FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lance Gideon, Press Secretary
Lance.Gideon@iga.in.gov
317-234-9221
Deery announces 2024 legislative priorities
STATEHOUSE (Jan. 16, 2024) — State Sen. Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette) announced his legislative priorities for the 2024 legislative session Tuesday, Jan. 16.
"I have been hard at work over the last several months preparing bills that would strengthen our state and Hoosier families," Deery said. "My priorities extend to a range of topics, including protecting water resources in Wabash River communities, promoting access to child care for working parents and protecting children from an ever-changing online environment."
Deery will be focusing on the following bills.
- Major ground water withdrawal facilities (First Author): Senate Bill 249 would put Wabash River communities in a much better position by:
- Requiring large water transfers to be studied and independently peer reviewed;
- Capping how much water can be transferred based on the evidence;
- Requiring large water projects to obtain a permit from an objective decision-maker that will approve or reject the permit based on whether the proposal "will fulfill the health, economic, environmental, and other needs of present and future generations;" and
- Extending the protections currently given to small water users to local agricultural irrigators and local businesses if they are near a large water well.
- Child Care (Coauthor): Deery was a member of an interim study committee that considered ways to improve access to child care. The result was Senate Bill 2, which would help make child care more accessible and affordable for Hoosier families by allowing more people to become child care workers and cutting red tape that drives up the costs of operating a child care facility.
- Age verification for material harmful to minors (Second Author): There is an abundant amount of social science research that shows easy access to hardcore pornography is incredibly harmful to minors. Senate Bill 17 would require adult-oriented websites to verify the age of their consumers before permitting access to pornography just as we would expect a store clerk to behave in a brick-and-mortar business.
- Minor use of mobile device and social media: The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that "there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health." Senate Bill 201 would give parents and guardians more control over their minor's account settings to reduce harm. It also would require cell phone manufacturers who sell devices with built in content filters to deliver them with the filter turned on until the user has confirmed he or she is an adult.
- State educational institution matters: Efforts to help more Hoosiers earn something beyond a high school diploma are hindered by the growing perception that universities are not places that welcome diverse viewpoints. Senate Bill 202 would compel colleges and universities to reform in ways that would make them more welcoming to scholarly ideas from a variety of perspectives. The result would encourage more Hoosiers to pursue a college degree and improve the quality of education they receive once there.
- Nonprofit loan center loans for state employees: Payday loans offer Hoosiers in financial emergencies – such as a car that breaks down – needed financial relief. However, the rates are high and the loans do not allow the borrower to build credit. Under existing law, another alternative is a loan through a Community Loan Center (CLC), which is a licensed and regulated, charitable non-profit organization that offers lower rates, financial counseling, and credit building to help Hoosiers in financial distress. Senate Bill 200 would boost the familiarity and availability of payday loan alternatives. Specifically, at no cost to taxpayers, it would increase employer participation by gradually requiring some government employers to offer access to CLC-style loans as an employee benefit.
- Use of fabricated media in elections: Artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used in campaign advertisements to deceive voters. As campaigns get heated and technologies improve, more campaigns will push the envelope in ways that could deter good people from running or cause honest, ethical candidates to lose or be falsely maligned. Senate Bill 7 would create the expectation that if campaigns and their allies want to influence an election by using AI to create fake photos, audio recordings or videos that are so realistic that a reasonable person is unlikely to know they fake, then the creators of the content should label the media accordingly, so voters know what's real and what's fake.
"My goal is to get as many of these bills enacted into law this year as possible and any that do not, to leave them with momentum for next year," Deery said. "But I also will shape other bills through debate and amendments. I am here to get things done and ready to build on the successes of last year."
Anyone wanting to reach out to Deery can do so by email at Senator.Deery@iga.in.gov or by phone at 317-232-9517.
The Indiana General Assembly reconvened for session on Jan. 8 and must conclude legislative business on or before March 14. Session and committee meetings are livestreamed at iga.in.gov. More information on bills, session schedules, daily calendars and more can be found on this site.
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State Sen. Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette) represents Senate District 23,
which includes Fountain, Parke, Vermillion and Warren counties,
and portions of Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
