Civically, Indiana

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

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

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

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 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
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
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 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
Angela Lyttle speaking behind a podium next to a large presentation screen with a slide titled 'Barrier: Indiana APRN Collaborative Agreement.'

Nurse practitioners say limits on practice lead to higher health care costs, less access

Public health funding, bill, law, measure, healthcare, health care, county, nurses, midwives, midwife, scope of practice, COVID-19, nurse practitioners, access, legislature, safety, health care costs, insurance, cost, medical debt

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
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
Preview of the printable PDF

How to navigate the legislative session: Printable one-sheet

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

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
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 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
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
The Indiana Statehouse from Market Street in the summer.

Nurses ask for legislative support to address burnout, turnover driving higher health care cost

Nursing, health care, healthcare, workers, burnout, cost, Oversight Task Force, legislature, Indiana State Nurses Association, advocating, advocate
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
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

Join the conversation and sign up for the Indiana Two-Way. Text "Indiana" to 73224. Your comments and questions in response to our weekly text help us find the answers you need about Indiana's government.

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 73224.

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.