Credit Brandon Smith / IPB News
Republicans called the 2021 legislative session “transformational.” Democrats were not quite so effusive with their praise. But everyone agrees it was a session no one will likely forget, impacted in every way by the COVID-19 pandemic.
House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) lamented the lack of connection among lawmakers this year, driven by the pandemic. But he said COVID-19 also brought positive change.
“Really forced communication among members on their bills to be far better, Huston said. And I think the challenge for Sen. [Rodric] Bray and I moving forward is, how do you sustain that?”
The session ended on a note of bipartisanship, with almost every Democrat joining Republicans to vote for the new state budget.
Credit FILE PHOTO: Justin Hicks / IPB News
Gov. Eric Holcomb will veto legislation that allows lawmakers to call themselves into special session during a public emergency.
Many lawmakers are angry over some of the executive orders issued by Holcomb during the pandemic. And while earlier versions of legislation this session would’ve severely restricted the governor’s emergency powers, the latest – HB 1123 – allows legislators to call a special session during an emergency. It gives themselves, lawmakers say, a voice in the process.
Holcomb – in an opinion supported by legal experts – said the Indiana Constitution only allows the governor to call a special session.
Local health officials could no longer impose restrictions that go further than the state’s during a public health emergency under legislation approved by
Credit Brandon Smith / IPB News
Parents giving consent for their child for an abortion would have to get that consent notarized under legislation approved by a Senate panel Wednesday.
Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) said the reason for requiring notarization of parental consent for abortion is straightforward.
“We want to make sure that it is actually the parent,” Brown said, raising concerns about potential sex trafficking.
But Dr. Tracey Wilkinson said notarization adds costs, time and potential breaches of privacy for no legitimate reason.
“There are no other medical procedure consent requiring notarization in our state, Wilkinson said. And singling this one out, again, is stigmatizing it.”