JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021 GR SUMMIT 3PH ERH 2I[ Changes Coming To the 2021 Indiana legislative session (E\ (IRXSR Senior Vice President - Government Relations Indiana Bankers Association ddenton@indiana.bank @ibagovrelations )VMG . %YKYWXYW Vice President - Government Relations Indiana Bankers Association eaugustus@indiana.bank The 2021 General Assembly legislative session will look different and, in some cases, very different. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how lawmakers will manage the upcoming session. Last summer, a Legislative Continuity Committee was created to review the risks to individuals, both lawmakers and the public, at the Statehouse during the 2021 session. The committee presented a report providing several recommendations designed to keep those in the Statehouse safe during the pandemic. The most notable changes are: % The full House body will vacate the House Chamber, temporarily holding session in a larger space across the street at the Indiana Government Center; % Committee meetings, traditionally held in rooms scattered throughout the Statehouse, will also be relocated to the Indiana Government Center, with the House Chamber to be used as a committee meeting room. Other measures include: limiting the number of bills introduced; limiting the time of committee meetings; and establishing video testimony to committees by the public. All of these structural changes are expected to be temporary. Another noticeable change to the 2021 General Assembly session originates in the committee structure and leadership of committees. The biggest difference occurs in the House, with the independent House committees on Financial Institutions and Insurance combined into a singular Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee, as is the case in the Senate. The prior chair of the House Insurance committee, Rep. Martin Carbaugh (R-Fort Wayne), is now chairing the new joint committee on Insurance and Financial Institutions. On the Senate side, Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) has replaced Eric Bassler (R-Washington) as Insurance and Financial Institutions Committee chair for the 2021 session. In addition, Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) is now chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, a seat that was vacated by Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford), who now serves as Senate Utilities Committee chair. House and Senate leadership remain the same, with Speaker of the House Todd Huston (R-Fishers) and President Pro Tem of the Senate Rod Bray (R-Martinsville) retaining these roles. Rep. Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) retains his role as leader of the House Democrat caucus. The only notable change comes from the Senate Democrat caucus, which elected Sen. Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) to caucus leader, replacing Sen. Tim Lanane (D-Anderson) for the 2021 session. Finally, Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) was selected to replace retiring Sen. Jim Merritt in the leadership post of Senate majority caucus chair. The Indiana Bankers Association will be addressing various proposals to change Indiana laws. The priority for the IBA GR Team will be to provide input to the fix to the unexpected issue of the second witness requirement that resulted from language in SEA 340 in 2020. Another IBA priority will be addressing the enactment of legislation that establishes broad immunity from certain COVID-19-related liability. In addition, the IBA will be engaged in discussion surrounding
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