Friday, November 22, 2019
Organization Day, which took place Tuesday, Nov. 19, was the ceremonial start of the 2020 legislative session.
This day marks the annual first roll call of all state lawmakers, and it provides each Senate and House of Representatives caucus with the opportunity to gather before session officially reconvenes in January.
The Indiana General Assembly is set up as a part-time citizen legislature. This means lawmakers meet for only a portion of the year so that everyday citizens can serve as representatives or senators while still being able to live and work in the communities they serve.
Indiana alternates between “long” and “short” sessions. Even-numbered years are “short” sessions while odd-numbered years are “long” sessions. The extra time is needed during long sessions as lawmakers draft the two-year state budget.
Last year, the General Assembly finalized the new state budget, which included a $763 million increase in K-12 funding.
This year is a short session, and by state law, will conclude on or before March 14.
In the upcoming months, the lawmakers will examine a wide variety of legislative proposals such as enhancing our state’s education system, increasing health care cost transparency, and reviewing smoking and vaping regulations.
To stay up to date on what’s happening at the Statehouse, visit iga.in.gov. On this website, you can stream committee hearings and session meetings as well as view event calendars, vote tallies, meeting agendas and proposed legislation.
To receive regular email updates on issues being discussed at the Statehouse, visit your state senator’s webpage to sign up.
