This is the third 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. 

This week was a shortened workweek due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and the Presidential Inauguration. Because many legislators traveled to Washington D.C. for Inauguration events, there was no session held on Thursday and the Statehouse was largely empty shortly after the State of the Judiciary Speech on Wednesday afternoon. 

The highlight of the week was Governor Eric Holcomb’s State of the State Address on Tuesday evening. Governor Holcomb echoed Governors Pence and Daniels before him with anecdotes about Indiana coal. Indiana Public Media’s Nick Janzen covered the issue and featured the reaction of CAC’s Executive Director here: https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/environmentalists-react-to-holcombs-state-of-the-state-address

More than 1,100 bills have been introduced and CAC is tracking approximately 45 of them whilst monitoring many more issues that will appear in legislation still forthcoming from the Clerks’ offices. While we did not appear in testimony before any committees, we attended many Statehouse and stakeholder meetings this week. Next week we anticipate a much busier schedule when legislators return to a full calendar.

We are following with great interest a slew of legislation dealing with water and wastewater infrastructure that will be heard next week: Senate Bill 416 and Senate Bill 511. These bills are designed to address the cost of Indiana’s growing water infrastructure crisis—with some water mains dating back more than a century. CAC will advocate for the improvement of delivery of these essential services while mitigating the impact on rates, specifically working to insulate low-income and vulnerable populations.

Items upcoming this week:

• Monday at 10am in Room 233 of the Statehouse the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee will hear the above mentioned bills: SB416 and SB 511.
• House Bill 1230 will be heard on Third Reading (meaning the bill will be voted upon by the entire House before heading to the Senate for further consideration) as early as Monday January 23rd at 130pm in the House Chamber

Respectfully submitted,
Kerwin Olson & Lindsay Shipps