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Legislative Special Session Update

By Caryl Auslander ● August 22, 2022



















Local, state, and federal updates on all things policy at the Statehouse during the Special Session in this week's memo include:


  • Indiana Senate Leadership Announces Major Leadership Shift
  • Rudy Yakym Tapped for 2nd Congressional District Seat
  • Governor Holcomb and Leaders Look for Ways to Bring Semiconductor Business to Indiana
  • Indiana to Receive $111M Literacy Investment
  • Indiana Ranks 51/50 in New Education Report
  • Indiana’s Gas Tax Set to Decrease in September
  • David Adams Named New DWD Commissioner
  • Senator Mike Braun Proposes Funding to Address Food Security Issues
  • CDC Announces Agency Overhaul
  • Important Dates
Indiana Senate Leadership Announces Major Leadership Shift
What’s new: In a surprising turn of events last last week, the Indiana Senate announced a major leadership change. Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, named Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, as the new majority floor leader of the Senate’s majority caucus in a written announcement. Garten replaces Sen. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, who served as the floor leader since he was tapped by Bray in November 2018.
What they’re saying: Senator Garten released a statement following the announcement saying, “Serving as the Majority Floor Leader is truly an honor, and I’m grateful to Sen. Bray for extending this unique opportunity to me. As I step into this role, my primary goal will be to ensure mutual respect for all members of our revered chamber while continuing to represent the issues important to Hoosiers in Senate District 45.”
The bottom line: It is not clear why Messmer was replaced, but Senator Messmer stated that he thought it was due to his vote on the abortion legislation during special session. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Rudy Yakym Tapped for 2nd Congressional District Seat
What’s new: Over the last two weeks, following the tragic passing of Indiana U.S. Representative Jackie Walorski, twelve republicans had announced their bid to succeed the 2nd Congressional District seat. With 55 percent of the vote, precinct committeemen overwhelmingly chose Rudy Yakym, the Congresswoman’s former campaign finance director.
The details: Yakym was a campaign finance director for Walorski in 2011 and 2012 and was endorsed by the late Congresswoman's husband Dean Swihart earlier this week. He won the nomination to represent the Indiana GOP this November in the first round of voting during a Saturday caucus.
Votes by the numbers:
  • Rudy Yakym – 205
  • Curtis Hill – 86
  • Curt Nisly – 31
  • Christy Stutzman – 27
  • Marvin Layne – 12
  • All other contenders received votes in the single digits
What’s next: A special election to determine who will finish out the current term, which extends through the end of this year, will take place on Nov. 8, the same day as this year's general election. Yakym was also selected as the party's nominee for this race ballot. (South Bend Tribune)
Governor Holcomb and Leaders Look for Ways to Bring Semiconductor Business to Indiana
What’s new: Governor Eric Holcomb and a delegation of Indiana’s economic development leaders will be visiting Taiwan and South Korea this week as an effort to headline Indiana as a place where Asian companies should invest and manufacture computer chips and electric vehicle batteries.
Why it matters: Taiwan is home to 90% of the manufacturing for the world’s most advanced semiconductors, and the United States only produces about 10%. Computer chips have become increasingly important in many industries, from cars to our nation’s defense systems. Holcomb and delegation leaders would like to see Indiana become a regional hub for the research, development, and manufacturing of these semiconductors.
What they’re saying: In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Holcomb said, “Both [sectors are] equally important because they both represent goals of ours to be a leader in the future economy, and not just for economic reasons, but also national security reasons.” (IBJ)
Indiana to Receive $111M Literacy Investment
What’s new: In a press conference on Thursday morning, Governor Eric Holcomb announced an $111 million investment from philanthropic and state funds to begin targeting Indiana’s declining literacy rate.
What they’re saying:
  • In a statement on Thursday, Holcomb said “It couldn’t be a more timely response to the last couple years. I am just so exhilarated, quite frankly, excited, to see from kindergarten to fourth grade the impact this is going to have over just the next five years.”
  • Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner said the public and private philanthropic investment presents an unprecedented opportunity for teachers to learn new teaching methods and reverse the decline in reading skills among third graders.
Why it matters: This news comes following two reports showing Indiana’s early education falling behind competing states (see below article). Holcomb has set a goal for 95 percent of all Indiana’s third graders to pass the state’s elementary reading exam by 2027.
The funds from this investment will focus on four main goals:
  • Support educators at local schools with instructional coaching in the science of reading. The IDOE is piloting instructional coaching at 54 schools this fall with staff from the University of Indianapolis’ Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning (CELL). The new funding will expand this to about 60 percent of elementary schools by the summer of 2026 and will be overseen by CELL.
  • Support students with the greatest difficulty learning to read. This includes students in special education, students of color, and students whose primary language is not English.
  • Create a Science of Reading center at IDOE. Staff will be hired to assist local schools and through the Indiana Learning Lab.
