The 2018 Legislative Session
Has Concluded
The Indiana General Assembly concluded the 2018 session March 14, wrapping up nearly three months of researching, listening to testimony, and authoring and voting on legislation.
Below are some of the topics we focused on this session, along with the related bills we passed to make Indiana a better place to live, work and raise a family.
Supporting Hoosier Schools
House Enrolled Act 1001 provides additional school funding needed due to higher-than-expected enrollment in public schools for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. The funds will be transferred from the K-12 State Tuition Reserve Account.
House Enrolled Act 1426 adjusts Indiana’s diploma system to make sure all high-school graduates are provided with a better, more effective pathway into college or the workforce. To do this, it reduces the number of Indiana diplomas from four to one.
Fighting the Drug Epidemic
Senate Enrolled Act 221 helps prevent opioid abuse by requiring doctors to check INSPECT, Indiana’s prescription-monitoring service, when prescribing opioids to a patient. By checking the program, prescribers will see if a patient already has an opioid prescription from another provider or has a history of excessive opioid use.
Improving Workforce Development
Senate Enrolled Act 50, which I co-authored, and House Enrolled Act 1002, which I sponsored, help skill up Indiana’s workforce by expanding financial aid for job-training programs and streamlining the state’s workforce development efforts. It also increases students’ access to career coaches, who could connect them to education and training opportunities.
Senate Enrolled Act 172, which I co-authored, prepares students for the job market by requiring K-12 schools in Indiana to offer a computer science class to its students by 2021. It also establishes the Next Level Computer Science Grant Program and the Next Level Computer Science Fund to award grants to train educators on the subject.
Reforming Civil Forfeiture Laws
Senate Enrolled Act 99, which I co-authored, modifies Indiana’s civil forfeiture laws to create a better balance between property owners’ Constitutional rights and law-enforcement needs.
Updating Indiana’s Sunday Sales Law
Senate Enrolled Act 1 updates Indiana’s Sunday sales law by allowing package liquor, grocery, convenience and drug stores to sell alcoholic beverages for carryout on Sunday from noon until 8 p.m. The bill also allows restaurants that satisfy carryout requirements to sell alcoholic beverages on Sunday. SEA 1 went into effect March 4.
For a full list of 2018 legislation, click here.
The Indiana General Assembly has now adjourned for 2018. I look forward to the positive effect these bills will have on our community and state.
As always, do not hesitate to contact me if I may ever be of assistance to you by email at Senator.Bassler@iga.in.govor by phone at 800-382-9467.
