Since 2006, this Republican-dominated district in the western Indianapolis suburbs of Hendricks County has been represented by Greg Steuerwald, a long-time county government attorney who has risen through the House Republican ranks to become majority caucus chair.
In his successful bid for an eighth term in 2020, Steurerwald pointed to his record of judicial and criminal justice reform. He led the first major of overhaul of Indiana’s criminal code in 30 years, with a focus on providing certainty in sentencing and keeping the most violent offenders in prison longer. Other reforms increased funding for mental health treatment and rehabilitation programs for offenders.
Steuerwald also was the author, in 2019, of an amendment that led to Indiana’s controversial new hate crimes law. The measure was aimed at removing Indiana from a list of five states without such a law, but it drew heavy criticism from LGBTQ advocates for not explicitly providing prison sentence enhancements for crimes committed against a victim due to their gender or gender identity. Steuerwald said the law’s intent is to “cover every form of hate and treat every form of hate the same.”
In 2021, he took on another heavy lift, accepting House Speaker Todd Huston's request to author the decennial redistricting bill -- "I had no idea what I was asking,'' Huston said later -- yielding maps praised by his fellow Republicans for their compactness and contiguity with county lines and blasted by Democrats as a blatant gerrymander destined to preserve the GOP supermajorities; both sides generally praised Steuerwald for his professionalism and dealings with his colleagues during the process. – Greg Weaver
Key Votes
SB 198-2019 (Sentencing, bias crimes). Allowed longer sentences in crimes based on personal characteristics, stripped of references to sexual orientation, gender identity and race. Yes
SB 516-2019 (Regulation of hemp). Allowed cultivation and regulation of hemp products in Indiana, did not change marijuana laws. Yes
HB 1001-2019 (State budget). Set funding for state agencies and services, including 2.5% annual increases for education, though not directly for teacher salaries. Yes
HB 1004-2019 (School safety). Increased access to funding for security systems and resource officers, was stripped of provisions for mental health screening. Yes
HB 1015-2019 (Various gaming matters). Allowed sports betting statewide and table games in more casinos, relocated a casino in Gary and authorizing a new one in Terre Haute. No
SB 1-2020 (Tobacco and vaping). Raised from 18 to 21 the legal age to buy tobacco or vaping products in Indiana. Yes
SB 148-2020 (Zoning and housing matters). Was amended to overrule local tenant protection measures like those in Indianapolis, Bloomington and Merrillville. Vetoed by governor. Yes
HB 1004-2020 (Health matters). Controlled surprise billing for out-of-network and other costs. Yes
HB 1070-2020 (Distracted driving). Made it an infraction to handle a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle. Excused
HB 1414-2020 (Electric generation). Prohibited utilities from closing coal-fired generating plants without permission from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Yes
Group Ratings
Professional career
Attorney, Steuerwald, Zielinski & Witham.
Education
- JD, Indiana University Law School, Indianapolis, 1981
- Masters, Criminal Justice, University of Alabama, 1977
- BS, Preparatory Education, Indiana State University, 1974
Top Contributors
Committees
Courts and Criminal Code, Judiciary, Rules and Legislative Procedures, Statutory Committee on Ethics.
District
Population: 65,340
Race/Ethnic Origin: 84.3% white, 8.7% black, 3.2% Asian, 1.7% other, 2% two or more; 81.9% white non-Hispanic, 4.2% Hispanic
Profession
