Bill punishing businesses knowingly hiring illegal immigrants passes Indiana House

INDIANAPOLIS — To round out the first half of the 2025 legislative session, Indiana House lawmakers discussed a bill that would prohibit many Indiana businesses from knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

In a 64-26 vote, House lawmakers passed House Bill 1531 — a bill many see as an attempt to build on the Trump Administration’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants. If signed into law, the bill would punish businesses with more than 10 workers who intentionally recruit, hire or employ those here illegally.

”We have a part to play here in Indiana as well. We can do that through this legislation,” State Rep. J.D. Prescott (R-Union City) said. ”Penalties start with a warning, then suspensions, and then work their way up to revocation of a license.”

The amended bill removed a provision requiring school corporations and charter schools to report the number of unlawfully present students enrolled and their immigration status.

The bill still gives Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita the power to withhold funding for a year for governmental bodies if he determines they didn’t comply with an immigration detention request.

“Any grant that is received by that government body could be withheld,” Prescott answered when questioned about this provision by State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend).

Bauer and other fellow House Democrats said they’re concerned the bill would put yet another burden on law enforcement, and that critical programs they rely on could be at risk.

”I’m not prepared to defund these essential services,” Bauer said.

”We still aren’t at a place where the entities that are responsible to enforce the proposed legislation are in favor of this legislation,” State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) said.

In a prerecorded video message before the final vote, Rokita called the bill “critical” to making Indiana safer.

”Several correct steps are being done in this legislation to stop the magnet that’s pulling illegals here,” Rokita said.

The attorney general has filed lawsuits against officials in St. Joseph and Monroe counties—alleging they’re not properly enforcing federal immigration laws.

FOX59/CBS4 reached out to the St. Joseph County Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Both declined to comment.  

The bill now heads to the Indiana Senate for consideration.