  • Stipends for teachers to learn the science of reading. IDOE will provide up to $1,200 to incentivize early elementary school teachers to opt in to the training. (WFYI)
Indiana Ranks 51/50 in New Education Report
What’s new: In a recent report, states were ranked from best to worst as it relates to their early education systems in 2022. Indiana came last, ranking 51 among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Among some of the other findings, Indiana ranks:
• 48th – Share of 3- and 4-year-olds Enrolled in pre-K, pre-K Special Education and Head Start
• 46th – Total Reported Spending per Child Enrolled in Preschool
• 42nd – Pre-K Program Growth
Why it matters: Indiana’s IREAD report was also recently released and, while the report showed an uptick in sores from the previous year, results are still below the pre-pandemic levels. This has become a highlighted issue in the last several Indiana Department of Education meetings, and we can anticipate some recommendations will come in the form of legislative action during the 2023 legislative session. (KQ Education Group)
Indiana’s Gas Tax Set to Decrease in September
What’s new: Starting in September, Indiana’s gas tax will fall by about five center per gallon - marking the first significant drop since this past spring.
By the numbers: A total of 57 cents per gallon in state taxes will be charged during September under rate changes released Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Revenue. That tax rate will be 5.4 cents less than August’s record-high rate of 62.4 cents, a fluctuation that comes as Indiana’s 7% sales tax on gasoline is calculated monthly along with a set tax directed to road projects. (IBJ)
David Adams Named New DWD Commissioner
What’s new: Last week, Governor Eric Holcomb named David James the new Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. Adams replaces former DWD Commissioner Fred Payne, who announced in June that he was stepping down to become chief executive officer of the United Way of Central Indiana.
The details: Adams is the Chief Innovation Officer of the University of Cincinnati, and served as Executive Director of the Indiana Public Retirement System from 2005-2007.
What they’re saying: In a media release Holcomb said, “David Adams has spent decades focusing on the connections between workforce talent and the needs of today’s industries, and he leads with a tremendous energy that brings results, time and time again. I’m excited David is returning to Indiana and the impact he will make in helping our Department of Workforce Development to skill up our workforce to be second-to-none and prepared for the next phase of our economic growth.”
What’s next: Adams is set to begin his DWD tenure on Sept. 19, according to a release from the state on Friday. (IBJ)
Senator Mike Braun Proposes Funding to Address Food Security Issues
What’s new: Indiana U.S. Senator Mike Braun has proposed increasing government spending on agriculture research, stating that it should be a top priority as Congress craft their ongoing response to food security.
Why it matters: It’s no secret by now that inflation has impacted Hoosiers everyone, including their pantries. Supply chain issues in the agriculture industry have lead to higher prices for consumers at grocery stores and creates additional challenges for mitigating record levels of global hunger.
What they’re saying: Braun released a statement saying, “When you’re consuming, you’re living off the merits of the past. We need to start spending less on things we consume, and spend double, triple, quadruple on investment through the federal government. Sadly, that’s not the focus. If we don’t do it, you’re going to have other major players across the world who do do it.”
What’s next: There are still discussions surrounding the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill. Braun has said that lawmakers haven’t talked enough about food security issues but maintained that would be part of his focus as discussions within the Senate Agricultural Committee continue. The Farm bill will originate in the House and focuses primarily focus on nutrition (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
CDC Announces Agency Overhaul
What’s new: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced plans for overhauling how the agency operates. The recommended changes will be aimed at improving the culture and acknowledging the missteps the agency took in its response to COVID.
What they’re saying: CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement on Wednesday, “My goal is a new, public health action-oriented culture at CDC that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, communication, and timeliness. I look forward to working with the incredible people at CDC and our partners to realize the agency’s fullest potential to benefit the health and well-being of all Americans.”
The final recommendations include:
  • Share scientific findings and data faster
  • Do a better job of translating science into practical, easy-to-understand policy
  • Prioritize public health communications
  • De-emphasize publication of scientific findings for career promotion
  • New training for agency staff so that multiple people can fill the same role in public health emergencies (CNN)


Important Dates


  • Wednesday, August 24th at 12:30pm - Administrative Rules Review Task Force
  • Tuesday, August 30th at 10am - 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force
  • Tuesday, August 30th at 10:30 am - Interim Study Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
  • Tuesday, September 13th at 10am - 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force
  • Tuesday, September 20th at 10:30 am - Interim Study Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
  • Monday, September 26th at 10am - 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force
  • Tuesday, October 4th at 10:30 am - Interim Study Committee on Courts and Criminal Code
  • Wednesday, October 19th at 10am - 21st Century Energy Policy Development Task Force