The 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly began as a marathon, and ended with a sprint.

As the final round of bills crossed the finish line in the early hours of April 25th.

As area lawmakers are still catching their breath from all the statehouse racing.

We bring you a first ever conversation with a number of House and Senate members from across northeast Indiana on this special edition of PrimeTime.

And thanks for joining us.

I'm Bruce Haines, and if you have ever wondered what the Northeast Indiana legislative delegation looks like, if you're a visual learner, the answer is right here on your screen this evening.

And this is still not everybody.

We have so many who are with us.

We have six state representatives, six senators joining us from the Indiana House.

House Majority Leader Matt Lehman, House Democratic leader Phil GiaQuinta, assistant majority Caucus chair Dave Abbott and state Representative Dave Heine, Tony Isa and Kyle Miller.

And from the Senate, we have the assistant majority floor leader, Liz Brown, the assistant president pro tem Sue Glick, majority Caucus chair Travis Holdman, assistant majority Caucus chair doctor Tyler Johnson, and state senators Justin Bush and Andy Zay.

Thank you.

Welcome to you all.

After saying your titles, we have run out of time we would have continued but... it struck me in doing this that, we have more than a few persons, in leadership roles with the Senate and the House from this region.

And it's kind of a toss up question to the audience.

Let me ask you, how important is that?

Perhaps that Northeast Indiana is so well represented in the legislature?

Travis well start with you on that one.

A lot of that comes with, seniority.

And the longer you're in the Senate or the House, you gravitate towards a leadership position.

And for northeast Indiana, it's great that we have, good representation from northeast Indiana there in leadership roles in both the House and the Senate.

So it's, something that really benefits the region and our own constituents.

Yeah.

Phil, how about you?

From your perspective.

Well, it's, I think it's a nice, advantage for northeast Indiana.

Really, all the decisions are made by everybody here anyway, so it's kind of great we're all together.

But, you know, with, Representat Lehman being majority leader, he certainly, has the ear of Speaker Houston, which is great.

Myself, you know, some of the roles I get to do is, committee assignments.

And so I've got some, you know, influence there as to where folks, sit, what committees they sit on and, and, and that's helpful for us.

Helpful.

Helpful for our caucus.

So, hopefully I've been of some help and to northeast Indiana in this, role now, and completing my seventh session as, minority leader.

Yeah.

And, Dave, you moved into the role of assistant majority caucus chair.

Talk about that position.

Well, that's a that's an assistant position to, Representative Greg Sterle, who is the caucus chair.

So we fill in, you know, a backup when needed, if needed.

And then we also have some other duties we do behind the scenes.

We pick up, some scholarships, award awards that we do, and we do some other small duties like that, but we're there to assist and and, work with the caucus on policy and, and agendas that we speak about on a daily basis and across the chambers.

Sue, you're the assistant president pro tem.

So I assume if the president pro tem takes the afternoon off, you're on.

I am so far down the pecking order, I'm okay.

Usually they put me in the chair to bang the gavel, which is a great honor, but very little, important.

Well, I'm sure that all contributes.

And, I had heard it said that, indeed, because of, leadership, seniority connection, this northeast Indiana area is most, most blessed with those in those leader roles as well as those who are supporting, that activity on both sides of the aisle.

It's got to be hard, to have just say, one minute to reflect on the last four months at the statehouse.

But, Matt, you're going to be up on this one.

Let me ask you and, then ask Phil as well, from the House perspective about your sense of the recent session.

Yeah.

I'll be honest with it's probably the hardest sessions we've had, when you're, when you deal with a, we kind of got a bad, fiscal review in April, which set our budget, to a point of cutting $2 billion out of a budget we thought was going to be tight to begin with.

So that was tough.

Senate Bill one, which sucked a lot of the energy out of the room.

Kind of were the two issues that took most of the focus this session.

I think we we attempted to do some things around health care.

We just keep nipping at the edges, I think on some of that, hopefully some of it actually gets the ball moving.

We did some things with expanding the housing we've done in the past.

So there's been other things that happened, but it's been kind of a rough year when it just comes to everything kind of begins and ends with the budget, the two year budget.

And so that was always kind of the, the thing in the back of your head saying, hey, what's going to come in April?

It's going to come in April.

And then we got some really, disappointing news.

So we'll see.

It was it was not an easy last two weeks of the session for that reason.

But I think we actually crossed the finish line with committed to the things we want to commit to and we think are going to benefit Hoosiers.

Yeah.

Phil, from you know, when we came into the session, we kept hearing we're not going to have the money, maybe the money that we're used to having with regards to the federal dollars that were there and then and mid April, I guess it was when the forecast came out.

Yeah.

$2.4 billion shortfall.

You know, really kind of frankly, reflecting on what was happening at the federal level and really, frankly, not knowing what's going to happen six months, 12 months, 18 months down the road.

So it puts you in a, a tough spot.

The forecast, of course, is, you know, it's a snapshot in time, but it's all that we have to go off of.

So, we have to, you know, take it from there.

I kind of felt like, must be the Senate bills, man.

