Educating and Waiting

Legislative Updates Archive

Legislators delay action on many issues amidst a flurry of activity on education bills

The Indiana General Assembly typically takes advantage of all the time it’s afforded to work on pressing issues of the day. The past week, however, provided a notable exception with a number of education- and workforce-related measures stemming the trend.

Director of Public Policy Angela Smith Jones testified in favor of HB1009, “Freedom to Teach” legislation that provides for a career pathways pilot program, adding incentives for teachers to assume leadership roles in their learning communities and remain in the classroom.The bill passed the House Education committee unanimously and heads to Ways & Means for a hearing on its fiscal impact.

Taking a similar path is HB1231 that would award scholarships post-secondary students enrolled in accelerated degree programs at state institutions. 

As previewed last week, HB1222 passed House Education on Thursday, February 5^th and would fund regional STEM education support networks, giving curricular material, training and professional development to educators in today’s most critical fields. SB259 passed the full Senate Tuesday and would establish an early learning program for students in select high schools to earn associate degrees in STEM-related fields. 

Restoring order were HB1018and HB1403 concerning Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s (IEDC) Regional Cities Initiative, respectively – both of which were held for later votes following initial hearings in House Ways & Means. Vice President of Government Relations Mark Fisher provided testimony in opposition to the former and in favor of the latter.

In other news…

• HB1036 would allow I-69 to be completed to southern Marion County but was held pending a later vote by the House Roads & Transportation committee Wednesday, February 4^th.
• HB1624 regarding Sunday Sales of alcohol will receive its first committee hearing at 9am on Wednesday, February 11^th. The Indy Chamber supports this initiative with a further call for parity and fairness for large retailers and packaged liquor stores.
• HB1273 would expand the Marion County professional sports development area and permit the capture of revenue for a multipurpose stadium housing the Indy Eleven. Its first hearing comes Monday, February 9^th at 10am in House Ways & Means. 

Stay tuned for next week’s update as the legislature moves closer to the midpoint of session. The action will only pick up from here on out, and your Indy Chamber advocacy team continues to monitor over 600 bills affecting the regional business community.
 

Join the conversation on Twitter @IndyChamber! For questions regarding the Indy Chamber’s advocacy efforts, please contact Vice President of Government Relations Mark Fisher at [email protected] or 317.464.2291.