Session Sessions

We have five days left in the 2026 Indiana legislative session, and things are about to get wild.

In this episode of Session Sessions, Blake and Earl are joined by freshman State Representative Randy Novak for a behind-the-scenes look at:

• What it’s really like to pass your first bill (House Bill 1048)
• How volunteer firefighter stipends finally got updated for the first time since 1985
• The nerve-wracking Senate process and concurrence votes
• Why the final week of session is absolute chaos

And yes, we take a look at SB 27, the framework that could bring the Chicago Bears to Northwest Indiana. 📅 The session ends next week. Buckle up.

There are dozens of ways for a bill to die and most of them never involve a floor vote.

At the halfway point of the Indiana legislative session, Reps. Blake Johnson and Earl Harris break down “100 Ways for a Bill to Die,” using the quiet demise of a bipartisan luxury-vehicle ban as a real-world case study.

From committee chairs refusing hearings, to amendments that sink a bill, to leadership simply declining to call a vote, this episode explains how the legislative process really works behind the scenes. The conversation also explores why time, calendars, and internal politics matter as much as policyand why it’s so hard for minority-party bills to reach the governor’s desk.

A must-listen for anyone who wants to understand how laws actually get made (or don’t).

This week on Session Session, Earl and Blake are joined by Bianca Mizimakoski, Policy Director for the House Democratic Caucus — and (as she puts it) the “policy team of one.” If you’ve ever wondered what happens in the 48 hours before floor debate, how amendments get drafted at the last second, or how a caucus keeps its priorities straight when everything hits at once… this is the behind-the-scenes episode.
Bianca breaks down what makes the 2026 short session feel even more chaotic (including a condensed calendar), why speed can lead to mistakes and shut everyday Hoosiers out of the process, and what it’s like supporting 30 lawmakers with 30 different districts, specialties, and policy needs.
Plus, we run through the biggest bills of the week: the National Guard “military police force” proposal, the death penalty execution-method fight (including firing squad and nitrogen hypoxia), and the ongoing push to make housing and utilities more affordable — including why Democrats are pushing for immediate relief while the majority’s approach may take years to show results.
If you like the “how the sausage gets made” side of the Statehouse — with a little chaos and a lot of candor — this one’s for you.

Indiana’s 2026 legislative session is moving at warp speed, and it’s getting messy. Reps. Earl Harris and Blake Johnson break down what happens when deadlines collide, committee schedules double up, and major priority bills all hit the floor at once. They talk about “decision-making compression,” why committees stop functioning like true working groups, and how fewer people end up in the room when the real choices get made.

They also get practical: how the minority can still be effective in a chaotic session (relationships, rules, and the strategic use of amendments), why staff and LSA are the unsung heroes right now, and how weather and quorum risks can turn a packed agenda into a legislative pile-up. Plus, Earl becomes “Honorary Blake Johnson."

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a session moves too fast, this is the week to watch.

Indiana’s legislative session opened with a touch of chaos. In this episode, Blake and Earl break down how a push for mid-decade redistricting unfolded, why deeply gerrymandered maps advanced in the House, and what ultimately led the Indiana Senate to reject them. From national political pressure to rare moments of bipartisan resistance, they unpack what happened, why it mattered, and how it reshaped the start of the 2026 session. Plus: what this detour means for real Hoosier issues like childcare, healthcare, and cost-of-living—and why time is now the biggest enemy.