How the public health system overhaul came to be – and what's still left to do

Public health funding, bill, law, measure, healthcare, health care, county
The Indiana Statehouse at night.

Voter advocates say Hoosiers 'short-changed' by legislative resignations

Voting, voter, vote, election, legislature, representatives, senators, resignation, resign, caucus, cacused, GOP, Republican, Democrat, Dems
A screenshot of the bill tracker website. The headline reads: 2024 Indiana legislative session bill tracker. There is text under that and a three item row with bill numbers and their titles, with a light blue highlighted status of the legislation.

2024 Indiana legislative session bill tracker

Bill tracker, legislation, 2024 session, finding bills, measures, Statehouse action, laws, tools
A sign from a protest at the Statehouse is propped against a column next to an elevator. It reads, stop trying to erase me. A transgender pride flag has been drawn in marker after the word me.

Indiana's slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills part of national fight over 2020 Supreme Court decision

ADF, Alliance Defending Freedom, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-transgender, Bostock, laws, legislation, gender-affirming care, gender affirming, culture war
Next to a candle is a cup with desk nonbinary and transgender pride flags.

Why social conservative backlash made Indiana the right state for anti-LGBTQ+ bills

ADF, Alliance Defending Freedom, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-transgender, Bostock, laws, legislation, gender-affirming care, gender affirming, social conservative, alt-right, alt right, culture war

You can always join the conversation by signing up for the Indiana Two-Way. You'll receive a text to your phone every Thursday morning, with questions related to statewide topics and news updates to keep you informed. 

Your answers will help guide our future reporting to make sure we are answering questions you and others around the state have. To join, text the word "Indiana" to 765-275-1120.

Indiana Public Broadcasting News is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that provides in-depth, long-term coverage of vital issues facing the citizens of Indiana. IPB News covers a range of topics across multiple reporting beats, including government and politics, health, environment and energy, labor and employment, and education. It distributes broadcast and digital stories to all the NPR and PBS stations in Indiana. IPB News is supported by grants from Lilly Endowment, Inc. and our station partners.