We are ready to dive back into advocacy in the new year! The 2025 Session of the Indiana General Assembly has officially begun. Here are some upcoming deadlines to keep in mind as the session moves forward.
- Thursday, January 9 – Deadline for filing Senate bills (no later than 4:00 p.m.)
- Tuesday, January 14 – Deadline for filing House bills.
- Thursday, January 16 – Last day Senate bills may be assigned to Senate committees.
One Southern Indiana (1si) kicked off January with the Advocacy State Leadership Breakfast, sponsored by the following organizations:
- Presenting Sponsor: MAC Construction
- Platinum Sponsors: AT&T, Baptist Health, and Duke Energy
- Gold Sponsor: Dan Cristiani Excavating Co. Inc. and Mister “P” Express, Inc.
- Silver Sponsor: Frost Brown Todd, LLP
The following senators and representatives were in attendance:
- Senator Gary Byrne, Dist. 47
- Representative Ed Clere, Dist. 72
- Representative Wendy Dant Chesser, Dist. 71
Background and Priorities
At the 2025 State Leadership Advocacy Breakfast, local officials kicked off the event sharing their legislative priorities. Senator Gary Byrne emphasized addressing utilities and energy costs. Then, Representative Wendy Dant Chesser outlined priorities including road funding, ethics in governance, childcare affordability, and senior care. Finally, Representative Ed Clere, voiced his focus on navigating the first budget without COVID funds since 2020, Medicaid reform, and property tax concerns.
Workforce Development and Heathcare
The discussion also explored workforce barriers and solutions. Representative Dant Chesser stressed aligning school systems with economic needs and addressing transportation challenges. Senator Byrne touched on education and advocated for school schedule adjustments to enhance job readiness. Expanding on the theme of workforce development, Representative Clere called for inclusive workforce policies, emphasizing support for underrepresented groups. Representative Clere also explored how Medicaid will impact the current workforce and highlighted the need to fix it as a systemic issue.
Infrastructure and Community Engagement
Stressing the importance of road infrastructure, Representative Dant Chesser proposed solutions while also acknowledging long-term challenges. The officials also shared broader goals: Senator Byrne introduced a workforce-focused bill, Representative Dant Chesser emphasized engaging with local communities and ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed, and Representative Clere pushed for property tax reforms and increased transparency in local government agreements.
You can find a copy of the 1si 2025 Advocacy Agenda by visiting www.1si.org/advocacy or downloading a PDF copy here.
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