STATEHOUSE (Feb. 6, 2018) ― Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) today announced the Senate has reached the half-way point of the legislative session, and Senate Republicans have made great strides in advancing their 2018 legislative agenda.
“This session, we have passed legislation out of the Senate to continue to fight the opioid epidemic, improve our workforce development efforts and support our schools,” Long said. “We also passed legislation to improve civil forfeiture laws and allow the carryout sale of alcohol on Sundays. While I am pleased we have moved all of our agenda items out of the Senate, there is much work to be done on these issues as they move through the House of Representatives, and as we consider bills that have come over from our colleagues in the House. I look forward to a collaborative and successful second half as we address issues that are critical to the success of the Hoosier state.”
The Senate Republicans’ 2018 legislative agenda includes the following items.
- Fight the drug epidemic (Senate Bill 221, authored by Sen. Erin Houchin, R-Salem, passed with a 47-1 vote)
Help prevent opioid abuse by phasing in a requirement for doctors to check INSPECT, the state’s prescription-monitoring service, when prescribing opioids to a patient.
- Improve workforce development (Senate Bill 50, authored by Sen. Doug Eckerty, R-Yorktown, passed with a 45-3 vote and Senate Bill 172, authored by Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Centerville passed with a 48-1 vote)
Skill up Indiana’s workforce by expanding and improving job-training programs while also requiring high schools to offer computer science.
- Support our schools (Senate Bill 189, authored by Sen. Ryan Mishler, R-Bremen, passed with a 49-0 vote and Senate Bill 177, authored by Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, passed with a 48-0 vote)
Increase school funding to account for higher-than-expected enrollment in our public schools and adjust Indiana’s diploma system to provide more pathways to graduate.
- Reform civil forfeiture laws (Senate Bill 99, authored by Sen. Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, passed with a 49-0 vote)
Reform Indiana’s civil forfeiture laws to better protect the Constitutional rights of property owners while balancing the needs of law enforcement.
- Allow Sunday alcohol sales (Senate Bill 1, authored by Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, passed with a 39-10 vote)
Act on the recommendation of the Alcohol Code Revision Commission to allow the carryout sale of alcohol on Sundays in Indiana.
The General Assembly reconvened for the 2018 session Jan. 3 and, by law, must end no later than March 14.
-30-
Contact: Molly Swigart, Communications Director
molly.swigart@iga.in.gov 317-232-9521
