With only one more week of committee meetings remaining, calendars filled quickly this week while Committee Chairs worked to clear their schedules of bills. CAC attended meetings of the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee which heard a handful of bills we’ve been tracking and the House Utilities Committee where we testified in support of clean water on Senate Bill 254.

Coal Bailout

We will continue our Senate outreach this week on House Bill 1414 as next week’s hearing nears. HB1414 will be heard Thursday at 9am in the Senate Utilities Committee which will be held in the Senate Chamber. You can watch live here. The bill will likely be amended. We will update you with more detail as it happens on our social media channels.

Water Quality

While Kerwin testified on SB254, Lindsay testified on Senate Bill 430 in the House Environmental Affairs Committee. CAC supports increased oversight of Indy’s drinking water supply in Geist Reservoir. Senate Bill 430 passed committee with a vote of 13-0. On Thursday we attended the Senate Utilities Committee which heard municipal utility legislation that’s on our watch list.

We are yet awaiting a hearing on House Bill 1337 which would improve reporting protocols to downstream water users of toxic chemical spills. Our concern is growing that HB1337 is falling victim to big industry worries of “burdensome” regulation designed to warn the public of polluted water supplies.

Also awaiting a hearing is Senate Bill 214, by Sen. Lonnie Randolph (D-East Chicago) which requires lead testing in Lake County Schools. There is one more possible meeting of the House Environmental Affairs Committee, chaired by Rep. Dave Wolkins (R-Winona Lake).

Upcoming This Week

• Monday the 24th at 9am: We are eager to testify in support of House Bill 1265 in Room 233. Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond) wrote the bill out of concern for lead contamination in Lake County schools and the House voted to expand the bill to require statewide lead testing in schools. As we did in the House, we will ask for daycares to be included in the legislation.
• Thursday at 9am in the Senate Chamber, the coal bailout bill, House Bill 1414 will be heard by the Senate Utilities Committee Watch it live here. Expect the bill to be amended.
  

   

  As always, follow our social media for the most up-to-date information on these bills and more legislation we’re following: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

   

  Respectfully Submitted,

  Lindsay Haake & Kerwin Olson