GOP Party Caucus and More Coming Soon! 2/15/2021

       

Thank You Connie

It’s the end of a historic era for Indiana as Connie Lawson announced this week she is retiring as Secretary of State. Few public servants in our state’s history have served with such distinction as Connie Lawson. Throughout her time in public life, Connie has been one of the most dedicated and effective office holders in Indiana history. For nearly a decade, Hoosiers have trusted her leadership and during her term, Indiana has become a national role model in running safe and secure elections. Faced with unprecedented election obstacles in 2020, Secretary Lawson successfully navigated the challenges of the pandemic to ensure Hoosiers could safely exercise their right to vote and be confident in the outcomes. Connie Lawson will be missed in the Statehouse, but I know her contributions to our state will not end with her upcoming retirement.

Connie leaves big shoes to fill and I look forward to working with Governor Holcomb as he considers candidates for this important appointment.

Thank you,
Kyle

Photo: Secretary of State Connie Lawson (center) at our 2018 State Convention with (L-R) Gov. Holcomb, Treasurer Kelly Mitchell, Auditor Tera Klutz, Sen. Mike Braun, and Chairman Kyle Hupfer

Governor Holcomb’s Week That Was

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on unique challenges for our state and the entire nation, and my colleagues and I in the General Assembly are working on legislation in response to a variety of these issues.

To improve visitation access for long-term care facilities, I co-authored Senate Bill 202, which received unanimous support in the Senate. SB 202 would require nursing homes and other residential care facilities to allow their residents to participate in the Compassionate Care Program and Essential Caregiver Program. These programs allow a designated person to be deemed an essential family caregiver, allowing the individual to safely visit their loved one and provide vital support and care, even when visitation is halted due to a public health emergency.

Religion plays an integral role in the daily lives of Hoosiers across the state, and even more so during times of crisis. To protect religious freedom during public emergencies, I voted in favor of Senate Bill 263, which recently passed the Senate with bipartisan support. SB 263 would ban state and local government from imposing restrictions on religious organizations and religious services that are more restrictive than those imposed on other businesses and organizations deemed “essential services” during a disaster.

For more information on these and other bills moving through the General Assembly, click here.

As of Feb. 1, Hoosiers who are 65 years of age or older may make an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Eligible Hoosiers or their representative may call 2-1-1 or visit ourshot.in.gov to make an appointment. There is at least one vaccination location in each of Indiana’s 92 counties. Appointments for the second dose will be made at the clinic when the first dose is administered.

The timeline for additional phases of vaccine administration is yet to be determined. This information will continue to be updated here. To view the number of Hoosiers currently vaccinated and the county-level distribution of vaccinations, click here.