Friday, May 15, 2020
Each legislative session, many bills are introduced to help improve the state of Indiana, but there is not enough time to address each of them in just a few short months. Over the summer and fall, lawmakers meet to take a deep look at a variety of issues in order to get a better grasp on how to address them in the next legislative session. These meetings are referred to as study committees.
This year, due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, legislators may not be able to meet for study committees in the traditional way and may opt instead for virtual meetings and other forms of communication. In addition to the topics already planned for study, COVID-19 has brought to light a number of other issues our government has never been faced with before.
To help address these issues, the bipartisan Legislative Council will now request each state agency to submit a report by Sept. 18 to the appropriate summer study committee. These reports will outline each agency's plan for handling similar public emergency situations in the future and will also include legislative recommendations for next session.
Additionally, a new six-member Legislative Continuity Committee will be established to focus on how the legislative branch can prepare for future emergencies and how the legislature can continue to operate safely and securely in times of crisis.
These new committees and reports are vital to making sure the Indiana General Assembly can still take legislative action to benefit Hoosiers if we find ourselves in emergency circumstances.
You can find the resolution passed by the Legislative Council here.
