INDIANAPOLIS — It might be the last place you'd expect to see the governor of Indiana, hanging out behind a bar at 2 p.m., but that's where Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill into law Thursday, March 14, making "happy hour" legal again in Indiana.
Holcomb signed House Bill 1086 at the Whistle Stop Inn. The law will bring back "happy hour" drink specials in the state.
Right now, bars and restaurants can only offer reduced-price drinks if they do it all day.
For nearly 40 years, the state has had a ban on selling drinks at reduced prices during certain hours. Lawmakers passed the ban in 1985 as a way to try and reduce drunk driving.
That's all changing July 1 when HB 1086 goes into effect.
Under the new law, bars and restaurants will only be able to host happy hours for four hours a day and 15 hours a week, but never between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
"This is about empowering business to serve responsibly," Holcomb said after signing the bill.
Some opponents expressed concern about the law contributing to substance abuse disorders. Despite that, the measure received bipartisan support in the House and Senate this legislative session.
The new law is a welcome one for business owners, like Rob Strong, who owns the Whistle Stop Inn.
"Everybody's looking for a deal nowadays, with the price of everything the way things are after the pandemic. I think this will help promote better business," Strong said.
Not everyone was happy to see Holcomb on Thursday.
More than a dozen people, some with children in wheelchairs, stood outside the bar, chanting and holding signs protesting changes to the state's attendant care program.
"He didn't take the time to talk to families, but he has time for a happy hour," said Abby Beckham, whose 11-year-old son has medically complex issues that require him to have a feeding tube.
In January, the Family and Social Services Administration announced it was moving parents on the attendant care program, which paid them an hourly rate to care for their kids at home, and instead switching them to a program that would pay them a daily rate.
FSSA said the changes were necessary to make up a nearly $1 billion Medicaid budget shortfall discovered in December.
"It's a devastating loss to so many families," Beckham said.
During the legislative session, lawmakers amended some bills to include more transparency from FSSA.
Parents were hoping the amended bills might address some of their concerns.
But in the final few days of session, those changes were removed from bills that Holcomb signed into law this week. That decision has left these families questioning where they stand now and what's ahead for their kids.
"We're kind of all up in the air," Beckham said.
The governor addressed those concerns when asked about the parents standing outside.
"First and foremost, we want to make sure the folks that are receiving services, get them. They may be in a different way, but we have to make sure that the program is sustainable and we can provide those services down the road," Holcomb said.
Holcomb said he's happy to meet with concerned parents.
"I'm happy to schedule a meeting with them, just like we scheduled this meeting, but FSSA and our team has been meeting with providers for months on end, and we want to make sure that the state of Indiana is able, we're willing, but able to provide those services to those who need them," Holcomb said.