[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6090479,"mediaKeyId","2866425-eec82f3b1ecc521b7196e9cd1dd9d4f1","parentId",2866425,"title","Committee advances ATC agency bill with bans on flavored nitrous oxide and nicotine-analog products; technical changes included","audioSeconds",504,"startMs",2387000,"endMs",2891000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866425-eec82f3b1ecc521b7196e9cd1dd9d4f1&start=2387&end=2891","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866425-eec82f3b1ecc521b7196e9cd1dd9d4f1/thumbnail_2387000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6090479/Indiana/Committee-advances-ATC-agency-bill-with-bans-on-flavored-nitrous-oxide-and-nicotine-analog-products-technical-changes-included","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090479-267bb886247b0bcec30272906c4d2b6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111103&Signature=L-71q4KZV12f2DrqE2TsYbQqE0AyJ44rswo4UIuMOWv9vQIrLamCUrr8rGRpMoGcn2DMdN5GfIYryXDncgQTxmfLavc5xw9VTd7X~OcjHBzXWoBP00BZntmhOBvZLJoTC6159c3yhY~IoHYuFcaTiD~j8bf8Bf70Ox6mHZV9FrrZfYJnF8fHojcVLrbuXe8lxdrRReAZfcDKjh8Kps9KPI7wGl-C5ttjDzjDe-XM49VxtenQIC~CxQdmjWeuxkjimu1gCL3~bxPiCCSUXcqzD~ZxD~5WJOKs8XsHj1Z3xZrpEtUf0UnIwNOKm455Q4NnegdIrKcs4LScZJpGJpQ7BA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Indiana State Legislature","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","Chris Saric, deputy director of the Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC), told the committee the amendment to House Bill 1275 combines ATC provisions from HB 1276 into a single agency bill and adds three new substantive provisions and several technical updates.

“Just a brief explanation,” Saric said about one new substantive addition: a ban on the sale or use of flavored nitrous oxide by any entity other than a restaurant supply store “selling for the purposes of culinary use.” He described the products as “very dangerous” and said ATC had received complaints about youth use and serious injuries, adding that permit violations could lead to suspension or revocation under a new section.

Saric outlined additional substantive changes that were incorporated into 1275 from HB 1276: a donation allowance permitting permit holders to donate alcoholic beverages to nonprofit organizations for consumption at charitable events; a revised liquor-liability exception for small or noncommercial permit holders with very low annual alcoholic-beverage sales; authorization for local governments to put civic-center permits in concessionaires’ names; ATC authority to recover costs to destroy contraband defined under state criminal code; allowance for restaurant permit holders to operate patios that are not directly connected to the indoor permitted floor plan; and a prohibition on “nicotine analog” products that mimic nicotine’s effects but are not regulated as tobacco.

Saric said the liquor-liability exception was intended to help fraternal and small nonprofit permit holders that “have less than, 20,000 or $25,000 in sales of alcoholic beverages annually,” noting the transcript recorded both figures; committee staff indicated technical clarification on the precise threshold would be addressed on second reading.

Saric also said the bill updates statutory language (for example replacing the antiquated term “alien” with “legal status”) and aligns charity-raffle provisions with a limited electronic raffle allowance adopted by the Gaming Commission. He told the committee the ATC and Legislative Services Agency worked on a compressed timeline to incorporate the changes.

After brief committee discussion the committee moved the amendment and advanced House Bill 1275. The roll-call vote was recorded as 9–0 in favor; the chair announced, “Bill passes as amended 9 to 0.”

Sources: testimony of Chris Saric, roll-call recorded during the Public Policy Committee meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Public Policy Meetings Wednesday, Apr. 2 - 1:30pm","oneSentenceSummary","The Public Policy Committee approved House Bill 1275 as amended, incorporating provisions from HB 1276 and adding public-safety and technical updates for Alcohol and Tobacco Commission operations, including a prohibition on flavored nitrous oxide sales (except to restaurant suppliers) and a ban on unregulated nicotine-analog products.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature IN, Indiana","taxId",77679,"location","Indiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6090484,"Committee approves bill to study transferring up to 33 Illinois counties to Indiana; amendment expands study commission",1855,496000,2351000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866425-eec82f3b1ecc521b7196e9cd1dd9d4f1&start=496&end=2351","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866425-eec82f3b1ecc521b7196e9cd1dd9d4f1/thumbnail_496000.jpg","/articles/6090484/Indiana/Committee-approves-bill-to-study-transferring-up-to-33-Illinois-counties-to-Indiana-amendment-expands-study-commission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090484-db150a896873a9de8f033cef04b186b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111103&Signature=dF49ix0V0BSXj5kJu7rQq1GJe-v81b3QdN7lKf7KeYnTzTMHtZNDn9isczFnDORTZzTTwil1OH5fmnWHpRD4Ez~p-WEEGju9AzsswodvYRE63kDrQkP2YuNaWFy~HDheyb6QzTGhLlnyrpfwgWwFA9g-partoHMrCPleCmxj9pfkkAjNU9eJzKvMb07RY1B3quiK2XtTnSN6FRD7ngK3FA1Sw7GdStkp0ve7re9qgRQ6Cs8Ny0tg8ACWDAI7Kn~Pcy8Ol7z3FlR2Em5hunAj2r9IG2yFpRX9iCavtntrhKexW4ia4TtCuVdInmXaj87ff9Z4jyO63eizvGFvPEzPAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Baldwin told the Public Policy Committee that House Bill 1008 would “establish a commission that would be dedicated to evaluating the feasibility and logistics of integrating 33 Illinois counties into the State of Indiana.” He emphasized the bill “does not enact the transfer itself, but rather creates a structured framework for thorough analysis and planning.”