That's all I can say is, because it felt like we had, it felt like a budget year.

Budget year.

Twice a budget session, twice with Senate Bill one.

And, I think it was about 518 were both heard on the same day.

A lot of testimony from all kinds of folks with regard from local government to, educators and so on.

And then, and then, of course, you know, 1001 the final details, it took about a week to kind of to hammer those out and see where we ended up.

So, we'll maybe get more into that a little bit later.

But it was certainly, rather exhausting and, and no doubt the folks that are on the budget writing teams, you got thrown for quite a loop there with the budget forecast and really one that I don't think we that I haven't been a part of before.

So it was it was quite different.

And on the Senate side is everything everywhere all at once.

Did you know as far as budget chair?

I mean, we started the session with cuts already as the governor's budget.

The House introduced version, the Senate.

And then to get the forecasts another 5% cuts.

When you think you've been pretty lean and funding what you need to fund and you know, no, no extra fluff in there.

So yeah, that was that was really tough.

And at the same time, you know, meaning maintaining our K-12 funding, you know, most of the schools will see a modest increase, unlike some other entities and agencies that just saw cuts.

So yeah, it was there were a lot of tough decisions.

Yeah.

And Travis, you're on appropriations as well.

So you're had some midnight oil, maybe some 1 a.m. in the morning oil burning too.

Yes.

We had some late nights.

I think Senate Bill one was my bill.

I was the author.

And I had told the governor, conversation with him, early on the, the bill as it was being introduced, which was his version of Senate Bill one for property tax relief.

Would not be the bill that came out of the Senate.

And I just want to be real honest with him because it was, $4.2 billion of tax relief for the taxpayer.

But at the same time, it was a 4.2 tax cut for local entities schools, cities, towns, counties, townships.

So, and I kept repeating the phrase that we have to walk that fine line to find what's best for the taxpayer.

At the same time, keep local government running.

And so we ended up, coming short of what the governor wanted, but we ended up with him agreeing with us, to, to come up with a $1.2 billion cut and a $1.2 billion relief package for the taxpayer, and it's going to take about six years for all of that to come to fruition, because it eases into that change, and changes the whole dynamic of the tax system, for property tax in the state of Indiana.

Do you see any, thing coming from SB1 this year that will then want to be part of, say, the short session in 2026?

Will this be, minor adjustments or is there an opportunity for such a thing at that level?

Oh, absolutely.

There'll be, we've already identified a number of things.

We'll have to work on.

And that's why moving the the end date out six years gives us time to fix some of those things.

And even some of the pieces of the legislation that will be implemented in two years.

We have time to work on some exceptions, perhaps, or changes that need to be made.

In that short run, just in the next two years before really starts to start to roll.

Over that six year period, I've seen a couple pieces of reporting where, the expression is about how SB1 cuts property taxes.

Local governments are maybe now looking at hiking income taxes.

In response, it's a $300 savings on the one hand, and it could be something else with another hand.

It's is too early to get a sense of what first returns on, on, the legislation are creating.

Well, they don't have to automatically increase income tax.

They have an option to do that, to backfill with income tax.

But there's one piece of that equation missing of cuts to income tax increases.

And that middle piece is becoming more efficient.

Many local units are taking a look at what they're doing to see if, in fact, that's what local government should be doing and if those are the services that should be provided.

Do we have too many people?

Do we have too many services?

I think it requires folks to take a good hard look rather than just automatically run to, and come tax increase.

That isn't necessary in many cases, because there are opportunities to become more efficient, than what they have been in the past.

Monitoring this on the House side, Dave, on Ways and Means, what kind of takeaways have you been collecting?

With the with the process of developing SB one and for that matter, tenable?

Well, as leader layman said, last four months have been tough.

Probably toughest of of my I've been down there now nine, nine sessions or nine years.

And, it's been by far the toughest of any year.

And everyone in this room, you guys were a lot more fun back in January than you were the last two weeks of April.

But I will say, though, that, if you want to talk a little bit about property taxes, and I think Travis, Senator Holdman did a great job authoring that bill.

There were some there were some, unrealistic goals, I think, set by, our governor and, and, but I think that, you know, we did I think a very, very good job.

And I think it'll play out and it'll be good for all Hoosiers and especially Hoosiers in here in Northeast Indiana in terms of the budget, we did make, we had to make a lot of cuts, you know, $2.4 billion, revenue loss.

In the forecast, there were some long nights and, but again, I think we all came together.

And the difference, I think, is, you know, we all work together on, both sides of the aisle.

And then also the House and the Senate worked together.

And it wasn't just, you know, somebody sitting in the corner say, here's what we're going to do.

All the meetings, everyone was together, we worked together.

And so it wasn't a surprise, you know, when the final outcome came, it was all worked on together.

And I'm pretty proud of that.

And I just want to say thank you to the Senate side.

Did a nice job.

And thank you to both sides of the aisle here today, usually with, a budget passage, there is, a little more excitement.

Even budget writer Ryan Mishler, Senator, from Mishawaka, said, I think the best way to look at this budget is it could have been much worse.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

And from, Phil, you and your colleagues perspective, certainly.

