(INDIANAPOLIS) — Two bills chipping away at emergency health orders have passed the House
and are headed back to the Senate.
The House has voted to let businesses appeal citations for violating emergency health orders to
the county commissioners. The proposal is a top priority for Senate Republicans, but House
Republicans have added a provision requiring commissioners’ approval for local health orders
stricter than those imposed by the state.
Opponents argue the bill would politicize health decisions. Bloomington Democrat Matt Pierce
predicts appeal hearings will quickly veer away from health concerns into a combination of
denunciations of any government restrictions and threats of primary challenges.