Andrade highlights support for local and state law enforcement as SB464 heads to the governor’s desk

This week, State Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) signed the Conference Committee Report (CCR) on Senate Bill (SB) 464, supporting the bill’s provisions that empower local and state law enforcement and protect taxpayer dollars. Andrade, a co-sponsor, emphasized the bill’s improvements to consumer protection and accountability in public-sector transactions.

A key provision in the updated legislation applies the Deceptive Consumer Practices Act to transactions between law enforcement agencies and their vendors. It clarifies that while the Indiana Attorney General is responsible for legal action involving state law enforcement, local agencies retain the right to pursue legal claims through their own legal counsel, unless they specifically request the Attorney General’s involvement.

“This bill gives our local law enforcement agencies more control and clarity when handling vendor disputes,” Andrade said. “It means that if equipment fails or contracts fall through, as we’ve seen with recent issues like the Dodge Durango incidents impacting state police, local departments won’t be left holding the bag or draining their own taxpayer-funded budgets to fix it.”

Andrade emphasized that the bill strengthens accountability for vendors and helps ensure that law enforcement across Indiana, especially at the local level, have the reliable tools and legal support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

“Ultimately, this is about making sure our officers have the equipment they can count on and the legal backing to hold bad actors accountable, without wasting taxpayer dollars,” Andrade said. “It’s a commonsense step toward better service for Hoosiers and better support for the people who protect us every day.”