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It may have been just a ceremonial signing but Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and advocates lauded two public safety bills Wednesday afternoon.
Braun signed Senate Enrolled Act 324 and House Enrolled Act 1014, both bills to protect Hoosier families as a part of his agenda, he said.
“Keeping Hoosiers safe is our top priority, and we’ve secured several wins for public safety this session.” Braun said in a news release. “These bills will increase the penalty for pushing fentanyl on our streets, help keep police officers safe, and make our communities safer for Hoosier families.”
SEA 324, effective July 1, increases penalty levels for crimes involving fentanyl. It also states that a court must consider requiring a person charged with domestic violence to wear a monitoring device as a condition of bail.
The bill hits close to home for one Indiana family — the Stoebicks, who attended the bill signing after losing a loved one to domestic violence.
Jessica Stoebick, a nurse at Riley Hospital for Children, was murdered by her ex-husband after a history of domestic abuse incidents on Dec. 18, 2023.
Her mother, Bobbi Stoebick, stood next to Braun as he signed the bill wearing a shirt that read ‘I wear purple for my daughter. Stop domestic violence.’ Jessica’s father and sister also attended.
Bobbi Stoebick said she thinks that if her daughter’s ex-husband was wearing a ankle monitor, her daughter would have had more time to prepare herself.
“It is baby steps,” she said after the signing. “Women live in fear everyday, it has to stop.”
Braun also signed HEA 1014, which will restrict government entities from hosting or organizing obscene performances.
“That’s just common sense,” Braun said about the bill. “It just isn’t what the government should be spending taxpayer dollars on.”
During the legislative session, no examples were provided of any such instances.
The law also makes it a sentencing aggravator to be in the U.S. “unlawfully,” as well as having distributed a controlled substance.
“There are no disruptions from the federal border,” Braun said. “Things are already getting better.”
The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
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