The Indiana General Assembly is a bicameral legislature that meets annually to pass laws. Here's a closer look at what state lawmakers do.
Hoosiers in 2024 largely support legalized marijuana, according to the results of this year's Hoosier Survey from Ball State's Bowen Center for Public Affairs.
The nonpartisan Hoosier Survey is conducted annually and asks Indiana residents about key social and political issues, including abortion rights, immigration and gun policies. The survey also asked about what issues Hoosiers find most important for Governor-elect Mike Braun to tackle starting next year.
The Bowen Center for Public Affairs surveyed 615 adults between Nov. 6 and 7. Here is what the survey found:
Do Indiana residents support legalized marijuana?
Support for marijuana legalization remains high among Hoosiers, despite limited action at the Indiana Statehouse.
Kevin Smith, the interim director of the Bowen Center for Public Affairs said the support among Hoosiers "reflects national trends" on marijuana legalization.
According to the 2024 Hoosier Survey:
The 2024 Hoosier Survey found that more than 80% of respondents believe abortion should be legal when there are threats to the mother's life, if rape or incest caused the pregnancy or if there is a lethal fetal anomaly. That support reflects Indiana's near-total abortion ban that was signed into law in 2022 and went into effect last year.
The Hoosier Survey also found that support for legal access to abortion splits by trimester with about 66% supporting the procedure during the first trimester. The majority of respondents opposed abortion in later stages of pregnancy, according to the survey results.
What Hoosiers think about immigration
About 70% of survey respondents said that "undocumented immigration" is a serious issue for Indiana right now.
Survey respondents were also asked their thoughts on legal immigration in the U.S.:
The Hoosier Survey asked respondents' views on several gun policies including permitless carry, banning assault weapons and allowing teachers to carry guns in schools.
What issues Mike Braun should address first
Survey respondents ranked school safety, public safety and health care as the top three most important priorities for the next governor.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.