Opportunities for other actions perhaps going forward.

But 2 billion is still a lot of zeros to the left of the decimal.

Yeah.

No, it's, it certainly isn't, isn't easy.

And, you know, obviously, you know, difficult decisions that had to be made.

I would have preferred to go a different, different route on, different things with regards to, for me personally, you know, public education funding when I run the math, run the numbers, you know, Fort Wayne community schools gets less than 2% increase each year over the next two years, and, and then if you, if they, you know, put a referendum, if that's a big if, if they get the referendum, they would have to potentially say potentially because I can't remember exactly at the charter schools in the area would have to share or not.

They may not qualify.

But that will happen throughout the state that if school districts want to, feel the need to, to, pass a referendum in the charter schools in their area that qualify, they'd have to share that revenue.

So my concern there was that, folks, the school districts may have to ask for more than what they might need, knowing that they're going to have to share it with, the charter schools in the area, which then just get passed along to the, to the taxpayer and to on on the property taxes.

The other thing, too, is Senate Bill one was, when we talk about local government, we it's just not, what you think of, you know, City Hall, there are school districts as well that, will, will lose some money over the next three years and, so, yeah, they'll have to be, you know, take a hard look at things there as well.

So, you know, the I don't know how many pages the budget is.

It's a lot.

It's a lot.

We could sit here and talk about that all day, but, not not by no means.

Easy decision for for anyone that that's for sure.

And you know what?

We'll just, we'll be back there in seven months or so and we'll see what happens.

Which typically don't open the budget in a short session, but, you know, things turn around, get better.

There might be an opportunity to do to do that.

And with that spirit of optimism, Sarah has asked a question which has been on our minds here.

Sarah is a viewer, PBS Fort Wayne.

And, just want to linger.

Just a little, but of course, coming out of the budget discussions and trying to get something in the right place, state funding for public media was removed from the final budget.

I wonder if there's any.

Comment on that.

If we if it was a matter of still needing another 3.675 somewhere or, was it, borne of, of something else?

We're we're a happy bunch, but, 12% of your revenue 400,000. but just curious about the loss of public media funding and for that matter, the opportunity then to find a way back into the budget process in 18 to 24 months or so, from from now, Dave, I guess since the budget starts in the House, I'll try to answer that.

You know, we had to make a decision and K through 12 public education, we wanted to make sure that we had funding there and we had increases there.

And then we also felt very, very, strongly that we needed to take care of Department of Child Services and FSSA and then obviously Medicaid, we had to take care of those that were most vulnerable.

And we did that.

And, and when we did that, you know, you're looking at a huge portion of the budget that we had to take care of.

And remember, we had a $2.4 billion shortfall.

So that's where we had to make some tough cuts and It's not easy.

That's why we didn't sleep very much.

But that's, that's what happened.

Well, we're obviously very philosophically supportive and doing this and bringing this conversation forward, but I know viewers will be in their living rooms and dens and just wanting to be sure.

Did he ask about that?

And, let's keep the partnership going so we can continue to find whatever that way forward, would be.

Well, and if I can Bruce echoing what Phil said, you know we don't typically open the budget, in the, in the short session.

But I also think we had to make some very tough decisions at the last minute.

Some of the stuff got cut out at the last hour type of thing.

And I think that if, if what is happening and you take that snapshot of time now, it does not look good.

But if things get better, if, if, if you want to say, blame the tariffs or you know, it's part of it, if that works and we start to see a better bounce and our economy grows, then our revenue is going to be off.

I mean, our $2.4 billion loss may not be a loss.

And I think that brings into the conversation of, okay, what do we bring back to the table to talk about?

So I think I I've told people there's nothing off the table in the short session.

If the economy has improved greatly because we had to make some tough decisions and I wasn't easy.

But, you know, we're in that position.

Let me ask you this question because with tight timeframes and tighter fiscal projections in the consideration of some measures, has there been any discussion in Indiana of moving to a full time legislative structure as opposed to the citizens legislature?

I quit If you want to take a poll, this group is not going to be a good response.

I you know, I hear murmuring as we asked Sue and Liz about that one.

Sue go ahead.

Well, I don't think anyone here.

I would be surprised if anyone jump forward and said, we want to do this full time.

I think the pressure that's put on us from January to mid-March, in a short session, January, the end of April in long session, keeps our focus, if you will, on doing our job and getting back to our regular jobs, to our regular lives.

It is intense.

And you can language.

We only have to view what happens in Washington that they kick the can down the road, if you will, when it comes to things like putting together a budget, addressing some of the issues that are key.

I think in Indiana, we address the idea we have needs, we want to meet those needs.

There are some people who were left behind, some programs that I think all of us have pet projects we'd like to go with or or institutions we'd like to protect or have seen funded at a greater level.

But I think realistically, we have a constitutional mandate to balance our budget, and we're unsure exactly what's happening with federal government.

How many grants and programs will be passing through to us.

And so in Indiana, we've always lived within our means, and we intend to keep that going, and we're going to do it expeditiously.

We're going to get home when we need to get home.

