Indiana Update: Current Status

• • At present, there are two gaming bills that we are closely watching. The first is Representative Manning’s iGaming bill, HB1546, which has not yet been publicly released. The language will likely be released in the next 24 hours, and we will forward along an analysis as soon as the bill is live.
  • HB1073, authored by Republican Rep. Alan Morrison is another live gaming bill this Session. HB1073 would change the appointment authority for the Indiana Gaming Commission, prohibit hold harmless agreements or agreements to offset a financial loss between a casino, riverboat, or unit of government and another unit of government concerning potential losses of revenue by the other unit of government, repeal the requirement that the licensed owner of a riverboat in Vigo County make payments to the city of Evansville, repeal language concerning a supplemental payment to East Chicago, Hammond, and Michigan City, and repeal the historic hotel district community support fee.

Key Dates

• Indiana General Assembly’s 2023 Legislative Session: January 9th 2023 – April 29th (statutory Sine Die)
• House of Representatives Key Dates
  • Jan. 12: House bill filing deadline
  • Jan. 24: Likely first hearing of Representative Manning’s iGaming bill in House Public Policy Committee
  • Feb. 23: Second reading deadline. Bills must get through House Committee by this date.
  • Feb. 27: Third Reading deadline.
  • Mar. 1-3: Entire legislature takes a short break and bills change chambers. Bills that are introduced that have not passed one chamber at the mid-point are technically considered “dead” bills and cannot be resurrected as stand-alone bills or considered for addition in a conference committee at the end of session. However, it is at least technically possible for language from a dead bill to be amended into a live bill during the second half of session, provided the subject matter of the amendment is deemed “germane” to the live bill.
  • April 13: Second reading deadline for Senate bills.
  • April 18-27: Conference Committees
  • April 27: Anticipated sine die
  • April 29: Statutory sine die (official end of Session)
• Senate Key Dates
  • Jan. 13: Senate bill filing deadline
  • Feb. 27: Second reading deadline.
  • Feb. 28: Third reading deadline.
  • Mar. 1-3: Entire legislature takes a short break and bills change chambers.
  • April 17: Second reading deadline for House bills.
  • April 19-27: Conference Committees
  • April 27: Anticipated sine die
  • April 29: Statutory sine die (official end of Session)

iDEA Engagement / Opportunities / Issues (in addition to ongoing items referenced in prior weeks) 

• Ongoing Legislative Efforts
  • Given the fiscal impact, Manning has shared that the bill will start in the House and that Speaker Huston has given the green light for the bill to receive a hearing, likely to take place on January 24^th in the House Public Policy Committee, of which Representative Manning is the Chair.
  • This week, iDEA met with House author Ethan Manning and Senate sponsor Jon Ford to finalize the introduced version of the House bill. On Friday the 13^th, iDEA will meet with House Public Policy Committee member Rep. Peggy Mayfield to review polling results from her district.
  • Over the next two weeks, iDEA will spend time with members of the House Public Policy committee to garner support for Chairman Manning’s legislation.
• Legislation
  • HB1546, Representative Manning’s iGaming legislation, should be live in the next 24 hours.
• Gathering additional Senate support
  • Senate Pro Temp Rod Bray (R-Martinsville) remains very skeptical of moving an iGaming bill this session. In a statement, Bray cited several factors for his reticence, including the significant expansion of our gaming laws over the last four years, the fact that he doesn’t have constituents coming to him requesting iGaming, and that Indiana already ranks fourth in the nation for casino revenue.”
  • Our focus will be the application of strategic pressure on Bray’s colleagues in his caucus to support bringing the issue before the public process. To that end, next week, iDEA will meet with Majority Floor Leader and close Bray ally Senator Chris Garten to discuss his support for the issue.