Michael Young, an attorney and political consultant, has represented Indianapolis in the legislature for more than 30 years. First elected to the Indiana House in 1986, he made the leap to the Indiana Senate in 2000 and now represents a district that includes portions of Speedway and Wayne Township, all of Decatur Township and two adjoining townships in suburban Hendricks County, including the town of Plainfield.

As chairman of the Indiana Senate’s Corrections and Criminal Law Committee, he has helped establish new laws aimed at protecting children from sexual predators and vulnerable senior citizens from caregivers seeking to take financial advantage.

He also sometimes ventures into social issues, leading to him to author controversial legislation earlier this year that would have allowed the Indiana attorney general to pursue criminal cases that local prosecutors decline. Most of the committee discussion surrounding the failed bill centered on the Marion County prosecutor’s decision not to pursue charges for possession of small amounts of marijuana, though Young said his legislation was focused more broadly.

Young also was criticized as homophobic earlier this year when he posted a comment on a Facebook meme that showed former Vice President Joe Biden coming up behind Pete Buttigieg and putting his hands on Buttigieg’s soldiers. “He’s used to it,” Young wrote in a comment below the meme.

Young told The Indianapolis Star that he wasn’t making a comment about Buttigieg being gay but about Biden’s alleged penchant for touching others.

Young’s Democratic opponent in 2020 took the incumbent state senator to task on both matters, saying the attorney general shouldn’t be allowed to overrule a local prosecutor’s discretion, pledging to support legislation that would decriminalize marijuana and adding that he found Young’s Facebook post homophobic and disturbing. Young won the general election with 58% of the vote, similar to his margin in 2016. – 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. No

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. No

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. Yes

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; political consultant; managing partner, Phoenix Development, 1983-1995.

Education

• BA, Indiana University at South Bend, 1985

Top Contributors

Committees

Corrections & Criminal Law (Chair), Judiciary.

District

Population: 130,739

Race/Ethnic Origin: 80.5% White, 10.2% Black, 1.4% Asian, 5.5% Other, 2.4% Two or More; 77.3% White Non-Hispanic, 9.2% Hispanic.

Profession