Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0532 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	Introduced Version
3	3	SENATE BILL No. 532
4	4	_____
5	5	DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
6	6	Citations Affected: IC 4-3-28.
7	7	Synopsis: Ballot tracking commission. Establishes the ballot tracking
8	8	commission to review data concerning technology to track an absentee
9	9	ballot using real-time tracking information. Provides that the
10	10	commission expires June 30, 2026.
11	11	Effective: July 1, 2025.
12	12	Ford J.D.
13	13	January 16, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Elections.
14	14	2025 IN 532—LS 6728/DI 149 Introduced
15	15	First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
16	16	PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
17	17	Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
18	18	additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
19	19	Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
20	20	provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
21	21	word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
22	22	a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
23	23	Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
24	24	between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
25	25	SENATE BILL No. 532
26	26	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning state
27	27	offices and administration.
28	28	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. IC 4-3-28 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS
30	30	2 A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
31	31	3 1, 2025]:
32	32	4 Chapter 28. Ballot Tracking Commission
33	33	5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "commission" means the ballot
34	34	6 tracking commission established by section 2 of this chapter.
35	35	7 Sec. 2. The ballot tracking commission is established as a
36	36	8 temporary executive branch commission to do the following:
37	37	9 (1) Review the data of how often IMb Tracing or similar
38	38	10 automated tracking methods are used on absentee ballots that
39	39	11 are sent to a voter under IC 3-11-4-18.
40	40	12 (2) Review the different automated tracking methods that are
41	41	13 available to provide real-time tracking information for the
42	42	14 envelope containing the ballot that is sent to the voter and the
43	43	15 completed absentee ballot that is mailed by the voter.
44	44	16 (3) Review the data concerning the effectiveness of ballot
45	45	17 tracking programs used in other states.
46	46	2025 IN 532—LS 6728/DI 149 2
47	47	1 (4) Review the cost to implement a ballot tracking program
48	48	2 that would allow a voter who is entitled to cast an absentee
49	49	3 ballot by mail to track the absentee ballot that is sent to the
50	50	4 voter and then returned by the voter.
51	51	5 (5) Review any other topic that is relevant to the
52	52	6 implementation of a ballot tracking program.
53	53	7 (6) Before June 30, 2026, issue a report containing its findings
54	54	8 and recommendations to:
55	55	9 (A) the governor; and
56	56	10 (B) the legislative council.
57	57	11 The report to the legislative council must be in an electronic
58	58	12 format under IC 5-14-6.
59	59	13 Sec. 3. The commission consists of the following eleven (11)
60	60	14 members:
61	61	15 (1) The president pro tempore of the senate, or a designee of
62	62	16 the president pro tempore who is a member of the senate. The
63	63	17 president pro tempore or designee shall serve as a
64	64	18 co-chairperson of the commission.
65	65	19 (2) The minority leader of the senate or a designee of the
66	66	20 minority leader who is a member of the senate.
67	67	21 (3) The speaker of the house of representatives or the
68	68	22 speaker's designee who is a member of the house of
69	69	23 representatives. The speaker or designee shall serve as a
70	70	24 co-chairperson of the commission.
71	71	25 (4) The minority leader of the house of representatives or the
72	72	26 minority leader's designee who is a member of the house of
73	73	27 representatives.
74	74	28 (5) The secretary of state or the secretary's designee.
75	75	29 (6) The co-director of the secretary of state election division
76	76	30 affiliated with the Indiana Republican Party or the
77	77	31 co-director's designee.
78	78	32 (7) The co-director of the secretary of state election division
79	79	33 affiliated with the Indiana Democratic Party or the
80	80	34 co-director's designee.
81	81	35 (8) A mayor of a city in Indiana appointed by the governor.
82	82	36 (9) A member of the Indiana league of municipal clerks and
83	83	37 treasurers who is a clerk.
84	84	38 (10) The United States Postal Service postmaster of Marion
85	85	39 County or the postmaster's designee.
86	86	40 (11) An individual who works in an industry that uses
87	87	41 real-time tracking technology in the regular course of
88	88	42 business appointed by the governor.
89	89	2025 IN 532—LS 6728/DI 149 3
90	90	1 Sec. 4. A member serves for a term that ends June 30, 2026.
91	91	2 Sec. 5. A member who is not an ex officio member serves at the
92	92	3 pleasure of the appointing authority.
93	93	4 Sec. 6. An appointment to fill a vacancy shall be made in the
94	94	5 same manner that an original appointment is made. An individual
95	95	6 appointed to fill a vacancy serves for the remainder of the term of
96	96	7 the former member.
97	97	8 Sec. 7. Each member of the commission who is a state employee
98	98	9 is entitled to reimbursement for traveling expenses as provided
99	99	10 under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in
100	100	11 connection with the member's duties as provided in the state
101	101	12 policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of
102	102	13 administration and approved by the budget agency.
103	103	14 Sec. 8. Each member of the commission who is not a state
104	104	15 employee is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage, and
105	105	16 travel allowances paid to individuals who serve as legislative and
106	106	17 lay members, respectively, of interim study committees established
107	107	18 by the legislative council.
108	108	19 Sec. 9. Each member of the council who is a member of the
109	109	20 general assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage,
110	110	21 and travel allowances paid to legislative members of interim study
111	111	22 committees established by the legislative council. Per diem,
112	112	23 mileage, and travel allowances paid under this section shall be paid
113	113	24 from appropriations made to the legislative council or the
114	114	25 legislative services agency.
115	115	26 Sec. 10. Except for expenses described in section 9 of this
116	116	27 chapter, expenses of the commission shall be paid from funds
117	117	28 appropriated to the governor.
118	118	29 Sec. 11. The commission shall hold meetings at the call of the
119	119	30 co-chairpersons.
120	120	31 Sec. 12. Six (6) members constitute a quorum for the transaction
121	121	32 of business.
122	122	33 Sec. 13. Each member has one (1) vote.
123	123	34 Sec. 14. Action of the commission may be taken only upon the
124	124	35 affirmative votes of at least six (6) members.
125	125	36 Sec. 15. The office of the governor shall staff the commission.
126	126	37 Sec. 16. This chapter expires June 30, 2026.
127	127	2025 IN 532—LS 6728/DI 149