Thanks to the help of Ice Miller LLP, the IndyBar Legislative Committee is currently monitoring select health care and life sciences related legislation, and you can view the report here. Check out additional legislative updates and the full bill watch report below.
It’s WEEK NINE of the 2022 Indiana General Assembly
It’s conference committee time, or, as most in the hallway refer to it: Death Watch. That time of the session where bills fold under their own weight, wither on the vine for lack of agreement, or are just outright killed. As lobbyists, we live for this!
Legislators wrapped up their second half activities in each chamber earlier this week and jumped right in to conference committees, where changes made to bills in the second chamber are revisited by a four-person committee of legislators. The process is fast-paced and not for the faint of heart; it’s where issues and language not seen for several weeks may mysteriously pop up in a conference committee report.
Take SB 209, for example. Until its conference committee meeting on Tuesday, it was a bill that added specified substances to a controlled substance list and authorized an interim study committee. During its conference committee, the committee chairman presented a conference committee report to have all of that language removed – a procedure known as a “strip and insert” – and replaced it with language from HB 1077, which in its original form addressed “constitutional carry,” allowing anyone age 18 or older to carry a handgun except in certain specified circumstances. The conference committee was recessed so all conferees could discuss this new language with their respective caucus members. More action to come on this topic next week.
HB 1001 (administrative authority and COVID immunizations), a bill that had its first hearing last November, was signed into law by Governor Holcomb Thursday evening. The bill was substantially amended in the Senate before it passed back to the House. On Wednesday, conferees were appointed to a conference committee that never met, a motion to concur was filed, and the bill was rushed down to the Governor who promptly signed it, all on the same day, thus demonstrating how crazy Death Watch can be. The bill outlines procedures employers must follow if they require COVID vaccination for its employees, exemptions that may be granted, and provides Governor Holcomb with the administrative tools to end the Public Health Emergency which was promptly ended upon his signing the bill into law. Here’s the link to the Governor's Emergency Order.
In other floor action, just before adjourning for the weekend on Thursday, the Senate took up a vote to override Governor Holcomb’s 2021 veto of SB 303 – Motor Vehicle Fuel Matters. After several minutes of discussion, the veto was sustained by a vote of 26-24.
Next week will be jammed packed with conference committee action as the General Assembly draws to a close, which may occur as early as Wednesday, March 9th.
Beyond the General Assembly
Hoosiers are watching along with the rest of the world as we pray for a swift resolution to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Governor Holcomb responded to the news with an Executive Order which can be found here.
The updated bill tracking report can be found here. Legislators have filed a number of COVID-related bills; we have included those in a separate “COVID Legislation” tracking report that can be viewed here.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Monday, March 7-11 – More Conference Committee and Floor Action
Monday, March 14 – Last Day to Adjourn Sine Die
Please contact Legislative Committee Chair Lacey Berkshire with any questions or concerns.
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