Indiana has a new legislator after the recent retirement of seven-term lawmaker, Representative Randy Frye (R-Greensburg), citing multiple health concerns. Alex Zimmerman, 30, a North Vernon attorney, and previous staffer of the Indiana State Senate Republican majority caucus, secured the position in a party caucus, defeating 3 other candidates on the first ballot. He will serve out the remainder of Frye’s term that expires November 2024.
The other news impacting state government and politics last week was the resignation of Indiana Secretary of Commerce and leader of the IEDC, Brad Chambers. “As my two-year commitment comes to a close, I believe we all can say we are proud of what we’ve accomplished these last 24 months,” said Chambers, “While there is more work yet to do, I am proud to depart this chapter of public service, leaving behind an overflowing pipeline of future-focused, high wage industries.” The move spread like political wildfire with whispers of yet another candidate entering the governor’s race. By week’s end, Chambers issued a press release indicating he was indeed considering a run. Current gubernatorial candidates include U.S. Senator Mike Braun, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Fort Wayne businessman & former IEDC leader Eric Doden, and former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill. While Braun is considered the front-runner, with eight months until the Primary, the race keeps becoming more of a toss-up.
After outlining the work of the Interim Study Committees last month, Legislative leaders have finalized who is serving on the committees throughout the summer. Senator Ed Charbonneau, Chair of the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services, has set the first meeting of the Interim for August 9th.
Here are the assignments for our E-REP area Legislators:
- STATE SENATOR VANETA BECKER: All Payer Claims Database Advisory Board; Infants & Toddlers w/Disabilities Interagency Coordinating Council; Nonemergency Medical Transportation Committee; Protection & Advocacy Services Commission; Interim Study Committee on Public Policy; Commission on the Social Status of Black Males; and the Commission for Women
- STATE SENATOR JIM TOMES: Interim Study Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs (Chair) and the Veterans Affairs Commission
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE RYAN HATFIELD: Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force; Interim Study Committee on Courts & the Judiciary; Interim Study Committee on Employment & Labor; and the Interim Study Committee on Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE MATT HOSTETTLER: Interim Study Committee on Employment & Labor and the Interim Study Committee on Public Policy
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE CINDY LEDBETTER: IN Behavioral Health Commission; IN Commission to Combat Drug Abuse; and the Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, & Human Services
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE WENDY McNAMARA: Board of Trustees of the IN Criminal Justice Institute; Interim Study Committee on Corrections & Criminal Code (Vice Chair); and the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council
- STATE REPRESENTATIVE TIM O’BRIEN: Land Use Task Force and the Lewis & Clark Expedition Commission
And, here are the Committee members assigned to the Committees with topics of some interest to our E-REP members and region. We’ll be watching the Committee action and keep you informed as relevant. Please let us know if you have any questions or need follow-up of any sort. You may notice that all Committees are Chaired by Senators this year – that alternates each year; this year is the Senate’s turn to lead.
- STATE AND LOCAL TAX REVIEW TASK FORCE
- Senator Travis Holdman, Chair
- Senator Ryan Mishler
- Senator Eddie Melton
- Senator Fady Qaddoura
- Representative Jeff Thompson
- Representative Jack Jordan
- Representative Ed DeLaney
- Representative Greg Porter
- INTERIM COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
- Senator Chip Perfect, Chair
- Senator Scott Baldwin
- Senator Liz Brown
- Senator Spencer Deery
- Senator JD Ford
- Senator Rodney Pol
- Senator Shelli Yoder
- Representative Bob Morris, Vice Chair
- Representative Bruce Borders
- Representative Mark Genda
- Representative Matt Lehman
- Representative Blake Johnson
- Representative Kyle Miller
- Representative Matt Pierce
- INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE ON FISCAL POLICY:
- Senator Travis Holdman, Chair
- Senator Scott Baldwin
- Senator Brian Buchanan
- Senator Chris Garten
- Senator Rodney Pol
- Senator David Niezgodski
- Senator Fady Qaddoura
- Representative Jeff Thompson, Vice Chair
- Representative Bob Cherry
- Representative Dave Heine
- Representative Craig Snow
- Representative Ed DeLaney
- Representative Greg Porter
- Representative Cherrish Pryor
- INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND LABOR:
- Senator Linda Rogers, Chair
- Senator Jon Ford
- Senator Chip Perfect
- Senator Andy Zay
- Senator Andrea Hunley
- Senator David Niezgodski
- Senator Lonnie Randolph
- Representative Heath VanNatter, Vice Chair
- Representative Dave Abbott
- Representative Matt Hostettler
- Representative Randall Lyness
- Representative John Bartlett
- Representative Ryan Hatfield
- Representative Chuck Moseley
- HEALTH CARE COST OVERSIGHT TASK FORCE:
- Senator Chris Garten, Chair
- Senator Ed Charbonneau
- Senator Shelli Yoder
- Representative Bradford Barrett
- Representative Donna Schaibley
- Representative Ryan Hatfield
- INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND INSURANCE:
- Senator Scott Baldwin, Chair
- Senator Justin Busch
- Senator Mike Gaskill
- Senator Jack Sandlin
- Senator Faddy Qaddoura
- Senator Eddie Melton
- Senator Greg Taylor
- Representative Martin Carbaugh, Vice Chair
- Representative Bruce Borders
- Representative Bob Heaton
- Representative Mike Speedy
- Representative Chris Campbell
- Representative Rita Fleming
- Representative Robin Shackleford
- INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC HEALTH, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND HUMAN SERVICES:
- Senator Ed Charbonneau, Chair
- Senator Justin Busch
- Senator Spencer Deery
- Senator Tyler Johnson
- Senator Jean Breaux
- Senator Rodney Pol
- Senator Shelli Yoder
- Representative Brad Barrett, Vice Chair
- Representative Cindy Ledbetter
- Representative Donna Schaibley
- Representative Denny Zent
- Representative Jusin Moed
- Representative Robin Shackleford
- Representative Vanessa Summers
- LAND USE TASK FORCE:
- Senator Blake Doriot, Co-Chair
- Senator Jean Leising
- Senator Shelli Yoder
- Representative Kendell Culp, Co-Chair
- Representative Tim O’Brien
- Representative Rene Pack
- GOVERNMENT REFORM TASK FORCE:
- Senator Chris Garten, Chair
- Senator Mike Gaskill
- Senator Eric Koch
- Senator JD Ford
- Senator Greg Taylor
- Representative Steve Bartels, Vice Chair
- Representative Doug Miller
- Representative Kyle Pierce
- Representative Chris Campbell
- Representative Ed DeLaney
- INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE ON ROADS AND TRANSPORTATION:
- Senator Michael Crider, Chair
- Senator Scott Alexander
- Senator Mike Bohacek
- Senator Mark Messmer
- Senator JD Ford
- Senator Andrea Hunley
- Senator David Niezgodski
- Representative Jim Pressel, Vice-Chair
- Representative Cory Criswell
- Representative Ryan Lauer
- Representative Lindsay Patterson
- Representative Mitch Gore
- Representative Carey Hamilton
- Representative Earl Harris
- FUNDING INDIANA’S ROADS FOR A STRONGER, SAFER TOMORROW TASK FORCE:
- Senator Ryan Mishler, Co-Chair
- Senator Michael Crider
- Senator Travis Holdman
- Senator Fady Qaddoura
- Representative Jeff Thompson, Co-Chair
- Representative Jim Pressel
- Representative Ed Soliday
- Representative Earl Harris
Important Dates: