Senate Republicans Spell Out Legislative Priorities

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville)

With the 2021 Indiana legislative session now underway, Senate Republicans have laid out their legislative agenda, including COVID-19 liability protection, school funding, telehealth expansion and local government accountability.

The Democratic caucus released its legislative priority list on Tuesday.

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) says the agenda reflects the ongoing healthcare crisis.

“My caucus members and I are prioritizing a handful of items that we believe are at the top of the minds of Hoosiers as we continue to evaluate the impact COVID-19 has had on our state,” said Bray.

Bray says he is committed to passing a balanced budget. In terms of policy issues, protecting businesses against COVID-19 related lawsuits is a top priority.

He says it would provide immunity from businesses and individuals against civil liability if someone is exposed to COVID-19 on their property.

Click here to read more about State Senator Mark Messmer’s bill.

Bray says the Republican Caucus is also pushing a bill to provide full per-student funding for the remainder of the school year to schools that have students learning virtually due to COVID-19.

School funding is determined by a formal in-school student count, known by school administrators as Average Daily Membership. But the count was delayed due to a high number of students involved in remote learning.

Senate Republicans say they will also push to permanently codify many of the expansions in telehealth implemented during the pandemic to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to the health care they need regardless of where they live.

Also on the legislative agenda is a measure that would allow anyone who is subject to public emergency-related enforcement action under a local health department order to appeal their case to the relevant local legislative body.

Bray says the measure would improve public accountability by giving elected officials greater oversight.