The second half of 2017’s General Assembly is getting off to a slow start at the Statehouse. So far there have been only a handful of hearings in the House. The Senate started its calendar by hearing Indiana’s biennial budget this past Monday morning.

In addition to the budget, we monitored four committees regarding a wealth of topics and engaged in countless stakeholder conversations regarding Senate Bill 309, which would end Indiana’s net metering rule. Net metering has enabled hundreds of Hoosier small businesses, farms, households, places of worship, and schools to install renewable energy systems on their property and save tens of thousands of dollars by generating their own energy. 

If you are interested in coming to the Statehouse to testify on SB309 or simply want to watch the hearing, mark your calendar for Wednesday March 22nd at 9am. The hearing will take place in the House Chambers before the House Utilities Committee, which is chaired by Rep. Dave Ober (R-Albion).

In the House Utilities Committee Senate Bill 511, a bill designed to address the costs of Indiana’s growing water and wastewater infrastructure crisis, including the issue of lead contamination, was heard. During committee testimony, CAC endorsed the Senate passed version of SB511 and cautioned against removing important provisions that speak to the affordability of water and wastewater service for low-income households.  A committee vote is expected on March 29th.

Upcoming Next Week

• Senate Bill 154 will be heard in the House Family & Children Services Committee this Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. According to Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, the bill was amended to raise the asset limit to $10,000; eliminate as countable assets CDs, children's bank accounts, and all funeral/burial prepaid services; and to allow recipients to self-attest to household assets rather than having to supply confirming paperwork every 6 months.

• A bill streamlining Indiana's Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled (CHOICE) program will be up for a Senate floor vote as early as this Monday. House Bill 1287 will provide more flexibility in the program’s administration by allowing initial assessment to be targeted around the specific unmet needs of individuals in need of services, according to the Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

A Reminder

Senate and House leadership have announced that Sine Die, the last day of the legislature, will be moved up by a week to April 21st due to lack of hotel room availability.

Respectfully Submitted,
Lindsay Shipps & Kerwin Olson