This is the second weekly report designed to inform CAC board and staff, as well as CAC members and the general public regarding our activities and work during the 2017 Indiana General Assembly.

CAC staff monitored multiple hearings and coalition meetings this week. We’re following more than forty bills with more legislation continuing to appear through the public process as we speak. By the week’s end 844 separate pieces of legislation had been filed including 481 Senate bills and 363 House bills.

Much of the Statehouse’s attention was centered on Governor Eric Holcomb’s Inauguration on Monday. As the week continued, transportation and infrastructure funding dominated the conversation. Many of the funding details regarding infrastructure and other budget issues will not come to fruition until April when the state receives its next fiscal forecast.

Throughout budget discussions we will be watching healthcare initiatives for seniors like the state’s Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled (CHOICE) program; transportation funding, specifically mass transit appropriations.

On Wednesday, the House Environmental Affairs Committee met for the first time and heard House Bill 1230, a bill designed to allow Indiana’s electric utilities to comply with the EPA’s updated regulations regarding coal ash. The bill passed 12-0 and was amended to be effective upon passage.

On Thursday, the Senate Utilities Committee met for the first time and heard SB2. The proposed legislation makes mostly technical changes to the enabling statutes which created the Indiana Municipal Power Agency (IMPA).  

Online magazine "The Electric Consumer" interviewed incoming House Utilities & Energy Committee Chair Dave Ober (R-Albion). Read more here: http://www.electricconsumer.org/taking-the-helm/

Items upcoming this week:

• Governor Holcomb’s State of the State Address Tuesday 1/17 at 7pm.
• House Bill 1230 will be heard on Second Reading (meaning amendments to the bill may be brought before the entire House) on Tuesday January 17th at 130pm in the House Chamber

Respectfully submitted,
Kerwin Olson & Lindsay Shipps