Moseley warns of the dangers of overriding local home rule

During the 2024 legislative session, House Republicans have proposed multiple bills that threaten local home rule. Home rule is the ability for our local municipalities including townships, counties and cities to govern themselves. Multiple bills proposed this session override local ordinances or negate city council votes. 

State Rep. Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) released the following statement:

“We in the state legislature have a duty to respect the desires of our local communities, and there are currently bills going through the legislature that threaten this duty. This session, this legislature has consistently proposed and passed legislation that neglects this responsibility. These bills set a bad precedent by threatening the individualism of localities across Indiana. We must remember that our local communities understand the challenges they’re facing the best.” 

House Bill 1199 is an example of legislation that overrides a local vote. The bill – passed by the House on Jan. 30 – repeals the economic enhancement district for the Indianapolis Mile Square. The Indianapolis City-County Council voted to adopt the fiscal tool in December after its approval in the 2023 state budget. Moseley voted against the bill to protect the interest of Mile Square property owners and locally elected councilors.  

“We enshrined this commitment in our constitution through the Indiana Home Rule Act,” Moseley continued. “In 1980, the legislature declared that local governments possessed the power to conduct their own affairs. We work for the people, and I fear that this anti-locality agenda delegitimizes the choices made by those same people. Instead of overstepping local elected officials – and therefore the will of Hoosier communities – we have a commitment to work together on the challenges our communities are facing.”