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.