Statehouse Update 15
Introduction
This week was filled with activity as the House and Senate passed bills that were sent from the opposite chamber. The House and Senate continued to vote on concurrences and to issue dissents. Conference committees were assigned and, by the week’s end, a number of initial meetings had been scheduled and completed. Perhaps the most important bill to the University – the state’s biennial budget – was passed out of the Senate. The House author dissented on the bill and, on Thursday, the conference committee met. Throughout the remaining days of session, the fiscal and legislative leaders, along with the Governor’s Office, will work together to put together the final version of the bill. The final version of the bill will then need to be passed by each chamber before moving on to the Governor for signature.
On Thursday, the State Budget Committee met to hear the updated revenue forecast for the next biennium. The forecast included an additional $2 billion in state revenue over the biennium, bringing the total revenues over the next two years to be roughly $36.9 billion. For comparison, the Senate-passed budget includes $35.8 billion in spending over the biennium. Lawmakers must determine how to spend the additional money before the end of the legislative session. Leaders from both chambers have also suggested that this may extend the session by a day or so, extending session beyond April 21.
Next week is targeted to be the conclusion of the budget session, though the legislature will not officially adjourn Sine Die until sometime later in the fall (after re-districting has been completed). A conference committee report on HB 1372, adopted on Thursday, extends the statutory deadline for adjourning Sine Die until November 15, 2021, as the General Assembly is not expected to receive necessary census data for re-districting until the end of September.
Please see below for a list of bills being tracked by Ball State Governmental Relations that have moved during the last week. As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to our office at gov@bsu.edu.
Bills That Moved
HB 1002 - Civil immunity related to COVID-19: The bill protects health care providers from professional discipline for certain acts or omissions related to the provision of health care services during a state disaster emergency. Provides that the protection applies to the provision of health care services after February 29, 2020, and before April 1, 2022. The House concurred with Senate amendments and the bill is now eligible for action by the Governor.
HB 1553 - Higher education matters: The bill changes the eligibility requirements for the next generation Hoosier educators scholarship and provides that a student may qualify for the scholarship by achieving a cumulative grade point average upon graduation of at least a 3.75 on a 4.0 grading scale during grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. The House concurred with the Senate version of the bill and the bill is now eligible for action by the Governor.
SB 54 - FAFSA completion incentive awards: The bill was amended to require the department of education to establish a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion incentive pilot program and provides requirements for a school corporation to receive a FAFSA completion incentive award. The bill had an initial conference committee and will reconvene next week to continue discussing the bill.
SB 205 - Teacher training: The bill requires a teacher preparation program to include curriculum that instructs teachers about social emotional learning practices that are helpful in supporting students who have experienced trauma. Also provides an additional avenue for alternative licensure for teachers. The Senate concurred with House amendments and the bill is now eligible for action by the Governor.
Looking Ahead
Next week, conference committees will continue to meet and the House and Senate will continue work to vote on concurrences and, as they are completed, conference committee reports. In instances where the four assigned conferees cannot agree on a conference committee report, the Speaker of the House and the President Pro Tempore will have the ability to remove old conferees and assign new ones who will be more likely to sign a desired report so they too can move on to the House and Senate chambers for votes.
More bills are expected to land on the governor’s desk next week, as well. To date, Governor Holcomb has signed into law a total of 63 of 64 bills passed, with one veto.
