Indiana Senate

The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits. According to the 2010 U.S. census, the average state senator represents 129,676 people.

Indiana State Senate
Indiana General Assembly
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Term limits
None
History
New session started
January 9, 2023 (2023-01-09)
Leadership
Suzanne Crouch (R)
since January 9, 2017
President pro tempore
Rodric Bray (R)
since November 20, 2018
Majority Leader
Chris Garten (R)
since August 17, 2022
Minority Leader
Greg Taylor (D)
since November 6, 2020
Structure
Seats50
Political groups
Majority
  •   Republican (37)

Minority

Other

  •   Non-caucusing Republican (1)[1][2]
  •   Vacant (2)
Length of term
4 years
AuthorityArticle 4, Indiana Constitution
Salary$28,791/year + per diem
Elections
Last election
November 8, 2022
(25 seats)
Next election
November 5, 2024
(25 seats)
RedistrictingLegislative Control
Meeting place
State Senate Chamber
Indiana Statehouse
Indianapolis, Indiana
Website
Indiana General Assembly

The Senate convenes at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis, Indiana.

History

The Indiana Senate was established in 1816 along with the Indiana House of Representatives in 1816, when Indiana became a state.[3] In 1897, the Indiana House passed a bill rounding the value of pi to 3.2. However, the intervention of State Senator Orrin Hubbel postponed the voting of the bill indefinitely, effectively rejecting it.[4]

Operating rules

The Indiana State Senate is operated according to a set of internal regulations developed and maintained largely by tradition. These rules are similar to the rules that govern the upper house most of the state senates in the United States.[5] The Senate convenes its annual session the first Tuesday following the first Monday of January every year. In odd numbered years the senate must meet for 61 days (not necessarily consecutive days), and must adjourn no later than April 30. This is typically called a long session. In even numbered years, when elections are held, the Senate must meet for 30 days (not necessarily consecutive days) and adjourn no later than March 15. This is typically called the short session. The only time the senate may convene outside of these dates is if the governor calls a special assembly.[6]

The senate must convene by 1:30 pm each day a session is scheduled. Two thirds of the senators must be present for the session to begin. Senators must be present at each session unless they are explicitly excused by the president-pro-tempore. Members who are not present can be forced to attend the session or be censured and expelled from the body.[6]

The lieutenant governor of Indiana serves as the president of the Senate and is responsible for ensuring that the senate rules are followed by its members. The president of the Senate takes no part in the debates of the senate and may only vote to break ties. The senate also elects a president-pro-tempore, a majority leader, and a minority leader. The president-pro-tempore is typically a senior member of majority party. The president-pro-tempore presides over the senate whenever the president of the Senate is not present. The president-pro-tempore is largely responsible for setting the agenda of the senate.[6]

When debate occurs in the senate, each senator is granted permission to speak on each issue once. A senator may not speak on an issue more than once without a permission from the rest of the senate, which is attained with a senate vote. A senator can speak for no longer than a half-hour at any one time and may be silenced by a majority vote at any time during his or her speech.[6]

Terms

Article 4 of the Constitution of Indiana places several limitation on the size and composition of the senate.[7]

  • The senate can contain no more than 50 members.
  • The term of a senator lasts four years with 25 senators being elected every two years.
  • There is no limit to how many terms a senator may be elected.

Qualifications

Article 4 of the Constitution of Indiana states the qualifications to become a senator.[7]

  • The candidate must be a United States citizen for a minimum of two years.
  • The candidate be an inhabitant in the district for a minimum of one year.
  • The candidate must at least 25 years of age when sworn into office.
  • The candidate cannot hold any other public office in the state or federal government during a senate term.

Composition of the Senate

10 40
Democratic Republican
Affiliation Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Republican Democratic Vacant
2009–2010 33 17 50 0
2011–2012 37 13 50 0
2013–2014 37 13 50 0
2015–2016 40 10 50 0
2017–2018 41 9 50 0
2019–2020 40 10 50 0
2021–2022 39 11 50 0
2022–2023 39 10 49 1
Latest voting share 80% 20%

2022–2023 officers

PositionNamePartyDistrict
Lieutenant governorSuzanne CrouchRepublican
President pro tem of the SenateRodric BrayRepublican37
Majority leaderChris GartenRepublican45
Minority leaderGreg TaylorDemocrat25