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Eric Baldwin (Senator Baldwin), said the idea originated with interest from several southern and central Illinois counties that have held nonbinding referendums asking whether they would prefer governance by Indiana.

Committee members questioned practical issues and legal prerequisites. Senator Baldwin cited Article IV, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, noting that any change of state boundaries requires approval by the two state legislatures and by Congress. Baldwin said the commission would study details including debt allocation, borders, driver's licenses and other operational matters.

Senator Kyle Walker offered Amendment 1, which increased commission membership from 8 to 10 (6 appointees from Indiana and 4 from Illinois in the amendment text), set a later reporting date and defined a quorum so the commission could finalize a report even if Illinois representatives did not participate. Senator Walker described the change as a means to ensure the commission could produce a report “whether or not they participate or not.”

Scott Carpenter, testifying for a group that identified itself as Downstate Illinois Secession, told the committee he and volunteers have worked on the idea for years and described nonbinding referendum results. “Since early 2020, 33 counties have voted in these nonbinding referendums and their election results average 74% in favor,” Carpenter said, adding that his group’s analysis shows larger groups of counties could present different economic outcomes.

Committee members raised fiscal concerns. Senator Jackson explained his “no” vote and said he believed the measure could cost Indiana taxpayers “up towards $2,000,000,000” if implemented; Baldwin replied the bill’s purpose is only to study possibilities and said he believed a careful commission could identify approaches that would avoid negative impacts to current Hoosiers.

After amendment debate and brief public testimony the committee voted to advance the bill as amended by a roll-call vote of 7–2. Senator Spencer recorded the lone Nay on the floor during the roll call; Senator Jackson announced a No vote and gave a statement explaining his vote.

House Bill 1008 creates a study commission; it does not transfer territory, change law, or obligate state funds beyond carrying out the commission’s work if authorized and funded later in the process.

Sources: testimony of Senator Baldwin and Scott Carpenter; Amendment 1 as read into the record by Senator Walker; roll-call recorded in committee.","Lawmakers voted 7–2 to advance House Bill 1008, which creates a commission to study the legal, fiscal and administrative feasibility of incorporating certain Illinois counties into Indiana; lawmakers debated process, potential fiscal impacts and precedent during testimony and an amendment clarified membership and quorum rules.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6090489,"Indiana committee backs concurrent resolution urging federal action on persecution of Armenians in Artsakh",85,234000,319000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2866425-eec82f3b1ecc521b7196e9cd1dd9d4f1&start=234&end=319","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2866425-eec82f3b1ecc521b7196e9cd1dd9d4f1/thumbnail_234000.jpg","/articles/6090489/Indiana/Indiana-committee-backs-concurrent-resolution-urging-federal-action-on-persecution-of-Armenians-in-Artsakh","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6090489-4ae2f564be152aadecf12c1ef0d7898f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771111103&Signature=mT4UVCrH-B6xBYGZZIqWjdTB0E8RT~SXsUgNu-lf9M8pMCnOPISXiAZQCn9FukTUDJCujlpJrrbS5BTqYA7KMcss6MR9OVZcjigAkUc5eehU0Q6mL-vZjHOlh15sjhrehri19hwA49eEC4z0NGArm9jWoQVsLUYgMhthtIadHBfXKl8yBAm~QU10LKQ1eBulmifG5LlY49Egylk1e-LdX9KEO077-c9pVUARJJzaDf4p8F4fVjWZzyUIFsTqe~z3T7q4BFUZ4UEaO~~-1i~m8Li-8lEy7E2E6cKZJ6yiOHErEf6ONg6X46xZ9-1XPspolpQqyN~iDDVcjtfYKgic4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Zay told the Public Policy Committee he was presenting Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 “on behalf of, some constituents and friends of mine that are Armenians,” and asked the panel to urge federal counterparts to act on their behalf.

The resolution “calls upon Indiana’s federal delegation to take action” concerning the treatment of Christians from the region of Artsakh, Senator Zay said, adding historical context: “Armenia is the eldest Christian nation in the world. It adopted Christianity in March well before the Roman Empire became holy.”

The measure notes the historical assault on Armenian Christians and refers to the Armenian genocide of 1915–1921 and later violence culminating in recent attacks on the Armenian population of Artsakh that, according to the resolution’s text as read into the record, resulted in thousands of deaths and the expulsion of Christian residents.

The committee received no public testimony on the resolution. After a brief procedural exchange the committee moved the resolution, took a roll-call vote and recorded 10 ayes and 0 nays. Chairman Alting announced, “Resolution passes 10 to 0.”

The resolution is a statement by the General Assembly urging federal attention; it does not direct state action or appropriate funds. Senator Zay concluded his presentation, saying he would “be happy to entertain any questions,” and none were raised that altered the measure’s language.

The committee forwarded Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 with unanimous support.

Sources: presentation and roll-call recorded during the Public Policy Committee meeting; remarks by Senator Zay.

Notes: The resolution text as described in committee references the region variously in testimony; the article uses the place-name Artsakh where the presenter did so.","The Public Policy Committee voted unanimously to send Senate Concurrent Resolution 32 urging Indiana’s federal delegation to act on behalf of persecuted Christians from Artsakh; Senator Zay presented historical background and committee members posed no substantive objections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances ATC agency bill with bans on flavored nitrous oxide and nicotine-analog products; technical changes included

Committee approves bill to study transferring up to 33 Illinois counties to Indiana; amendment expands study commission

Indiana committee backs concurrent resolution urging federal action on persecution of Armenians in Artsakh