Making a Difference

Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda Advances

It was another busy week at the Statehouse, as several key legislative items in Governor Eric Holcomb’s 2019 Next Level Agenda – all focused on practical and people-centered solutions – made major progress through the Indiana General Assembly. This included:

Standing Against Bias Crimes: Indiana’s new bias crimes law allows judges to enhance sentences on criminals who commit crimes because of an aggravating bias that targets a group. The Indiana Senate concurred with amendments made in the Indiana House, and Governor Holcomb signed the bill into law.

Supporting Our Veterans: This bill would exempt military pensions from state income tax, making Indiana an even more attractive place for veterans to live once their military service has concluded. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted in favor of the bill, and it will now be heard by the full Senate.

Attacking the Drug Epidemic: This bill puts regulations in place to ensure Hoosiers struggling with dependency have access to treatment, while also ensuring the treatment is appropriate and professional. The Indiana Senate concurred with amendments made in the Indiana House, and the bill is heading to Governor Holcomb’s desk.

Skilling-Up Our Workforce: This bill doubles down on Indiana’s Next Level Jobs initiatives that is helping to develop Indiana’s skilled workforce, in addition to giving communities the tools to develop local education-to-work pipelines. It also removes barriers that make it harder for schools to partner directly with local Hoosier businesses and industry leaders on technical and vocational education. The Senate Appropriations Committee voted in favor of the bill, and it will now be heard by the full Senate.

There are still several weeks to go during this year’s legislative session, so follow Governor Holcomb’s campaign social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up-to-date on the legislative session and the governor’s Next Level Agenda!