The Indiana Senate covered a total of 49 bills and 12 amendments on Monday. Eighteen bills passed their third reading, and 17 bills on their second reading were engrossed. All other bills were passed upon.

House Bill 1393

The most controversial bill was House Bill 1393 regarding state immigration policy. HB 1393 states that after an arrest has been made, if there is probable cause, a jail or detention facility must reach out to the county sheriff to notify immigration customs enforcement or any other proper authority.

The bill passed 37-10 after a lengthy discussion among Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, and Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis.

Taylor debated with Freeman about the specific language “probable cause” found in the bill and claimed that law enforcement does not want this bill to pass.

“This bill is not even supported by the people who will have to implement it,” Taylor said. “Why would you pursue a piece of legislation that the people you are asking to implement the policy don’t want to enforce?”

Taylor also expressed concerns about racial profiling within the 30-40 minute discourse.

Taylor and Qaddoura said the bill could have unintended effects on minorities.

“There is a fear that a victim of a crime might not even call IMPD because they are afraid that some family members, or themselves, will go down the path of being questioned about their immigration status,” Qaddoura said.

Freeman responded by stating the bill only affects those who cannot present any sort of legal documentation identifying themselves as American citizens.

“Look, I amended the bill because I didn’t want to put law enforcement in the position of even being able to pull somebody over or to detain somebody just because somebody may not be here illegally,” Freeman said.

HB 1393 was amended on March 20 to delete language that would empower an officer to pull someone over on the basis of citizenship status.