STATEHOUSE (Oct. 28, 2021) — State Sen. Ron Grooms (R-Jeffersonville) announced today that he is stepping down from his position as State Senator effective Nov. 2, 2021.
“It’s been an incredible privilege serving the people of Senate District 46 for the last 10-plus years,” Grooms said. “I've had the distinct honor to work with a number of outstanding legislators who have worked tirelessly to move Indiana forward. Although I will miss the Statehouse, I look forward to pursuing new opportunities, spending more time with family, playing a bit more golf and relaxing with a good book. I leave knowing that I did my job and made a difference in my community."
"Sen. Grooms has been a thoughtful leader on a variety of issues during his tenure in the Senate," said Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville). "We appreciate his service and the valuable expertise he has lent to our caucus and the Senate at large, and wish him well in this next chapter of his life."
Background
Since 2010, Grooms has represented Senate District 46, which currently includes Floyd County and portions of Clark County. Prior to his time in the Senate, Grooms served as a member of the Jeffersonville City Council from 1984-1992 and again from 2000-2010. Professionally, Grooms was a pharmacist in the Jeffersonville area for nearly 40 years and owned Hanger Drug Company from 1969-2006.
During his time in the Senate, Grooms worked on a wide array of legislative initiatives, including authoring Senate Enrolled Act 246 in 2013. This legislation was brought forward to prevent overprescribing and abuse of controlled substances by allowing only licensed physicians, hospitals or hospices to have an ownership interest in a business that prescribes, dispenses or administers controlled substances.
Grooms was also involved in the Ohio River Bridges Project, which updated and created the three major bridges connecting southern Indiana to the Louisville area – the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge, the Abraham Lincoln Bridge and the Lewis and Clark Bridge.
Additionally, Grooms created the Legislative Arts Advocacy Council (LAAC) with the primary goal of promoting the arts throughout the state of Indiana. The LAAC is made up of two groups – a bipartisan legislative advocacy group, composed of up to 12 lawmakers, and a citizens advisory group, composed of up to 12 regional citizen-members.
Furthermore, Grooms was involved in expanding school choice for Hoosier children and their parents, the development efforts at River Ridge Commerce Center, and supported Indiana's constitutional amendment requiring the state to craft a balanced budget.
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Click here for a high-resolution photo of Grooms.