We don't want to be coming back mid-summer in a special session or addressing things we don't need to address.

I don't see an appetite for a full time legislature.

Yeah, I think that we get our work done and the bills that don't make it through.

Maybe they just weren't quite ready yet.

A good idea, but the state's not going to live or die in that particular bill.

That doesn't make it through.

But also the whole idea of going back home.

You know, DC is full time.

Some state legislatures are full time.

We're not.

So everybody goes back to their neighborhoods, to their jobs, to the grocery store on a regular basis and meets constituents.

And that's good.

This should not be our whole life.

And I think if we were full time, it would be easy to delay decision making and linger.

And this way we really have to be focused.

Yeah.

Focusing on some time.

And we're going to do a little segment inside the show that we like to call 60 second spotlight.

There should be music right here.

But the idea is and we'll start with senator Zay, you have one minute on one measure that you were proud of being a part in this passing session that, just wrapped up ready set go I had a number of initiatives one I worked all the way to the end, which I think representative Lehman can attest to it.

And, somewhat certainly my colleagues as pharmacy benefit manager reform and, we had a study done last year that exposed, some of the issues around that and, really tried to champion that for the state cause this year and, that, we got to a pretty fair landing point that might make a difference moving forward.

That in and of itself will take some time as well.

But, we've we've tiptoed in and around that for a long, long time.

And I think we have some substance this year that will make a difference.

Senator Bush yeah, I think there's a couple of bills that worked in the health care space that I think, offers transparency, lowers the cost of care and increases access.

We were able to add a big chunk of doctors no longer have non-compete in the state of Indiana.

Of 87 of the 92 counties with severe doctor shortage.

We want good doctors and colleagues of Doctor Johnson over here to know that, State of Indiana is a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

So if you're here to stay here, and if you'd like to come to Indiana, we're open for business.

And also Senate Bill three.

Very quiet bill that somehow made it through as a priority bill without a lot of fanfare, but, will require, insurance companies to act in the best financial interest of their actual clients, not just their shareholders.

So I think over the years, we'll see that hopefully drive down the cost of care for, small business owners throughout Indiana.

Yeah.

Senator Johnson, you were, deeply involved in a number of measures on the health front.

Yeah.

I mean, health care is definitely my wheelhouse.

And, along those lines, Senate Bill 480 is a measure I've been working on the last several years, actually, on prior authorization reform, probably going to be something that moves across the country is regulating the insurance industry and how they interact with doctors and hospitals to really help patients get the care that they've their doctor says they need.

And frankly, they've already paid for.

And so, we took every commonsense measure we could think of and put them all in the same bill and, thankfully got it across the finish line this year.

And it's headed to the governor's desk to sign.

So, pretty proud of that measure.

Yeah.

On the house side, Tony.

Isa, I can't wait to hear the answer to this one, because this was your first budget session.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

What what were your okay?

Yeah.

That's right.

What what were some of the takeaways for you from these last four months?

Well, when I got done getting drinking water through a fire hose and realizing that, wow, there's a lot more going on in local government.

It was such a pleasure to be able to talk to these people that have the wisdom that have accomplished so much.

The relationship building, I think, was crucial for me getting to know, understanding the process.

You know, I want to reiterate something you said earlier.

Northeastern is considered one of the the most powerful coalition in the state.

And this is not by chance, these are very intelligent, very, aggressive, very strong minded people, not including but not holding back Liz Brown, of course.

But anyways, it's been an honor, and and I can't wait for next session, but I was so thankful to be home.

There you go.

Im so thankful.

Well, can I tell you one thing that Tony did?

Sure.

He bought a freezer for our office, and he.

He also owns scoops up in, Angola.

And he brought up scoops ice cream.

So, we had scoops ice cream on some of those late nights.

We didn't invite the senators, but all the house people here.

Yeah.

No, no, he had scoops, ice cream every every after a long day.

So thank you Tony.

I know I'm sensing a new underwriting contract coming soon.

And, Kyle, for you, this, also still has a lot of, newness about it for, the work in in the state House.

What was it for you and your legislation?

Yeah, it was it was my second, budget session.

And it was very different from the first.

And I feel like, I'm in my third year now, and I feel like, I have progressed to the point where, I am actually influential.

I am actually influencing legislation in the process.

Whereas the first couple of sessions, you know, as Tony found, this year, you're getting your feet under you, you're figuring out the process, you're developing those relationships.

And so, I was very proud to be able to get my first bill across the finish line this year.

It has to do with, cigar retailers being able to sell off site at fundraisers and events and things like that.

Good.

Public policy is, as we found, as it went through the house and also over to the Senate, and, and so I was very proud and, and, and happy to be able to shepherd that through the process and, and, it's, it's a, it's a unique experience to, to be able to, to do that from start to finish.

Yeah.

Absolutely, absolutely.

I, wonder when you find yourself in this place with the delegation, you know, the power of this.

And, Tony, you're referencing my next question when it comes to being a delegation around bills that can impact northeast Indiana, how does that communication work?

You have your district obligations.

You have your day to day obligations.

You know who all is around you regionally in the in the political lineup going into the, legislative season.

