FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kellyn Harrison, Press Secretary
Kellyn.Harrison@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498
State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) made the following statement regarding the conclusion of the 2024 legislative session:
STATEHOUSE (March 8, 2024) – "I am pleased to see several measures that address education and public safety issues in Indiana move to the governor's desk for final consideration.
"Ensuring students can read is the most important thing Indiana's education system can do to set students up for successful futures, yet too many are not proficient in reading. Senate Enrolled Acts 1 and 6, which I authored, would work together to ensure elementary students receive the best literacy education and get back on track if they are not proficient.
"I also worked on several measures to improve our higher education institutions. Senate Enrolled Act 202, which I authored, would ensure academic freedom, free expression and intellectual diversity on college campuses by pushing them to foster ideologically diverse communities that challenge all students.
"In tandem, I sponsored House Enrolled Act 1179 to protect our state education institutions by prohibiting them from using state resources to engage with individuals associated with a foreign terrorist organization and giving intellectual property that was made using their resources to an entity from an adversarial country.
"Lastly, I ensured our communities' safety by supporting Senate Enrolled Act 181, which allows the attorney general to enforce Indiana's ban on sanctuary cities, which are local units of government that disregard federal immigration law and prevent cooperation with federal immigration authorities. I also supported House Enrolled Act 1183, which prevents certain individuals from adversarial countries from obtaining farmland and land near military bases in Indiana.
"Our state has made great steps to promote public safety and help Hoosier students academically succeed in supportive environments. Now that the 2024 legislative session has ended, I look forward to seeing these bills signed into law and studying more ways to make our state a greater place to live, work, receive an education and raise a family."
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State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) represents Senate District 27, which includes
Henry, Union and Wayne counties, and portions of Franklin County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
