Indiana House on Thursday joined a chorus of state, national and international organizations seeking to punish Russia for invading Ukraine.
In a unanimous vote, Hoosier state officials agreed to include in Senate Bill 388 a provision prohibiting any business entity organized under the laws of the Russian Federation or wholly controlled by Russian citizens from acquiring any real estate property in Indiana by any means.
State Assemblyman Ryan Dvorak, D-South Bend, led the push to stop elements of what he called Russia’s “kleptocracy” from doing business or buying homes in Indiana.
“Our message today is that Indiana will not be a safe haven for ill-gotten gains from Russia, nor for its oligarchs trying to find financial sanctuary after Putin’s ruthless invasion of Ukraine,” Dvorak said.
“The people of Ukraine need our support,” he said.
If it finally goes into effect, the ban on Russian companies acquiring real estate in Indiana would come into effect on July 1 and last until June 30, 2023 — although those dates could change as the measure goes through the legislative process .
Dvorak’s also tried unsuccessfully to demand that the Indiana Public Retirement System divest its approximately $40 billion in assets held on behalf of Hoosier teachers and government employees from any company operating in Ukraine after the Russian invasion continues to do business in the Russian Federation.
House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, deemed the divestment provision insufficient in the context of underlying legislation to be included in the proposal, and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted 65-26 to confirm Hustons Decision.
The measure not only bans Russian corporations from acquiring property in Indiana, but bans all foreigners from acquiring many types of Indiana agricultural businesses and requires improved disclosure of large donations by foreign corporations to Indiana universities.
A final vote in the House of Representatives on the proposal is expected next week.
Meet the 2022 Legislative Delegation from Northwest Indiana
State Senator Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago
updated
State Senator Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago
2nd Senate District
Represents: Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago, Gary (West Side), Griffith, Hobart, Merrillville
Experience: State Senator since 2008, before that in office 1994-98; Lawyer
Committees: Trade and Technology; Insurance and Financial Institutions (highest ranking member); Justice (highest ranking member); rules and legislative procedures; tax and financial policy; Utilities (Leader)
State Senator Eddie Melton, D-Gary
updated
State Senator Eddie Melton, D-Gary
3rd Senate District
Represents: Gary, Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart, Merrillville, Crown Point
Experience: State Senator since 2016; Community Relations Manager
Committees: Medium (highest ranking member); education and career development; healthcare and provider services; Common Rules; rules and legislative procedures
State Senator Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton
updated
State Senator Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton
4th Senate District
Represents: Ogden Dunes, Portage, Chesterton, South Haven, Burns Harbor, Beverly Shores, Michigan City, Westville
Experience: State Senator since 2021; Lawyer
Committees: Corrections and Criminal Law (highest ranking member); environmental matters; local government; pensions and work; public politics
State Senator Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso
updated
State Senator Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso
5th Senate District
Represents: Valparaiso, Hebron, Kouts, Jasper County
Experience: State Senator since 2007; Lawyer
Committees: Medium; Ethics; Health and Care Provider Services (Chair); rules and legislative processes; tax and financial policy
State Senator Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell
updated
State Senator Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell
6th Senate District
Represents: St. John, Cedar Lake, Crown Point, Winfield, Lowell, Newton County
Experience: State Senator since 2014, State Representative 2012-14; small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs; local government; tax and financial policy
State Senator Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
updated
State Senator Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores
8th Senate District
Representing: LaPorte County
Experience: State Senator since 2016; advisor
Committees: Correctional Services and Criminal Law; insurance and financial institutions; justice; local government
Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond
updated
Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond
1st house district
Substitute: Hammond, Whiting
Experience: Country representative since 2018; retired parole officer from Cook County, Illinois
Committees: Environmental Affairs; family, children and human affairs; Natural resources
State Representative Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago
updated
State Representative Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago
2nd house district
Represents: East Chicago, Gary (West Side)
Experience: Country representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Government and Regulatory Reform; roads and transportation; ways and means
State Representative Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary
updated
State Representative Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary
3rd house district
Represents: Gary (downtown and east side), Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart
Experience: Country representative since 2018; Lawyer
Committees: Trade, Small Business and Economic Development; Courts and Penal Code (highest ranking member); Government and Regulatory Reform
State Assemblyman Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso
updated
State Assemblyman Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso
4th house district
Representation: Valparaiso
Experience: Country representative since 2006; Flight Safety Advisor
Committees: Elections and Distribution; roads and transportation; Utilities, Energy and Telecom (Chairman)
State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City
updated
State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City
9th house district
Represents: Michigan City, Chesterton, Beverly Shores, Long Beach, Westville
Experience: Country representative since 2018; retired small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs; Natural Resources (Ranking Member)
Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage
updated
Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage
10th house district
Represents: Portage, Chesterton, Ogden Dunes, Burns Harbor, South Haven
Experience: Country representative since 2008; Partner for financial solutions
Committees: Employment, Labor and Pensions; Roads and Traffic (Ranking Member); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Assemblyman Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron
updated
State Assemblyman Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron
11th house district
Represents: St. John, Cedar Lake, Lowell, Schneider, Hebron, Kouts
Experience: Country representative since 2014; Farmer, former State Environment Supervisor
Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development (Vice-Chairman); Courts and Penal Code; environmental matters
State MP Mike Andrade, D-Münster
updated
State MP Mike Andrade, D-Münster
12th house district
Represents: Munster, Hammond (south side), Highland, Griffith
Experience: Country representative since 2020; little businessman
Committees: Trade, Small Business and Economic Development; employment, work and pensions; Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Assemblyman Vernon Smith, D-Gary
updated
State Assemblyman Vernon Smith, D-Gary
14th house district
Representing: Gary (South Side), Merrillville
Experience: State representative since 1990; Professor of Education at Indiana University Northwest
Committees: Education (highest ranking member); justice; local government
State Assemblyman Hal Slager, R-Schererville
updated
State Assemblyman Hal Slager, R-Schererville
15th house district
Representing: Dyer, Schererville, St. John, Griffith
Experience: Country representative 2012-18, re-elected 2020; small business owner
Committees: Environmental Affairs; ways and means
State Representative Douglas Gutwein, R-Francesville
updated
State Representative Douglas Gutwein, R-Francesville
16th house district
Represents: Newton, Jasper counties
Experience: Country representative since 2008; small business owner
Committees: Agriculture and Rural Development; Environmental Affairs (Vice Chair); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point
updated
State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point
19th house district
Represents: Crown Point, Merrillville, Winfield, Lakes of the Four Seasons, Hobart
Experience: Country Representative 2014-2018, re-elected 2020; small business owner
Committees: Family, Children and Human Affairs; Public Health (Vice President); Veterans Affairs and Public Safety
Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
updated
Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie
20th house district
Representing: LaPorte County
Experience: Country representative since 2016; small business owner
Committees: Trade, Small Business and Economic Development; Roads and Transport (Chairman)