- John Asplund and Xain Ballenger, TheStatehouseFile.com
With the 2024 session looming, Indiana’s senators and representatives are looking ahead to what the new year could bring.
Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, has been a member of the Indiana Senate since 2014. Last session, she authored a bill concerning data privacy, or “the information trail customers leave behind as a result of their internet use.” Brown said she plans to introduce a new cybersecurity bill this year.
“I'm looking forward to having a very quick session,” she said. “So, I hope everyone's on their toes because, as you know, it moves very fast.”
As the final days before the session slipped past, The Statehouse File was able to reach more Democrats than Republicans from Indiana’s supermajority GOP legislature.
Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, said she plans to make bills regarding property tax relief and housing in the 2024 session. Her goal is to make it easier for people to afford a home.
“My bills are continuing to try to help people who are caught with these higher property tax bills. You know, by providing homeowners with relief as well as trying to help renters, we’re having a difficult time finding affordable, safe, clean rental apartments,” said Pryor. “If we can do something to help people with that, that will be a positive thing that can come out of the session.”
Pryor also plans to continue to pursue legislation addressing discriminatory appraisals of minority people’s homes.
“My bill would say that you cannot under-appraise people’s homes, sometimes in neighborhoods of tens or thousands of dollars, for literally no reason at all,” she said.
“... We also have concerns with having full-day kindergarten, and another thing that we have is that continued concern with health-care costs as well.”
Sen. David Niezgodski, D-South Bend, said one of his challenges in the new session will be the number of things that need to get done in a short amount of time.
“Normally you're not going to get a lot of the things you’d hoped for just because of the time constraints themselves. But I mean, it’s my hope that, you know, I’m carrying some legislation this time that I think has a good opportunity to be heard, and I hope that by the end of the session, it reaches the governor’s desk,” he said.
One of the bills he has put forward is SB 38, which would provide a 13th check for teachers and others at the end of each fiscal year.
“I think there are thousands of public, retired employees and teachers out there that this 13th check did a lot to help them make ends meet,” Niezgodski said.
Niezgodski said he’s looking forward to working with other lawmakers to pass legislation.
“I formed very strong relationships with legislators that also are engaged and want to see many of these types of legislation that I’m talking about getting passed, so you know, what I do now is work to get co-authors, of which I already gained a couple, and actually a few legislators have reached out to me on other bills and asked if I would co-author one of their pieces of legislation,” said Niezgodski.
Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, the minority caucus leader, said his main goal for the new session is making life better for people across Indiana.
“One of the things that’s important to me is to be able to somehow convey to the general public that we really care about their feelings and how they feel about certain issues,” Taylor said.He said he is concerned about the power imbalance between the two parties and about giving Hoosiers the right to create statewide ballot initiatives.
“We have to legislate and allow them to do it,” he said. “To me, that’s not how America should work, and that's not democracy. So that's one of my big pushes for this year.”
Rep. John L. Bartlett, D-Indianapolis, said he is looking to submit a bill regarding high fructose corn syrup because of health concerns.
“If you google it, it is really, really bad for us. It creates diabetes, heart disease, it’s hard on your arteries, and it’s in a whole lot of stuff, and it’s really hard with children, and I think that’s something that should be banned,” he said.
Sen. Andrea Hunley, D-Indianapolis, said she just wants to pass legislation to improve the lives of Indiana residents.
“This session I am looking forward to championing legislation that promotes gun safety and pedestrian safety. I also have bills focused on protecting renters and protecting DNA data privacy ... “ Hunley said.
"I am going into my second year at the Statehouse with a common-sense agenda and plan to fight for Hoosiers. My goal will always be to improve the quality of life for those living in our state.”