But how do you coordinate and I'm going to look at the chief coordinator.

Okay.

Well, I didnt know I was chief coordinator, I'll say this.

And that is we are we all we may have political differences here and there, but one thing I think that unites us all is we want to see what's best for not just our districts, but for northeast Indiana.

And to do that, I think we we talk a lot.

We have a weekly breakfast, every Wednesday morning we have breakfast together and we going to what's going on, whether some of the stuff go on the Senate.

Here's some stuff on the House on that we just visit.

We get to know each other better.

And I've had other members of the legislature come to me and say, what?

How is it that you guys coalesce so well and you seem to get things done?

And I said this because of the fact you've got Phil in the position he's in.

And when we have an issue around northeast Indiana, we do coalesce.

A lot of times, even if I don't get everything I want, it's kind of what's the best for our area.

And I think it's shows with where we're at as a, delegation and where were at as part of northeast Indiana, that we've gotten a lot done.

Yeah.

One example of that, I looked up the, legislation related to the Miami Watershed Development Commission.

And so as a visual effect, if you have had any involvement with the Watershed Commission bill, would you raise your hands?

There you go.

Look at this.

It's a team effort.

And another one, to the gentleman in the back row regarding, the work on film and media production tax credits, if you were involved in that legislation, raise your hand again.

Here we go again.

Yeah.

That seems to be something, Phil?

Dave, what does it say to you both?

Well, you know, I, I think a lot of us, I think we come into this looking.

You know what?

How do we make the region grow?

We've talked a lot about, you know, Fort Wayne is sort of this the central part of it.

And if you when we when, you know, Fort Wayne does.

Well, the rest of the region then does.

Well, you know, one thing, that, I think we've all sort of, at least we've tried to get behind.

Representative Heinis been really spearheading, and that's, you know, highway 30 and, you know, we know that the economic benefits.

I'll let Dave speak to it as well.

But I think it's just one example.

You know, it kind of goes through from the Ohio line all the way, you know, past Warsaw and all the way to, you know, the state there, but it's just something that economic lead to it will, I think, benefit.

Then I get that right.

Yeah.

All the way, all the way past, all the way over there.

Valpo where it all all the way over there.

Yeah.

And that's what we know there must on.

Yeah.

Exactly.

And so but no I think it's one of those where I think we've all as a team have come together to support that.

And we'll continue to do so.

And Dave I know that's been your one of yours in the top.

Yeah I, I used to have two of the townships in Allen County.

I was born and raised here.

So this is home to me, this is my hometown and you know I learned really quickly the name of this group used to be called the Northeast Indiana mafia.

And that was for a reason, because the leadership was, I thought it was because I was Italian.

I think it's joke when it.

And to that point, these two here remind me of, Ronald Reagan.

Tip O'Neill.

We can fight on the floor, but we have dinner together.

And I think that's what's key to us is we not just on on the job, but also off hours.

We still get together, we go to dinners, things like that.

And I think we depend on each other.

I mean, we it's feels like a family and it doesn't feel like other legislators.

We just feel like a group of people that are serving our state.

So I think that's a bond that you don't see all across the state.

Yeah.

Let's, do a little more 60 second spotlight stuff.

And Representative Heini, let me ask you, piece of legislation that, you can look back on and be be happy about.

Well, I'm not looking back.

I'm looking forward.

It's, road funding was very, very, very important because we talk about US 30.

The problem is, our governor is from Jasper, Indiana, they want to do a similar project, called Mid States Corridor down there.

We need a bridge across the Ohio River.

They want to, put six lanes, for 70 across the state, six lanes for 65.

So all of that costs money.

And the road funding bill that we HB 1461 that everybody voted for, that will provide the dollars that well need, to make US 30 happen, hopefully.

But now it's up to all of us on this panel here today, tonight, you know, we have to stick together.

We have to be a unit.

And like, the, Secretary of Transportation, Matthew Miller told me goes, you know, the the wheel that, squeaks loudest gets greased.

And these everyone I'm sitting here with, we know how to squeal.

So, Right, right.

Senators, you know, you.

So.

So we'll see what happens.

But that's our goal.

That's right.

Let's let's try the 60 second one with, Senator Brown.

So you've you're involved in parental, right?

Certainly would be one.

But, you may have others.

Yeah.

That was a bill that moved pretty quickly and easily, which was a pleasant surprise.

And just sort of right sized, parents vis-a-vis, whether it's DCS or school systems.

And I think everybody understood that it was kind of time, we'd kind of swung the other way.

So that wasnt as controversial probably, as it would have been a few years ago.

And, you know, frankly, I've got good partners.

I've, worked with Representative Lehman for the last couple of years now and some A.I.

and cybersecurity bills.

So we we passed one enforcing and pushing best practices on our local units of government.

And again, pleasantly surprised.

No pushback at all.

I think they're all trying to work to that.

And at the same time, the Indiana office technology is ready and willing and able to help them.

So I think those were good wins.

And it's nice to have a partnership in the house where, you know, your your house sponsor is going to shepherd it and not do anything bad to it, take good care of it.

