When Indiana’s part-time legislature is not in session, lawmakers serve on interim study committees that meet to review the state’s top issues, as identified by the General Assembly during the prior legislative session.
Study committee topics are assigned by the bipartisan Legislative Council, comprised of 16 voting members — eight from the Senate and eight from the House of Representatives.
Interim study committee hearings, which typically occur at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, can be viewed live online at iga.in.gov. This site also provides committee calendars and meeting agendas. Members of the public are welcomed to attend and testify. More information about topics that will be examined can be found here.
STATE SENATOR RANDY HEAD
State Sen. Randy Head (R-Logansport) will serve on the following study committees, commission and council during the summer and fall months to help prepare for the 2018 session of the General Assembly:
- Interim Study Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
- Interim Study Committee on Courts and the Judiciary
- Executive Officers Compensation Advisory Commission
- Military Base Planning Council
“It is an honor to be a part of these committees, as they help my colleagues and I better understand issues facing our state,” Head said. “I am eager to address concerns related to government regulation in zoning and public safety, in addition to continuing to improve our business climate.”
Head represents District 18, which includes Cass, Fulton, Miami and portions of Carroll, Kosciusko and Marshall counties.
DISTRICT 25: State Rep. Don Lehe
State Rep. Don Lehe (R-Brookston) was recently named vice chair of the Interim Study Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources. He said the committees will examine assigned topics, gather testimonies and recommend potential legislation.
“The ag committee has been tasked with studying the interaction of concentrated animal feeding operations with suburban and urban areas,” Lehe said. “We will be looking into issues relating to traditional farms transitioning into CAFOs and the need for oversight. As a farmer and operator of a swine operation, I have some personal experience that I can bring to the discussion.”
Lehe and will also serve as member of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council, which is charged with overseeing the investment of state corn checkoff funds.
Lehe represents District 25, which includes White, Cass, Carroll, Clinton and Tippecanoe Counties, in the Indiana House of Representatives.
SOURCE: News releases from Senator Randy Head, State Rep. Bill Friend and State Rep. Don Lehe
DISTRICT 38: State Rep. Heath VanNatter
State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) was recently selected to serve as vice chair of the Interim Study Committee on Employment and Labor and as a member of the Interim Study Committee on Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications.
He said these summer study committees will examine assigned topics, gather testimonies and recommend potential legislation.
“Engaging in study committee meetings allows time for questions and concerns to be addressed before we start the next legislative session,” VanNatter said. “During session I am assigned to the House committees focusing on these topics, and working on these issues during the summer will allow us to come to session with a plan for possible new legislation.”
State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) represents House District 38, which includes portions of Carroll, Cass, Howard and Clinton Counties.