INDIANAPOLIS – Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed a bill that would have removed a series of protections for renters in Indianapolis, Bloomington and other Indiana cities.

The veto, Holcomb's second as governor, came Wednesday just hours before his deadline to act at a time when many Hoosiers are feeling vulnerable because of economic concerns related to the coronavirus outbreak.

Holcomb wrote, "While I understand the bill was intended to create uniformity between state and local law governing the relationship between landlords and tenants. I believe this is not the right time for such language to become law."

Senate Democratic Leader Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) applauded Holcomb’s veto.

“He is correct that enacting such legislation would rip local control away from our cities and towns and their efforts to protect tenants. In the midst of this pandemic, we have to make sure that local communities have the freedom to use their resources to keep Hoosiers in their homes.”