Yeah.

It gets fed and watered like a little baby.

Just kind of move it along.

Yeah.

Right.

Senator Holdman, How about you, sir?

Well, I think the one thing that we can all be proud of is what we've done for small businesses and for, farmers, in particular, with the, increase in the deminimus level for the business personal property tax, starting in 27, that will go to $2 million.

So if your business personal property is, assessed at less than $2 million, you pay no business personal property tax, new equipment coming in.

And, the 30% floor, which is two, would take too long for me to explain what that is.

But, that, that eventually will go away.

And any new equipment that comes in is not subject to the 30% floor.

So you're not stuck paying property tax on something for the life of your life, or perhaps the life of that piece of equipment.

Right.

So I think that's a great win for small business and, and farmers in the state of Indiana.

Yeah.

Any bill that has the word water in it goes through Senator Glick.

It's, and, you have so many and they are also, related to conservation efforts.

There were long haul water pipes and being sure there's approval, but, pick one of those that or other that, you're pleased with this session?

Well, being involved in, Natural Resources Committee in the Senate and, being very involved in water levels.

One of the things we try and do, all of us, is balance the interests of everyone concerned.

Big push right now to bring these data centers in Indiana.

They're large operations.

They're huge water consumers.

And so concern was that if they consumed too much water or drew too much water out of the aquifer, that it would deprive ongoing businesses or operations such as livestock operations, irrigation systems, and even municipal water supplies.

So we put some legislation in that says if someone is, shut off or they see their water being diminished, that there's a process by which they could notify the appropriate office and the Department of Natural Resources that immediate, response can be given within days or hours, if you will.

They have to investigate and make sure that that significant water user who's taking all the water away has to share or provide for that individual, or that operation that's being deprived and we don't want livestock having going without we don't want, farming operations to be, unsettled because we have brought in new industry.

We everything we do in the legislature is a balanced system.

We have to balance the needs of part of the state with the needs of other people in the state.

We have to balance the agricultural community and the and the rest of Indiana.

We have to make sure that no one area gets too much, and no other area of of our society gets too little.

That's what we looked at with the water and and that's what we did.

Overall, I think in and much of our legislation is to balance so that the needs are equal.

And as is far as we can do, it is fair so that, we share the resources, which we have plenty.

Well, we share them and balance them out.

One thing that always made me smile through the course of the session Matt, was the The notion of a small modular nuclear reactor, and it sounded like something I could order on Amazon, and it would show up and I'd have my house powered for Christmas and beyond, and...

But that's not what that was at all.

I don't know if that perhaps was one of your signature pieces.

My name was on some of those just because I. I'm a huge believer in the expansion of nuclear energy.

I think it's the energy of the future.

I really do.

So I'm glad I was a part of that.

I would say for me, I took a different approach this year.

I decided not to carry a lot of legislation on my own, help others.

That turned into a bit of, help too many people.

And I was I was glad we had a bill.

It came out of Senate.

Senate Bill five, which dealt with, contracting, being more transparent as the as the executive branch and as unelected officials need to be more transparent in their contracting.

So there's going to be more put on the portal, more responsibility of no bids, no bid contracts will be a thing of the past in a lot of areas.

So that I helped with that in the house.

But I want to you asked a question about the full time legislature because I think what you heard, you have medical, you have legal, you have ag, you know, I'm insurance.

We all bring our expertise to the table.

I think you lose that when you have a full time legislature, because now my focus is the legislature.

And I think it's good to go back, live in your world, bring those ideas back to the General Assembly.

I think that's why we've gotten good legislation on a wide spectrum of issues.

Right.

And if I can add on to that, Miller's bill was from a constituent.

And when we talk about going back and being back in our, our own districts and listening to what our constituents have to say, sometimes that's where we get the best legislation.

Yeah.

I guess you've been shepherding, some bills within your caucus as well.

I think there was one, listed related to, Medicaid and health care, for someone who, was being offered a policy, that they, would, would be eligible for that, support regardless of their disability.

Something along that line.

Who's our Medicaid?

Expert on the panel?

Tyler?

The Senate, there are a number.

There are a number of bills touching Medicaid this year.

A couple of them in particular.

We're talking about, who all fits that eligibility requirement.

And so you have family members and you have caretakers and those kind of things and, and making sure some of them, would still be eligible, even if they're, they didn't meet the specific requirements.

So there were pieces on that.

There are also a number of discussions on Medicaid, that really talked about making sure that dollars are there for the patients that really need them.

Yeah, FSSA is one of our biggest cost of his state.

And, we knew that money was going to be tight, but we also want to just be good stewards of that money.

So everybody, of course, wants state dollars.

And Medicaid is one of those spaces where we tend to start paying for a lot of different things.

And so trying to rein some of that in so that the folks that really need it, have it available to them, was a big, big piece of this session also.

Yeah.

We have, coming up on a limited time even for this very special program, if you can believe it.

But I do want to ask and for those who are interested in sharing, I think viewers at home would be interested.

You talk about citizens legislature and balancing demands in Indy, at home with constituents, and your your caucus colleagues.