Members of the Indiana Senate

DistrictSenatorPartyResidenceFirst electedSeat up
1 Dan Dernulc Rep Highland 2022 2026
2 Lonnie Randolph Dem East Chicago 2008 (1992–1998) 2024
3 Eddie Melton Dem Gary 2016 2024
4 Rodney Pol Jr. Dem Chesterton 2022† 2026
5 Ed Charbonneau Rep Valparaiso 2007† 2024
6 Rick Niemeyer Rep Lowell 2014 2026
7 Brian Buchanan Rep Lebanon 2018† 2024
8 Mike Bohacek Rep Michiana Shores 2016 2024
9 Ryan Mishler Rep Bremen 2004 2024
10 David L. Niezgodski Dem South Bend 2016 2024
11 Linda Rogers Rep Granger 2018 2026
12 Blake Doriot Rep New Paris 2016 2024
13 Sue Glick Rep LaGrange 2010 2024
14 Tyler Johnson Rep Grabill 2022 2026
15 Liz Brown Rep Fort Wayne 2014 2026
16 Justin Busch Rep Fort Wayne 2018† 2024
17 Andy Zay Rep Huntington 2016† 2026
18 Stacey Donato Rep Logansport 2019† 2024
19 Travis Holdman Rep Markle 2008† 2026
20 Scott Baldwin Rep Noblesville 2021 2024
21 James R. Buck Rep Kokomo 2008 2026
22 Ronnie Alting Rep Lafayette 1998 2026
23 Spencer Deery Rep West Lafayette 2022 2026
24 John Crane Rep Avon 2016 2024
25 Mike Gaskill Rep Anderson 2018 2026
26 Scott Alexander Rep Muncie 2012 2026
27 Jeff Raatz Rep Centerville 2014 2026
28 Michael Crider Rep Greenfield 2012 2024
29 J. D. Ford Dem Indianapolis 2018 2026
30 Fady Qaddoura Dem Indianapolis 2020 2024
31 Kyle Walker Rep Indianapolis 2020 2026
32 Aaron Freeman Rep Indianapolis 2016 2024
33 Greg Taylor Dem Indianapolis 2008 2024
34 Jean Breaux Dem Indianapolis 2006 2024
35 R. Michael Young Rep[lower-alpha 1] Indianapolis 2000 2024
36 Vacant[8] Rep 2024
37 Rodric Bray Rep Martinsville 2012 2024
38 Vacant[9] Rep 2026
39 Eric Bassler Rep Washington 2014 2026
40 Shelli Yoder Dem Bloomington 2020 2024
41 Greg Walker Rep Columbus 2006 2026
42 Jean Leising Rep Oldenburg 2008 (1988–1996) 2024
43 Randy Maxwell Rep Guilford 2023† 2026
44 Eric Koch Rep Bedford 2016 2024
45 Chris Garten Rep Scottsburg 2018 2026
46 Andrea Hunley Dem Indianapolis 2022 2026
47 Gary Byrne Rep Salem 2022† 2026
48 Mark Messmer Rep Jasper 2014 2026
49 Jim Tomes Rep Evansville 2010 2026
50 Vaneta Becker Rep Evansville 2005† 2024

†Member was originally appointed or won the seat in a special election.

  1. Senator Young is currently not a member of the Republican caucus but maintains his Republican affiliation

Committees

The Senate has various committees that are charged with overseeing different areas of the state government and drafting legislation. These committees are bipartisan and contain between three and eleven members split between the parties according to their ratio of members in the Senate. Each committee chairman is a member of the majority party.[10] The committees as of 2023 were:

CommitteeChair (2023)Vice Chair (2023)
AgricultureJean Leising (R-42)Sue Glick (R-13)
AppropriationsRyan Mishler (R-9)Eric Bassler (R-39)
Commerce and TechnologyChip Perfect (R-43)Eric Koch (R-44)
Corrections and Criminal LawAaron Freeman (R-32)Sue Glick (R-13)
Education and Career DevelopmentJeff Raatz (R-27)John Crane (R-24)
ElectionsJon Ford (R-38)Greg Walker (R-41)
Environmental AffairsRick Niemeyer (R-6)Mike Gaskill (R-25)
EthicsEric Bassler (R-39)Greg Walker (R-41)
Family and Children ServicesGreg Walker (R-41)
Health and Provider ServicesEd Charbonneau (R-5)Justin Busch (R-16)
Homeland Security and TransportationMichael Crider (R-28)Jim Tomes (R-49)
Insurance and Financial InstitutionsScott Baldwin (R-20)Mike Gaskill (R-25)
Joint RulesChris Garten (R-45)
JudiciaryLiz Brown (R-15)Eric Koch (R-44)
Local GovernmentJames Buck (R-21)Rick Niemeyer (R-6)
Natural ResourcesSue Glick (R-13)Jean Leising (R-42)
Pensions and LaborLinda Rogers (R-11)Blake Doriot (R-12)
Public PolicyRonnie Alting (R-22)Kyle Walker (R-31)
Rules and Legislative ProcedureRodric Bray (R-37)Chris Garten (R-45)
School Funding SubcommitteeEric Bassler (R-39)
Tax and Fiscal PolicyTravis Holdman (R-19)Scott Baldwin (R-20)
UtilitiesEric Kock (R-44)
Veterans Affairs and The MilitaryJim Tomes (R-49)Michael Crider (R-28)

Past composition of the Senate

See also

Notes

  1. State Senator Michael Young left the Republican caucus but is a registered Republican and intends to stay a registered Republican, not Independent.
  2. "Longtime Indiana senator leaves Republican caucus amid abortion bill debates". 26 July 2022.
  3. "Indiana Courts & Legislature". in.gov. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  4. "Indiana Once Tried to Change Pi to 3.2". 14 March 2016.
  5. Indiana General Assembly. "Senate Operating Rules" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
  6. "Senate Operating Rules" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-06-01.
  7. "Art IV of the Constitution of Indiana". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2008-12-29.
  8. Jack Sandlin died on September 20, 2023.
  9. Jon Ford resigned on October 16, 2023.
  10. "Standing Committees". IN.gov. Retrieved January 26, 2020.

38°46′7.54″N 86°9′45.54″W

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