Frey
Local residents will have the chance to hear from their state lawmakers as the 2023 legislative session continues at the Indiana Statehouse.
The Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its first of four upcoming Third House sessions Monday at 8 a.m. via Zoom.
Every state legislator who represents any part of Bartholomew County has been invited to participate in these sessions, including Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus; Rep. Ryan Lauer, R-Columbus; Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour; and Rep. Jennifer Meltzer, R-Shelbyville.
More information, including Zoom links for the sessions, is available at columbusareachamber.com. Questions for legislators can be emailed to [email protected] prior to the event.
Third House sessions will begin with each legislator giving a short set of remarks on their priorities for the legislative session, said Chamber President Cindy Frey. Legislators will then respond to questions sent in by the public.
State lawmakers representing parts of Bartholomew County have introduced several bills in both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly.
Lauer has filed bills that would prohibit health care professionals from providing gender-affirming procedures or treatments on children younger than 18, provide funding for the Columbus Learning Center, establish a pediatric cancer research grant and make additional information public about child fatalities or near fatalities.
Walker has introduced bills that would direct state regulators to conduct a study on the decommissioning and disposal of solar panels, provide for when public questions or referendums can be placed on a ballot, authorize local governments to adopt a commercial property assessed clean energy program as a financing mechanism to allow commercial property owners to obtain financing for energy efficient improvements.
Lucas has filed bills this session covering, among other things, medical marijuana, handgun training for teachers, the governor’s emergency powers and income tax credits for firearms safety expenses.
Meltzer has introduced a bill that would require toxicology screenings for xylazine if a coroner suspects that an individual died of an drug overdose. Xylazine is an animal sedative that is making its way into the illicit drug supply. She also has authored a bill would allow a court to place a person convicted of certain crimes directly in a community corrections program.
Meltzer and Lucas also are co-authors of Lauer’s Columbus Learning Center bill. Lauer also is a co-author of Meltzer’s toxicology screening bill.