What motivated you to seek public service in the state legislature?

Well, I'll just I think all of us up here like to solve problems.

And I think it's fun to do, you know, I've taken off just real quick on the road funding bill.

You know, that's something that I think a lot of us and as a, as a caucus, we have 30.

We don't always get to influence, legislation as far as passage goes.

But you kind of needed us a little bit on that one.

And that's where now the formula basically, I think is going to be much better when it comes to road funding for, for for the city of Fort Wayne, we're going to be counting lanes instead of just a, a road being the two lanes.

And so it's going to actually count each lane, which will be more money for the city of Fort Wayne.

That's something that I think our cities, frankly, have been asking for.

And it's just a small problem, but it's just I think I to me, that's the best part about being a legislature, solving problems.

Yeah.

Tony, I would tell you that for me, it was kind of a selfish, perspective being in a rural community, wanting to get energy up to northeastern corner, wink, wink, everybody, also, making sure that there's a reason for my kids who are younger to want to stay there.

And in rural America, how many times the kids leave because there's nothing there for them.

So development infrastructure needs.

So it was motivated through that.

I would I would agree with that.

I mean, it's it's the it's really public service and it's intimacy.

I mean, I was very active locally before I got in the challenges.

Some of my other counterparts, certainly Doctor Johnson and Tony have, which I'm graduating out of, is having those kids and families back home.

It's tough to be gone for four months and juggle in and out of, being a good father, being a good parent, and, you know, sometimes making and missing ball games and events at school.

And, that was a tremendous challenge for me.

My first eight, nine years as my kids were very active in their school pursuits.

But, now we have a little bit more balance of life as my life as my wife's gone on into retirement.

And there were empty nesters.

So it's a change.

But it, it was definitely a challenge over the last many years and working through that.

But it's it's the dedication and commitment to, solving the big problems and to being engaged.

And, as, Representative Isa said, really being a voice in my neighborhood for rural America, where sometimes we're overseen.

And, it's great to be a part of a team like this, which is, when you come in up here, it's it's really an understatement.

It's it's kind of present and, you know, to have a shoulder, to have a thought process and the experience to lean on, it's been a very rewarding, opportunity to be a state senator.

Yeah.

I couldn't be prouder.

Let me ask the gentleman to your right to about, your motivation for joining this special, calling this August body that I'm a part of, especially in April.

Yeah.

You know, I spent most of my 20s, in Washington.

I've worked for three U.S. senators and President Bush.

My parents instilled a great sense of service.

But for me, having that time in DC, compared to what we do here, we actually get things done.

We actually we pass a balanced budget, you know, we work across the aisle.

I was honored to carry, my good friend Kyle Millers bill through the Senate.

And we can actually look through accomplishments that we get done in those four months.

So for me, I think there might be other opportunities for other office, but I really believe in this delegation and how we what we can do for the state of Indiana.

Nodding heads in the front row.

Liz, I want to ask you and then, of course, Travis as well.

Yeah, I mean, I, I started off as a local city council because I was at the other end of the perspective.

I was, going to be freed up from driving carpool and was looking for something to do.

So, I'm kind of the other end.

I don't I'm not the major breadwinner in my family.

And and I look at people, for example, in my caucus, like Doctor Johnson.

And it's impressive.

I mean, the amount of time he gives and drives home almost every night to see his kids games, things like that, that's really hard.

And, obviously he's very good at what he does in both his, daytime and, session time jobs.

But, I'm fortunate I didn't have that issue.

Yeah.

And Travis 30 seconds on this one, many ways, I feel like it's a calling.

That's a, many times a God thing that put us in the places that where we are.

But in many cases, it's like herding 150 Senior Class Presidents also.

That's good.

That's right.

We we, have a final word.

I'm going to let, Matt Lehman wrap this up.

Yeah, I don't know.

I guess I would say this is on behalf of this delegation.

First of all, Bruce, thank you for what you've done.

You've been a gracious host.

We've been on here on a Friday night.

I've had people tell you, give up a Friday night to go on the show.

And I said, I only do that every so often.

Bruce is there every Friday night.

So thank you for what you do on that.

I don't know if now's the time we're supposed to do this.

Bruce, you've got a minute, I do, I can, all right, Kyle.

Oh.

Step over.

You're going to you're going to.

We're going to put you here in the middle of.

All right, I'll.

I'll hang here.

We will.

My goodness.

And I'll kind of turn this over to Kyle because he's holding this.

So.

Yeah.

Bruce, you've been, a pillar in the community, not only in the community, but also here at PBS Fort Wayne.

And, we wanted to honor, that legacy here in Fort Wayne with a joint resolution between, the House and Senate.

So, there are a lot of.

Whereas in here you've had a long, long, career.

But I'll read just a little bit, a House concurrent resolution honoring Bruce Haines upon his retirement from the Fort Wayne Public Broadcasting Service.

Whereas Bruce Haines has been president and general manager of Fort Wayne Public Broadcasting Service since 2008.

And he plans to retire this year after more than 40 years of broadcasting.

