Statehouse Update
On November 21, the Indiana General Assembly reconvened for Organization Day to officially kick off the 2024 short session. This capped off a late summer and fall of interim study committee meetings in preparation for the legislative session.
In his annual address to the Indiana House of Representative on Organization Day, Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) stressed getting the “short session back to a more focused agenda” with the implementation of key issues passed during the 2023 budget session. Issues the Speaker highlighted tackling in 2024 included: boosting reading proficiency by building off the passage of Science of Reading standards; aligning funding for Career Scholarship Accounts (created by HEA 1002-2023) to allow 21st Century Scholarship and Frank O’Bannon grant dollars to be used for programs that provide certificates and certifications in high-demand, high-wage jobs; establishing a plan to make I-65 and 1-70 three-lanes border to border; and repassing legislation to address antisemitic activity on college campuses. House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne), per tradition, will address the full House on January 8, 2024.
On the Senate side of the Statehouse, both Minority Leader Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) and Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray (R-Martinsville) spoke about their respective 2024 priorities. Leader Taylor spoke about the opportunities to “help people care for their families, determine their own future and give them the freedom they deserve as residents of Indiana” and will propose allowing citizens to do statewide ballot initiatives. President Pro Temp. Bray said the body will work in the space of education, “especially in reading proficiency;” workforce - “daycare is a constant challenge across the state”; and the cost of healthcare, building off the work on the latter from the 2023 session.
Both the House and Senate will reconvene for legislative business on January 8, 2024. By law, the session shall adjourn sine die not later than March 14, 2024.
The IU State Relations plans to resume weekly Statehouse Updates beginning on January 19, 2024.