SECOND HALF OF SESSION – Straight From The Senate

The second half of the legislative session is in full swing at the Indiana Statehouse. At this point, all 174 bills passed by the House during the first half are now in the hands of the Senate, and the 220 bills passed by the Senate have been sent to the House. Three of the major House bills that the Senate will take up in the coming weeks are House Bill 1001, House Bill 1002 and House Bill 1003.

Every two years, members of the General Assembly are responsible for crafting a new state budget. The Senate is committed to passing a budget that is balanced, avoids tax increases, maintains Indiana’s hard-fought reserves and focuses spending on the most important priorities, like education, public safety and road infrastructure.

I have assigned the budget bill – HB 1001 – to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, which will take the next several weeks to thoroughly discuss and draft a budget plan that can then be considered by the full Senate.

Another important bill this session, HB 1002, proposes reforms to government ethics. Some of those changes include stronger mandatory financial disclosure requirements for legislators, and expanded disclosure requirements for state employees with potential conflicts of interest. It is in the best interest of the state to be transparent in our actions to better serve the Hoosiers we represent.

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HB 1003 calls for a study on establishing a state redistricting commission. It would require a dedicated legislative study committee to investigate the pros and cons of using a non-partisan redistricting commission to draw legislative and Congressional districts in Indiana. This is a big issue that requires careful consideration – including an examination of how similar plans have worked in other states and whether Indiana’s Constitution would have to be amended in order to move to an independent redistricting commission.

These and many other pieces of legislation will continue to be considered by the Senate in the weeks ahead. I am proud to say that 49 percent of the bills passed by the Senate in the first half of session received unanimous support and 97 percent of bills passed received bipartisan support. This should reassure Hoosiers that while the General Assembly is comprised of two chambers and two parties, we can accomplish much for our state when we work together.

As session progresses, it is important to voice your opinions and let your representatives at the Statehouse know your priorities. You can contact me with your input and questions at Senator.Long@iga.in.gov or 800-382-9467.