Whereas after spending 21 years leading Northeast Indiana's public radio organization, Bruce Haines joined PBS Fort Wayne in the leadership role he's kept for the last 17 years.

Whereas during his Tenure the station moved from analog to high definition operation, securing a $3.1 million capital campaign to upgrade all station production and operations to HD.

Whereas Bruce Haines helped guide the station through the Covid 19 pandemic and was able to adapt to the novel uncertainties, he and his crew faced.

Whereas PBS remains the only locally owned and operated full power TV service in the area due to Bruce's efforts, and Whereas Bruce Haines has spent the last 17 years growing PBS Fort Wayne into a modern broadcasting service able to reach new audiences without sacrificing the community connection so important in public broadcast and continuing the mission of the network.

Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, the Senate concurring that the Indiana General Assembly honors Bruce Haines upon his retirement from PBS Fort Wayne.

Congratulations, Bruce Thank you.

I'm not sure you can cry on television.

You can, you folks at home may want to move into your your your screens a little more carefully to read the, the fine print, but, this has truly been, such, not even a labor of love, but it has helped my learning curve being an out of state or to start with, so you've adopted me into your, Hoosier family and legislative family and the, the whole politics of it all, capital or small P you know, that we are all, in this together.

And, it's a journey that I no one wants to make alone and is is tremendously lovely to see all of those who would like to take a walk with us and then share your expertise, as you've all seen, with folks at home so we can all help learn how to be better citizens for where we want this country and this region and this city to be.

So yes.

And I would be remiss if we also didn't say we stand on the shoulders of a lot of people before us.

When you think of the David Longs and the, you know, the Dan Leonard's and the Jeff aspects and so we talked about leadership.

We've had leadership in Northeast Indiana for some time Pillar in the Senate, you know, Dennis Kruse and and I just happened to catch a blurb I was watching and showing some of the old clips of those guys.

And I think, you know, we're here because they did their job.

And, it's just nice to continue that.

And I don't know what the future is of a PrimeTime 39 on Friday nights, but, I hope we can stay engaged.

And, Bruce, I enjoy your retirement.

Well-deserved.

And thank you for all the, actually, the blessing it's been to be on your show multiple times.

Well, and thank you very much.

And, gentlemen, thank you, Phil.

Well, only because I have two years seniority on Matt and Travis.

And there and there was like ten years gap there that I was the only Democrat.

I probably appeared on the show more than anybody.

I had an open and close Democrat.

So, so but it was it was fun doing it all those years and, Lehman never did take me out for dinner after our Friday night.

My wife was normally along And She said ‘No Phil No, it was a lot of fun.

You're a true professional.

And I always really appreciated how you, handled everything.

Especially me.

You know, I've got to give this sometimes the opposite.

Viewpoint on things.

And, but you're always very generous and a lot of love to do that.

So thanks for thanks for hosting all these years.

Preciate it.

My pleasure.

Travis.

Thank you.

Bruce.

You've been a pleasure to work with.

And on behalf of the Senate members, thank you for your service to the community.

It's been great to have you, and I've just been amazed at how educated you are about bills that we didn't have anything to do with.

And, my fear was you would ask me a question about a bill that I was third or fourth author on, and I had no idea what.

So.

But thank you for your service.

You're quite welcome.

It may have been your guidance that said, never asked me a question about a bill by number.

And yes, that is true.

We still get that.

Yeah, it still comes up.

We still get that.

Yeah.

Well, we thank you for your continuing efforts for, connecting the dots here in this region, and being able to, again get us on, on the right place.

And I'm sure this relationship between, legislature and broadcaster will will continue in, new, different ways as we move forward.

So let's hope so.

Thank you all for that.

And thank you all so much for watching as well.

This is an opportunity, for us to say that there is a baton to be passed, and we hope you will be with us to see who carries on from here.

But we will take the summer off and be moving to other programing.

We hope you'll enjoy Indiana Week In Review Will come your way next Friday night at 730.

But for all of us at PrimeTime, behind and in front of the cameras, I'm Bruce Haines Take care and we will see you soon.

All right, “Rose Parade” Wave Here we go.

Every.

Thank you all so much.

Thank you.

Wow.

It's official seal and everything.

Welcome to primetime 39, a program made possible by the financial support of viewers like you.

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Several measures may be coming to Indiana voters in November based on actions by Indiana lawmakers in January.

PBS 39 invites you to stay in touch with the State House on PrimeTime39 call in your comments and questions each week.

As northeastern Indiana area legislators join us to talk about the work of the current session.

Be a part of the conversation throughout the legislative season here on PrimeTime39 live Friday night at 730 on PBS 39.

Our guests are from the Senate and the House for a conversation.

You can join from your house on this edition of PrimeTime And we're glad you're with us as well.

You can join the conversation with your questions and comments.

That is Congressman Jim Banks.

Welcome back sir.

It's great to be here.

I always look forward to these Friday nights and our guests are going to take us through it all this busy week.

That was on tonight's primetime with us this week.

The 79th district Republican State representative and House Majority Floor Leader Matt Lehman and 80th District Democratic State representative and the House Democratic leader Phil GiaQuinta